In our modern world filled with technological advances, many people get caught up chasing material possessions, wealth, fame, and status symbols thinking those things will make them happy. However, research shows that after basic needs are met, more money and stuff does little to raise happiness levels. What does make a difference is focusing on comfort, ease, convenience, functionality and practicality in your life. Here’s why you should make comfort and practicality a priority rather than getting embroiled in superficial status competitions.
Define Comfort
When we talk about comfort, we refer to a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. This includes wearing comfortable clothes made of soft, breathable fabrics, having a quality mattress and bedding that allows restful sleep, utilizing ergonomic furniture and equipment that supports the body properly, and residing in a home with a comfortable temperature and aesthetically pleasing environment. Comfort also applies to convenient and functional products or services that reduce effort and friction in daily tasks.
The Problem with Chasing Status
Unfortunately, many consumer trends encourage people to sacrifice comfort and chase status items to impress others. This might mean squeezing into trendy high-heeled shoes that wreck your feet, sleeping on a fancy yet rock-hard mattress that aggravates back pain because it looks good visually, or buying gadgets and electronics based more on prestige rather than practical application in one’s lifestyle. While keeping up appearances and fitting a desired image may get you some external validation, it often compromises physical and mental health over time if taken to extremes. There are high costs to chasing status symbols rather than prioritizing function, health and comfort.
Why Comfort Matters More
Research reveals that after basic needs are met, increased wealth and consumption provides diminishing happiness returns. However, things directly touching quality of life — health, strong relationships, enjoyable work, sense of purpose, hobbies, leisure time, etc. — elevate daily well-being and life satisfaction much more. Since comfort plays a big role in quality lifestyle factors like better sleep, injury avoidance, positive body image, reduced stress and anxiety, its importance cannot be overstated. Discomfort distracts while comfort frees awareness towards higher goals. Thus, we should thoughtfully craft our environments and make purchases that enhance daily functioning rather than impressing others.
Ways to Prioritize Comfort and Practicality
Here are some ideas to focus more on comfort, functionality and practicality across major life areas:
Living Spaces and Furniture
Evaluate your dwelling and rooms asking, “Does this space actually feel comforting, uplifting and functionally supportive day-to-day?” If not, reconsider layouts, lighting, storage solutions, appliances, soft furnishings, dedicated spaces for hobbies/work, smart home technology and ergonomic furniture choices to create a conveniently customized refuge.
Clothing and Footwear
Trend watching can misguide us to buy garments that sacrifice feel and function. Instead, thoughtfully curate a versatile capsule wardrobe including wearable fabrics that feel pleasant against skin without pinching, chafing or sagging over time. Shoes should properly stabilize feet, absorb shock and accommodate issues like plantar fasciitis or bunions if present.
Sleeping and Bathing
Since we spend a third of lives asleep or preparing for it, bed, bedding and sleepwear choices greatly impact whether that time feels nourishing versus troublesome. Tailor mattresses, pillows, sheets, duvets and pajamas to individual needs and sensitivities promoting both cozy comfort and restorative sleep. Likewise, invest in a comforting bath experience with soft towels, therapeutic soaks and moisture sealing skin products.
Kitchen and Dining
Kitchens see much use daily, so intelligent and ergonomic design choices around storage, counter space, sinks, appliances and quality cooking tools can vastly improve meal prep experience. Evaluate dining spaces and tableware asking if sizes, shapes, materials and aesthetics enhance eating enjoyment rather than just visually impressing guests occasional visits.
Health, Fitness and Wellness
Support health through balanced nutrition rather than intense dieting. Additionally, adopt sustainable exercise programs and wellness practices focused less on sculpting an idealized body image but rather strengthening functional movement, flexibility, injury resilience, stress relief and lifelong fitness applicable to your lifestyle. Therapeutic grade self-care products from moisturizers to essential oils also nurture the mind-body connection.
Transportation
When purchasing vehicles, think critically about intended usage scenarios prioritizing safety, handling, seating comfort, cabin storage, fuel economy and low-noise operation. Also realistically determine if smart driving aids and crash avoidance technologies better suit your navigational strengths and limitations over flashy status features with limited real-world functionality.
Technology and Media
Avoid buying flashy gadgets and devices for appearances. Instead, research how smart products actually improve utility and convenience appropriate for your needs from voice commands to memory storage capacity to display resolution to battery longevity and device durability. Additionally, consider how comfortable headphones, blue light blocking glasses, standing desks and other ergonomic tools may support technology usage.
Experiences Over Stuff
Rather than exhausting time, money and energy chasing “stuff” in attempts to keep up appearances, purposefully craft a lifestyle offering ample relaxing and restorative experiences aligned with personal comfort preferences. That may translate to leisurely breakfasts reading in a sunlit corner, strolling wooded parks, napping in a hammock, meditating, enjoying massages, doing stretching routines, playing with pets or children, relaxing with pleasant music or podcasts, or sipping tea while watching birds and clouds.
The Takeaway
Modern culture urges us to wear masks pretending we “have it all together” including well-paying jobs, luxury homes, glamorous vacations and Instagram-worthy appearances. However, little of that matters if personal health and relationships crumble behind the facade. Instead of chasing superficial status symbols to impress others, thoughtfully craft life structures and activities promoting genuine comfort, functionality and practicality. This relieves unnecessary stress and frees awareness towards more meaningful goals.
After meeting basic needs, research confirms quality lifestyle and strong connections matter most. Design your path accordingly.
