Part of simple living is doing all things in moderation. But it’s easy to get swept up with something once in awhile. I still occasionally find myself doing an occasional binge. But an occasional binge can lead to problems.
I’m not much of a drinker. My biggest alcohol binge is having two beers in a week instead of one. But drinking isn’t the only problem behavior. We can eat too much, spend too much, travel too much, exercise too much, or even clean too much.
Binge: a short period devoted to indulging in an activity to excess, especially drinking alcohol or eating.
I find myself getting excited about something new from time to time. For instance, last year I decided to set up a video studio. I kept it pretty simple. But I still found myself returning to Amazon to buy a few more things that I probably didn’t really need. I’ve done the same with music equipment and books.
Last winter, I caught myself eating a little more than usual as my weight shot up about 8 pounds.
You Can Binge On Almost Anything
Admittedly, I’ve been pretty good the last several years. But not perfect. Back in 2010, a friend introduced me to ultralight backpacking. I found myself buying item after item. In the long run, I bought way more stuff than I’d ever use. And in the end, I gave most of the stuff away as it was really only a passing phase.
I used to go a little overboard during seasonal clothing sales.
Maybe you’ve gotten so excited about something that you start buying every book available on the topic. In the end, you only read half a book and the rest wind up on a shelf unread.
The Danger In A Binge
A binge can be on anything, but any kind of binge-like behavior can lead to problems. Why? Because any behavior repeated often enough can become a habit. You don’t want a binge habit.
How do you think addictive behaviors start?
It starts innocently enough. You have a few extra drinks one weekend. You splurge on a few extra sets of clothes. You eat a little too much ice cream. Then you find yourself doing it again within a short time. If you’re not careful, you’ll create a habit. Then you’ll wind up with a drinking problem or a shopping addiction.
A Binge Isn’t Innocent
Many people will say things like, “It’s only an occasional binge,” or “It’s okay to splurge once in awhile.” But this is only justifying a potentially dangerous behavior.
As a minimalist, I can’t find one good reason for going on any kind of binge. I’d even go one step further and say that too much of a purge is binge behavior. Moderation is the key. Try to do everything in a reasonable fashion and keep it simple. That will go a long way.
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