Are you constantly refreshing your social media page? Checking in with your Whatsapp contacts or on the hunt for the latest and greatest gadget?
Are you a foodie quest for something new and exciting to try daily?
So have you overlooked the tried-and-true classics?
Now do take a moment to think, are you into Neomania too?
In this blog post, we learn what Neomania is, its impact on our lives (especially students and consumers), and practical tips for breaking free from it. So buckle up! Let’s explore how to put an end to the tyranny of Neomania once and for all.
Understanding the “Neomania”
Neomania can be defined as a state of mind in which an individual has an intense desire for novelty and the most current trends available. Here the tried-and-tested methods are rejected simply because they need the glimmer of something new and flashy.
This creates an interesting dynamic when it comes to making decisions; not only do we have to consider how effective a solution might be, but also its age or novelty. This can make things tricky, especially when considering long-term outcomes and rewards. After all, sometimes, those older solutions might be better than their newer counterparts in the long run!
Some socialites are hunting for the newest car on the block. Could it be the sleek appearance and fascinating features? Of course, but have you ever considered why they want to purchase the latest?
Perhaps it’s the societal pressure surrounding material possessions or the idea that owning the newest car symbolizes success. But giving in to these pressures can lead to more harm than good, including financial difficulties and emotional emptiness. So before you jump on the bandwagon, remember that true contentment can’t be bought with a new car.!
Exploited And Exploiters
Individuals who lack the capability to engage in critical thinking and evaluate potential outcomes are often the targets of Neomania. Such people are prone to enthusiastically adopting new trends or fads without thoroughly considering their long-term effects, which can result in them being deceived by seemingly promising but ultimately ineffective solutions.
Simultaneously, those who profit from Neomania typically have a vested interest in promoting their products or services as the most innovative and advanced options available. Consequently, they may resort to misleading marketing techniques that overstate the benefits of their offerings to entice customers into purchasing something that they may not require or desire.
Day To Day Neomania
- An individual purchases the newest tech gadget on the market, only to find that it lacks features they need and ends up in a drawer after a few weeks of use.
- Someone decides to redecorate their living room with the latest trendy furniture but finds that all those stylish pieces clash instead of creating a nice atmosphere.
- A person upgrades their phone for the latest model, not realizing that this version has fewer capabilities than they currently have.
- An individual invests in a company because everyone is talking about it online without doing any research into its potential for success in the long term.
Recognizing When You Are Slipping Into The “Neomania” Trap
To identify when you are falling into the trap of Neomania, ask yourself a few questions before making a purchase or decision.
- Does this product meet my needs?
- Do I have enough information to make an educated decision?
- Can I get better value elsewhere?
- Will this investment help me achieve my long-term goals?
- Is there any evidence suggesting that the product may not suit me?
- Am I basing my decision on hype or false promises rather than facts and research?
Overcoming the “Neomania”
Become aware of our own biases and how they’re affecting our decisions.
- Consider the long-term implications of a decision before making it.
- Designate someone else to keep us accountable for decisions involving money or other scarce resources.
- Take the time to research and compare different options before making a purchase or investment.
- Don’t let fear of missing out (FOMO) influence our decisions – if something is truly great, it will still be there tomorrow!
- Ask ourselves: does this decision align with my goals and values?
- Recognize that sometimes “good enough” is good enough – no need to always aim for perfection!
Concluding Thoughts
Do you remember the movie “The Karate Kid,” where in the Sensei, Mr. Miyagi, trains the Karate Kid Daniel, with a series of mundane everyday actions that are initially confusing and frustrating to Daniel. However, Mr. Miyagi’s seemingly unrelated tasks were strategically designed to help Daniel develop the muscle memory and skillset needed to become a skilled fighter.
Miyagi’s training included cleaning and waxing cars, painting fences, and sanding wooden decks. While Daniel didn’t see the relevance of these tasks to fighting, he eventually realized that each action was training him in very specific body movements that would come in handy while fighting.
From waxing cars to sanding wooden decks required helped Daniel build up the necessary abilities to throw and block kicks and punches and develop a deep understanding of martial-art techniques. As a result, he could finally execute them with confidence and precision. He was ready to take on his rivals.
This emphasizes that mastering any skill requires patience, hard work, and the willingness to practice seemingly mundane, unrelated tasks to build the necessary technique and talent. And it was definitely not about learning a new karate trick every day!
Being trend-addicted to making fancy moves would not have helped Daniel develop the necessary commitment and skill to succeed in karate. Neomania, the obsession to be the NEW, is just a superficial and temporary solution to achieving self-identity or status. Did you find the read thought-provoking? If you want to read more of these, subscribe to our newsletter.
Reference
The above article is based on the book Thinking Clearly; this article is here to help us learn and understand how our minds can be tricked by something called cognitive biases.