Shoppers flock to Fortnum & Mason in London during the busy Christmas period. Bloomberg
Shoppers flock to Fortnum & Mason in London during the busy Christmas period. Bloomberg
Shoppers flock to Fortnum & Mason in London during the busy Christmas period. Bloomberg
Shoppers flock to Fortnum & Mason in London during the busy Christmas period. Bloomberg

What is the 'hedonic treadmill' and why is it the foe of Christmas cheer?


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

In the run-up to Christmas, many of us who celebrate the festival will have been feverishly visiting shops to find items to give as presents.

According to the website Voucher Codes, households in the UK, for example, will spend an average of £428.22 (Dh1,976) on gifts this Christmas, which by most standards would be considered a substantial amount.

However, experts say that this festive season, we might be better off focusing on having a memorable and enjoyable time – or giving out gifts that will result in memorable experiences – than handing out things.

Misplaced materialism

Browsing festive offerings at a London shop. Getty Images
Browsing festive offerings at a London shop. Getty Images

Dr Michael Plant, founder and director of the Happier Lives Institute, a non-profit research institute, and a research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, said that objects tend not to make people happier because we have adapted to them, something termed the hedonic treadmill.

"Think of some item you'd really like to buy and you think will make you happier," he said. "Say it's a new car or phone.

"Now, think about the car/phone you already have, and ask how much happiness it gives you now. Probably, you don't think about it any more. It's faded into the background.

"For what it's worth, there's a good evolutionary reason for adaptation. Mother Nature doesn't want us to be happy – she wants us to survive and reproduce. Getting used to things – but not realising that we get used to things – is her trick to motivate us to acquire resources."

James Wallman said a compulsion to accumulate belongings can have drawbacks. Photo: Anastasiia Davydova for the World Experience Organisation
James Wallman said a compulsion to accumulate belongings can have drawbacks. Photo: Anastasiia Davydova for the World Experience Organisation

Few people have looked into our preoccupation with things to the degree James Wallman has. He is author of a bestselling book called Stuffocation: Living More With Less. Our desire for things is easy to understand and not necessarily a bad thing because, he told The National, we “use stuff to get things done”.

“We go places quickly on a bicycle; we stay warm with clothes,” he said. Indeed, anthropologists have highlighted the way that our identity as humans is bound up with objects in a way that contrasts with other animals, who remain free of the need for possessions.

Ian Hodder, an emeritus professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University in the US, has put forward the idea of “entanglement” to described our dependence on objects. A researcher at the Neolithic archaeological site of Catalhoyuk in Turkey, he said in comments published by the university that “being dependent on things is what makes us human”.

“Our dependence on things is not completely negative. It’s clear that our ability to invent new technologies and tools has been important in helping people live longer lives and have less disease,” he said. Mr Wallman said that the psychology behind our obsession has been well studied and that the buzz comes from “the thrill of the chase”.

Counting the cost

Discarded TVs along with mounds of construction rubble in the Sebkha Ariana wetland near Tunis. The National
Discarded TVs along with mounds of construction rubble in the Sebkha Ariana wetland near Tunis. The National

“When it’s over, people go and find more stuff,” he said. “It’s much easier to buy stuff; it’s enabled a problem. You end up with too much clutter. For the world this has an environmental cost.” This comes, for example, in the form of the environmental damage and carbon emissions that result from extracting raw materials, and in the energy needed to manufacture and transport goods.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, in particular is a growing concern, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing it as “one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams”.

“In 2022, an estimated 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced globally. Only 22.3 per cent was documented as formally collected and recycled,” the WHO states in a briefing document.

Aside from the environmental impact, Mr Wallman said that an obsession with "stuff" negatively affects well-being. “There are people who just buy more stuff and end up with financial problems – it’s a bit like gambling,” he said.

According to Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics and behavioural science at the University of Warwick in the UK, there is little scientific evidence on whether having more stuff makes a person happier. “A successful marriage, close friends, good health – all these have much larger positive effects on humans’ happiness than, say, another $50,000 a year going into your bank account,” he said.

Given that things – whether clothes, the latest smartphone or a shiny new car – appear not to be the secret to happiness, Mr Wallman said that we should try to have enjoyable and memorable experiences. He has taken this to heart, founding and running the World Experience Organisation (WXO), which brings together organisations that offer experiences of various kinds and “shares insights and ideas to make better experiences”.

“Our unofficial motto is, ‘Let’s fill the world with great experiences,’” he said. In his own life, Mr Wallman prioritises what he has termed experientialism. He and his family live in a modest terraced house, he will wear clothes that have been patched up, and he spends money on doing things rather than on buying “stuff”.

Prof Oswald advises having a good network of friends, eating eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day and keeping slim and fit. A fulfilling relationship is also important.

Dr Plant recommends spending more time with people you like and, if friends and family are making you unhappy, see less of them. Finding a job that is enjoyable, that you feel is useful and that offers supportive colleagues is also important.

“Be grateful,” he said. “Our minds focus on the negative. Remind yourself what’s good in your life, [such as by] writing three specific things each day.” So this holiday season, it may be worth remembering that there are more important things in life than the gifts that you give and receive.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZack%20Snyder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESofia%20Boutella%2C%20Djimon%20Hounsou%2C%20Ed%20Skrein%2C%20Michiel%20Huisman%2C%20Charlie%20Hunnam%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up

Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm

On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm

The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm

Romang, June 28 at 6pm

Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm

Underdog, June 29 at 2pm

Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm

A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm 

 

War and the virus
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

TALE OF THE TAPE

Floyd Mayweather

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Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

While you're here
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Updated: December 26, 2024, 4:37 PM`