#deinfluencing

There’s a version of studying online that looks perfect. The desk is spotless. The iPad is paired with a $150 stylus. The notes are color-coded with 12 markers. The lighting is soft. There's a candle burning. Maybe even a matcha latte.

And somehow, all of it makes you feel like what you’re doing… isn’t enough.

Let’s get one thing straight: none of that stuff is required to learn.

1. You don’t need an iPad to study.

Yes, digital notes can be convenient. But paper works. Google Docs works. A $5 notebook and a pen work. Don’t let your brain trick you into thinking you need to buy a whole setup before you’re “allowed” to be productive.

2. You don’t need a rainbow of markers or highlighters.

Highlighting isn’t learning. Sometimes, the urge to decorate your notes is just procrastination in disguise. If it helps you process info, great. But don’t feel bad for using one pen and underlining stuff once.

3. You don’t need to romanticize the grind.

Studying doesn’t have to look cute. It’s okay if your space is messy, if your notes are chaotic, if your focus looks like silence and staring. You’re not building content — you’re building understanding.

4. You don’t need to spend money to be “serious” about school.

Expensive gear doesn’t equal discipline. Flashy setups won’t magically give you consistency. Focus comes from habits, not hauls.

5. You don’t need to look productive to be productive.

No one needs to see your routine for it to count. You’re allowed to keep it quiet, small, and completely your own.

If you enjoy making things aesthetic — go for it. But don’t let the internet convince you that you’re doing it wrong if your notes are messy, your tools are basic, or your desk isn’t Pinterest-worthy.

Studying is not a photoshoot. It’s not a lifestyle brand.

It’s you, choosing to show up for your future — whether that’s in a Moleskine, a Google Doc, or the back of a receipt.

The best study tool you have? Your brain.

Dark academia posts are mostly books, food, and outfits that people have bought. What about the learning? What do these people actually DO rather than own?

Cottagecore involves owning a lot of vintage/cutesy items, like cookware, and of course a whole new wardrobe of flowy dresses or farmer type clothes. Overall, not as bad though. Lots of nature and animal pictures

Being a “clean girl” is the worst of all when it comes to overconsumption. I won’t even get into that. You’ve seen the pictures of these people’s countertops. How many bottles of goop does one person need? People are starving.

(because it shouldn't be about money, but your attitude)

☆ミ Forget about cursing; it's all cool and stuff, but you're not 14 anymore, and you certainly don't need a curse in every sentence

☆ミ Stop buying trash; it's always quality over quantity

☆ミ Therefore: avoid fast food "restaurants" and choose the actual ones; fast fashion? not in this household, try buying some good quality clothes; and of course: cosmetics -- stop buying artificial products made by huge companies and go natural, find some local business that actually cares about the products they produce

☆ミ Do you really need it or did some ad/influencer told you so?

☆ミ Be mindful about things you own, and don't let them own you

☆ミ Same goes for money

☆ミ Treat yourself with the same compassion you treat your friends, no need to drag yourself down

☆ミ Don't be rude or pretentious towards the strangers, it's never worth it

☆ミ Good manners =/= being passive and letting people treat you poorly

☆ミ Seek authenticity and create genuine connections

☆ミ Don't use your phone when it's not necessary: talking with somebody, walking somewhere, eating your meals, using bathroom

☆ミ Keep order in your belongings

☆ミ Take care of your room, it's your living space. Try not to finish your day with an absolute chaos everywhere; if you're exhausted -- even five minutes before bed just tidying up a bit can make the difference

remember when stanley cups were everywhere? they showed up in car cupholders, tiktok hauls, and probably even your dreams. people sprinted through targets at 7 am to grab limited edition drops. for a while, having the cup meant hydration, status, and aesthetic all in one. but now, the hype is slowing — and we’re left to ask: what was all that for?

how we got here

stanley tumblers weren’t always trendy. they were originally rugged, functional thermoses marketed to construction workers and outdoorsy types. then tiktok found them. influencers praised their colorways, size (40 oz!), and vibe — and suddenly, stanley cups became the cup.

limited drops triggered frenzy. entire aisles were wiped out in minutes. some people collected them like sneakers. others bought every color “just to have options.” the resale market exploded. some went for $100+.

but this wasn’t just about hydration. this was haul culture.

the problem with haul culture

the stanley craze tapped into something deeper: the social media pressure to consume constantly and publicly. haul videos — where influencers unbox massive purchases — normalized overbuying. it wasn’t about needing a water bottle. it was about owning the trend.

and it didn’t stop at stanleys. people started buying accessories: straw toppers, silicone boots, name tags. if you weren’t accessorizing your cup, were you even trying?

environmental impact

all that hype had real consequences:

plastic overload: despite being reusable, many stanley cups are made with plastic components. producing millions of them increases emissions and waste, especially when people buy multiple.

fast consumer cycles: the constant color drops encouraged more buying, not reuse. that defeats the purpose of sustainability.

landfill overflow: as the trend fades, many cups will be discarded — not because they’re broken, but because they’re out of style.

it’s a form of “green overconsumption” — buying reusable goods in excess under the illusion of sustainability.

the decline

like most trends, stanley’s grip is loosening. people are realizing they don’t need five identical tumblers. gen z is especially starting to question the logic behind impulse buying in the name of “self-care.”

tiktok creators are now posting videos like “things i regret buying” or “how minimalism saved my wallet.” the pendulum is swinging back.

so what now?

stanley cups aren’t evil. they are reusable. they do help people drink more water. but the obsession around them reveals a bigger issue: we keep trying to shop our way into a better lifestyle.

if we want to seriously tackle overconsumption and pollution, we need to think beyond trends. that means:

buying one good thing — and sticking with it.

not collecting items just because they’re cute.

resisting the pressure to haul for content.

normalizing “i already have one” as a reason not to buy.

final sip

the stanley cup hype taught us something important: even the “good” products can turn harmful when they’re part of a cycle of mindless consumption. reuse doesn’t count if you’re just rotating between 12 colors.

so if you’ve got a stanley cup — great. use it. love it. keep it for years. but maybe don’t buy another just because it matches your hoodie.

"Oo that knit sweater looks pretty, I should buy that" turns into "Oo that knit sweater looks pretty, I could make that"

Do I know how to knit? No but I can crochet, I can figure it out! And even for non-clothes items, if you have one or two water bottles that you've painted or otherwise decorated, you'll be a lot less likely to jump on whatever new brand that everyone has decided is the best because no! I decorated this bottle myself! I have formed an unhealthy attachment to an inanimate object! This one's my baby! I'm not spending way too much money on a water bottle that's uglier anyway!

• It's completely normal to live with your parents in your twenties, because everything is expensive, especially when you live alone.

• It's normal to have less friends once you're out of school, because everyone is in a different stage of life and everyone's busy.

• It's okay to spoil your boyfriend once in a while, for example buying him a gift or paying for a meal.

• It's normal to not have a lot of money. A lot of people just have 1 job and most of their salaries goes into food and bills.

• Underconsumption is normal: You just need a couple of high quality clothes and shoes, makeup and skincare products that lasts longer.