About the Study
Becoming Minimalist is proud to have conducted this insightful survey on societal distractions with our partner, American Directions Research Group. The survey of 400 adults in the United States, conducted during February 2021, is referenced in the book, Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life (WaterBrook) by Joshua Becker. Published: April 19, 2022.
Top Line Results
Q1. Would you say that you have identified a clear purpose, or purposes, for your life?
Yes | 70% 278 |
No | 19% 76 |
Unsure | 12% 46 |
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Q2. How often do you feel that you are spending your time and resources on less important pursuits at the expense of the things that matter most to you?
Always | 16% 63 |
Frequently | 21% 82 |
Sometimes | 40% 161 |
Rarely | 18% 72 |
Never | 6% 22 |
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Q3. What do you feel is distracting you from your priorities?
(Reported Distractions) | 57% 227 |
I don’t have anything distracting me | 43% 173 |
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Q3A. Are these distractions becoming a bigger or smaller problem in your life?
Distraction is a bigger problem | 32% 73 |
Distraction is a smaller problem | 32% 73 |
Unsure | 15% 35 |
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Q4. Concerning the number of physical possessions you own, would you say you…
Have too much | 27% 106 |
Have just the right amount | 53% 210 |
Have too little | 14% 57 |
Unsure | 7% 27 |
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Q5. Do you believe that if you were to acquire more property and possessions it would likely increase your happiness or likely decrease your happiness?
Increase | 36% 144 |
Decrease | 24% 97 |
Unsure | 40% 159 |
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Q6. How likely are you to be happier in life if you had more money?
More likely | 51% 203 |
Less likely | 10% 39 |
Somewhat likely | 28% 110 |
Unsure | 12% 48 |
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Q7. How often does your desire for acquiring more money influence your daily decisions?
Always | 21% 84 |
Frequently | 22% 87 |
Sometimes | 26% 104 |
Rarely | 23% 90 |
Never | 9% 35 |
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Q8. Do you believe you receive enough appreciation at work for the things you do in your job?
Yes | 34% 137 |
No | 22% 89 |
Unsure | 8% 31 |
N/A | 36% 143 |
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Q9. In general, how often does your desire for approval from others/notoriety for your work influence your daily decisions?
Always | 12% 49 |
Frequently | 14% 57 |
Sometimes | 29% 117 |
Rarely | 23% 91 |
Never | 22% 86 |
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Q10. Which is a more attractive goal: to retire early and live a life of leisure or to work a long time at a job you find fulfilling and productive?
Retire early and live a life of leisure | 52% 208 |
Work a long time at a job you find fulfilling and productive | 34% 137 |
Unsure | 14% 55 |
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Q11. Do you find fulfillment in your career/work beyond a paycheck?
Yes | 53% 210 |
No | 31% 123 |
Unsure | 17% 67 |
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Q12. If you won the lottery today, would you quit your job?
Yes | 52% 207 |
No | 33% 130 |
Unsure | 16% 63 |
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Q13. How much do your past mistakes hold you back from achieving the future you’d like to have?
Very much | 20% 79 |
A little | 21% 82 |
Somewhat | 21% 82 |
Not much | 19% 77 |
Not at all | 20% 80 |
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Q14. How much do wrongs committed against you in the past hold you back from achieving the future you´d like to have?
Very much | 17% 69 |
A little | 17% 67 |
Somewhat | 21% 83 |
Not much | 22% 86 |
Not at all | 24% 95 |
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Q15. Which generally gives you greater joy: fulfilling your own desires or helping other people?
Fulfilling own desires | 26% 103 |
Helping others | 60% 239 |
Unsure | 15% 58 |
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Q16. How much do you tend to let other people control your schedule and priorities?
Far too much | 10% 39 |
Too much | 23% 90 |
About the right amount | 51% 203 |
Not enough | 10% 40 |
Not nearly enough | 7% 28 |
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Q17. How much time do you spend consuming online news and entertainment and other sources of information?
1-2 times a week | 15% 59 |
3-4 times a week | 25% 101 |
5-6 times a week | 19% 76 |
7+ times a week | 28% 113 |
I do not spend any time consuming news and entertainment information. | 13% 51 |
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Q18. How much does the distraction of technology (games / social media / connectedness) keep you from fulfilling your purpose in life?
A great deal | 22% 89 |
Somewhat | 35% 141 |
Not at all | 43% 170 |
Methodology
The Things That Matter Survey was conducted by American Directions Research Group on behalf of Becoming Minimalist LLC. The nationally representative survey of four hundred respondents was conducted online during February 2021. Participants were aged eighteen and older and came from the United States. Response percentages may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
Both percentage responses and raw numbers totals have been included in the tables above.
Media requests involving this survey can be sent to joshua@becomingminimalist.com