By Greg Mania
January 28, 2021
Photograph by David Buffington / Getty
In the spirit of new beginnings, why not take the time to kick some of the unproductive habits you picked up last year? Now is the perfect moment to recharge, refocus, and reconsider the hours you spend looking on Zillow for a place that’s literally anywhere but the one you’ve been sitting in since March. Here are some tips on how to reclaim your life and your space (which, let’s be honest, you’re not leaving anytime soon).
1. Identify your triggers.
Triggers usually play a part in developing a destructive habit. Working to identify them is the first step in eventually breaking your Zillow addiction.
Start by taking note of the following:
At what time of day does your mind usually wander to what having a breakfast nook would be like?
Where are you when it dawns on you that you could probably afford a spacious full-floor apartment in Iowa City for the same amount you pay to rent a cramped studio apartment in Bed-Stuy with a heater that’s “just for display”?
What is your emotional state immediately before you are consumed by the temptation to throw all of your possessions into the sea and start life anew in a sleepy town known for its local artisanal mustard?
Is Slack just down?
2. Start small.
As with any other habit, you’ll want to ease into kicking Zillow—imagine transitioning from having a soda with every meal to simply not having a soda with dinner for a week. It’s not going to happen overnight! Instead of taking a 3-D tour of a three-thousand-square-foot breathtaking brick beauty that exudes both traditional, colonial charm and contemporary panache and features a calm stream running through the property, start by taking a 3-D tour of a three-thousand-square-foot breathtaking brick beauty that exudes both traditional, colonial charm and contemporary panache which does not feature a calm stream running through the property. Baby steps!
3. Don’t go through it alone.
Even just dealing with the urge to browse a photo gallery of a desirable three-bed, three-bath tucked away at the end of a winding, tree-lined drive, equipped with a Poggenpohl chef-quality kitchen and a master suite with a rainfall-jet shower, can be difficult. But guess what? You’re not alone. Look at how many people saved that listing!
4. Practice mindfulness.
By developing awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and actions, you’ll become more aware of your impulse to see what the sitch is like in Rockport, Maine. Have you ever been to Rockport? What made you decide on Rockport in the first place? Are you just closing your eyes and pointing at a map? Observe your routine behavior of constantly making unrealistic sacrifices: forsaking the dream of an ivy-enshrouded Victorian in a spellbinding New England town for the warm climate of Southern California (your asthma will thank you!); being O.K. with there not being a rolling library ladder in the sprawling two-story condo, because you’ll settle for the eight-foot kitchen island and deeded parking. Remember, you will probably never be able to afford your own home, anyway!
5. Leave yourself reminders.
Using sticky notes or other visual cues wherever your Zillow urge most often strikes is a great way to pause and rethink opening another browser tab, only to find that maybe a renovated town house just isn’t your vibe, even with a decrease in price. Sure, you were thinking about dipping your toe into the chalet pool, but why dismiss the town house completely—it does have a generous open-floor plan, and you’ve always wanted to double up on sofas to create a sumptuous conversation area! Also, have you seen what you can do with the right hide rug?!
6. Replace your Zillow habit with a different one.
Have you tried smoking?
Greg Mania is the author of the memoir “Born to Be Public.”