Have you ever named something you owned?
Lots of people like to name their cars, but what about the other long-term belongings?
Personally, I name pretty much anything that is going to be in my life for a long period of time. In my first apartment, I had named the apartment itself, as well as my television, freezer, laptop, printer, phone, and piano keyboard.
Whenever a new long-term item is welcomed into my home, it is given a name.
It’s a quirk that a lot of people around me have picked up over the years, as well. We’ve basically become Belle from Beauty and the Beast, talking with the furniture and naming every footstool!
As crazy as it sounds, I don’t do this just for fun (though it certainly is fun). I’ve actually discovered benefits to this habit that make it worth the effort to name everything, both as an aspiring minimalist and a homemaker. Today, I want to share with you 7 benefits that should make you consider naming your devices.
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Before we start…
You don’t need to name absolutely everything.
Okay, you don’t need to go naming absolutely everything in your home.
Simply stick to naming things that you want to be treated well and that you will be using regularly for a long period of time.
Here are some examples of things that I would recommend naming:
- Kitchen appliances you use daily
- Electronics (television, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, etc.)
- Your home
- Your mode of transportation
- Musical instruments
- Plants
Here are some things you don’t need to name:
- Any appliance that you only use once in a while
- Items that are meant to be used up (food, clothes, shampoo)
- Decorations and anything else you don’t interact with
The reason I do think it is best to draw the line at temporary things is that naming them will not serve any real purpose and will make it harder to get rid of when the time comes.
You want to name things that will be around for a long time and that you hope to care for regularly.
One more thing!
It matters that you use the name.
When I say that you should name your belongings, I also recommend that you use the name often.
For example, I have a computer named Edelgard. When I start her up each day, I say, “Good morning, Edelgard!” and I tell her good night when I put her to sleep. If she’s a little slow that day, I talk to her and encourage her instead of freaking out. When I talk about her to other people, I use her name instead of saying my computer.
Without doing these things, most of the benefits this habit would provide won’t work for you. So when you name your belongings, make sure that you also use the names given to them.
Benefit #1: Organizing your electronic devices is easier
Every device comes with a label already. When phones try to communicate with each other, they search for those labels, like with Bluetooth devices.
When you are searching for the device you need, it’s a lot harder to find one that is labelled “f28dtbr3” than one that is just labelled “Steve”. For the sake of keeping your electronics easy to identify, it’s definitely worth it to consider naming your devices.
Benefit #2: It will be easier to have patience with your belongings when they don’t work perfectly
I know all of this sounds so silly, but it really works! When you name your belongings, you will start to see them less like robots and more like people. We have less patience with appliances because we expect them to function like a machine (and who can blame you? They kind of are machines!)
But the thing is, our machines still have hiccups. They’re not perfect, and sometimes they get overwhelmed or tired. When you name your appliances, you will start treating them more like humans than machines.
Their hiccups will no longer be as frustrating to you because it will seem more like a human who’s simply having a bad day. You might even be more aware of why the problem is occurring.
For example, one time I left my phone, Luna, out in the sun. She got so hot that she shut down. When I went to use her, all I saw was a black screen. Instead of getting annoyed, however, I actually felt bad for how tired she must have gotten out in the heat. I apologized to her and gave her time to cool down before trying to use her again. Giving her a name really made a difference in how little frustration I would feel when she wasn’t working perfectly.
Benefit #3: You will unconsciously treat your devices better
When you name and personify your appliances, it makes you instantly more aware of how well you treat them.
You will start to realize that, like humans, these machines have needs, too. They need to be cleaned and cared for in order to be in their best working condition. They have batteries that need charging, bodies that need cleaning, and maintenance that helps keep them strong and optimized.
When you personify your appliances with a name, you will start to notice when you have been neglecting them. It will be easier to find the motivation to care for your belongings this way.
One funny side effect that I noticed once I named my computer was that I no longer kept a lot of tabs open on the internet. I often felt bad making her do too many things all at once, especially when it wasn’t necessary.
You might find that some of your habits change, too, when you name your belongings.
Benefit #4: Other people will also treat your devices better
I always found it really amusing when my friends and family first started calling my devices by the name I had given to them.
When I got my first piano keyboard, I named her Aria. Four years later, my parents still ask how Aria is doing every once in a while.
People will naturally care more for the health of your belongings when you give them names. This is another bizarre benefit that should make you consider naming your devices.
Benefit #5: You will be less likely to replace your belongings before you need to
This is a good side effect for anyone who is aiming to develop the habits of minimalism or for anyone who feels they move on to new devices too quickly.
Whenever people find an animal that you know you can’t keep, people always say not to name it. Why? Because the moment it’s named, you are instantly more attached to it!
The same thing happens when you name your belongings. You will develop deeper regard for your belongings and will be more careful when the time comes to consider upgrading. You will be more likely to think intentionally about the proper time to buy new things.
Benefit #6: You will stop taking your things for granted
When you personify your appliances, the time you spend with them will feel more fulfilling. In some ways, it even feels social, as if you’re working with someone. You will likely start to notice how your devices are making your life easier, and you will become more appreciative of the help they offer.
For example, I have a French press named Dedue. His sole purpose is to help me make a delicious cup of coffee that I have the pleasure of enjoying during my afternoon break. Every day, I am not just happy with my cup of coffee- I am thankful to Dedue for his effort in the process of making the coffee. My fulfillment is doubled!
Benefit #7: You will be able to set healthier boundaries with your belongings
As I’ve mentioned in my post about how to set healthy boundaries with your phone, you might want to consider naming your devices for the sole purpose of making your boundaries more clear to you.
Humans need to set boundaries with other people to make sure that we can live our lives in the healthiest way possible. We decide how often we want to see friends, how we expect to be treated, and what we will do when we are together.
It can be easy to get addicted to our devices, but when we name them and set boundaries as we would with a person, we are better able to manage our time with them.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are lots of reasons that you should consider naming your devices.
When you name your belongings, it changes the way you treat them. Personify your appliances to remind you that you should have patience with them and should provide them with love and care. This, in turn, will help make your belongings last longer overall, and will likely save you a great deal of money in the long run. Try it yourself today!
What about you?
Do you name anything that you own? Did it change the way you treated it? Let me know in the comments below- I’d love to hear from you!
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