Mind over money: Money, overearning, and mindfulness

Abstract Previous research shows that people tend to overearn, that is, forgo leisure to work and earn beyond their needs. This results from mindless accumulation, defined as the tendency to work and earn until feeling tired rather than until having enough. The current research extends these findings by exploring whether the concept of money, which is deeply embedded in our (business) culture, serves as a trigger for the overearning effect and whether this effect is moderated by mindfulness. Study 1 demonstrates that exposure to money cues leads to increased overearning. Study 2 reveals that money cues enhance the willingness to spend more time on paid work, which in turn results in higher levels of overearning. Study 3 indicates that participants exposed to an 8‐min guided mindfulness meditation are less influenced by money cues and, as a consequence, exhibit lower levels of overearning. These results are discussed in light of the assumptions and limitations of the minimalist paradigm used.