Retail Therapy
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Have you been shopping more lately? A phenomenon that's much more common than you give credit, retail therapy consistently delivers dopamine hits. With moderation and intention at hand, this activity can effectively stimulate you. And there is a lot more of it happening these days.
While shopping can be problematic for some, it's worth saying, but not the intent of this feature. What's noteworthy is that shopping "may restore personal control over one's environment and reduce residual sadness." According to a 2014 study from The Journal of Consumer Psychology, the act of shopping and actions taken throughout the experience can trigger a return to your autonomy and a sense of you in control.
This is not mutually exclusive to a transaction. Dopamine is released even before the sale; the reward can be a result of browsing. It's happening when you're window shopping or simply scrolling through the newest arrivals at your favorite retailer. No wonder social feeds suck you in so much.
Retail sales grew 16.9% in 2021 compared to 2020. Not a surprise in hindsight, but worth noting that all of us are repeating our online shopping habits while simultaneously returning to bricks and mortar stores. This continuous injection into the economy further emphasizes the power of retail therapy.
There's an art and science to the experience. While yes, you should buy the things you love, but you don't need to buy everything you love. And it doesn't have to be a whole to-do experience. It could be you saw something online and hit pay, or you ran into a local boutique to buy a gift for a friend, and you decided to try on that killer dress. You're buying with intention, and thoughtfulness is what makes the difference.
The next time you try something on that makes you smile and stand up taller, think about how it will serve you and where you'll wear it. Shopping and what you wear, after all, is supposed to be joyful.
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