“Honestly, shopping beats therapy, anytime. It costs the same, and you get a dress out of it.” –Sophie Kinsella
Without a doubt, shopping has a way of cheering people up.
The act of buying something and treating yourself to some trinkets or clothes brings a feeling of euphoria similar to that of getting a gift you have sorely wanted for quite some time. It would be no surprise that people with bouts of sadness turn to the cathedrals of consumerism known as malls and indulge their penchant for acquiring things through cash or credit. Indeed, shopping has become such an ingrained habit for people who find joy in purchasing things when they want to improve their mood. This has become a constant practice that they often find themselves wishing that it was covered by health insurance. After all, retail therapy costs just as much and as according to Sophie Kinsella, you get a beautiful dress out of it. So, why not indulge?
For as long as malls remain standing, people would always have a myriad of reasons to shop and have resulting anecdotes from their retail excursions. We would often hear scorned women fresh from broken up relationships treating themselves to a nice little ensemble and swear that they have looked better in the dress they bought that they had been while they were in the relationship. However, the act of bringing joy is just one little perk, and as it is, there are a lot of benefits associated with the act of buying little treats for yourself. In fact, it matters not whether you shop largely for wholesale clothing or retail brands—all that matters is that you buy it solely for yourself. So, if you have been itching to get yourself a little something, here are some of the good reasons that might encourage you to do a little splurging:
1.) When you look good, you feel good
There is no doubt that buying stuff makes you feel a lot better. It would not even matter whether what you buy is an assemblage of various clothing or simply stuff for the home to improve your quality of life. The point you are making is: you are purchasing something with the thought of improving your current situation. As a result, you will feel a mood boost and end up much happier. It would feel new and just right. In a sense, you are doing you. After all, there is no better feeling than treating yourself to a five-course meal you have thoroughly enjoyed, or looking at yourself in the mirror wearing a killer outfit.
2.) Shopping is a celebration
In a deeper sense, shopping is a celebration of you–of all your accomplishments and achievements, of the survival of your struggle, of your lifestyle—of you. Having an incredibly long and stressful week at work would make you feel like you deserve a treat—whether that is in the form of treating yourself to a couple of movies in a row, or an expensive clothing ensemble. After all, blowing a little steam need not be so complicated if you just got paid and felt like you are weighed down by so much work or are simply just under the weather. After all, it is not called “Treating yourself” for nothing. If it helps you cancel out all the negative energy that happened during the day or any of the frustrating and upsetting things that have happened to you, then go and shop.
3.) Shopping signifies transition
Buying and acquiring things may seem like a negligible act, but although it might seem trivial, it might hold a larger significance in our lives. It could mean that we are preparing ourselves for new and better experiences—or we are looking to reinvent ourselves. In our endeavors to bring about such a transition, we would need to purchase the necessary items for it. Take going away for college for example; you would need your essentials in order for that to be a comfortable and liberating experience. Whether this may be in the form of buying furniture for your new dorm room or a new set of clothes for you to wear is entirely up to you. The act of buying things may seem relatively straightforward, but in one way or another, we are preparing ourselves—both mentally and physically for what lies ahead of us.
4.) It is a good me time
Unless you are a miserly individual who endeavors to live each day parsimoniously, chances are, shopping would be one of your favorite hobbies. And why should it not be? After all, you get to feel a significant boost in mood and would also have the added benefit of getting the item you want. Shopping for ourselves is a great avenue for spending time with yourself and your money. From there, you can focus on things which we are often told that should not really matter. It is an excellent way to find release and is fun as well. After all, it is not called retail therapy for nothing. By the end of the day, seeing the things you have bought for yourself as after effects or even fruits of your hard work would actually pay off.
5.) It distracts you from failure
No matter how hard we try, there are just some things in life where we would fail. We cannot have it all, and we should be inclined to accept the fact that failure is an inevitable occurrence in life. However, acceptance does not always mean we are happy with the idea or at least comfortable with it. So, to compromise, we find ways to cheer ourselves up. Suppose you underperformed on a particular test or have been through a truly exhausting and try day, instead of imbibing drinks of libation at the bar, you reach for clothes or shoes instead. Not only would it be more helpful to you, but you would also be doing your liver a favor as well.
While shopping may be a great alternative avenue for easing the stress and cheering ourselves up, always remember that like anything in life, too much of a good thing can be bad. So, exercise caution and do not overdo it. Treat yourself once in a while, but not to the point of excess where you are no longer prudent about your finances. So, if you are feeling a bit under the weather, go ahead and give yourself a treat—you deserve it!
