The Science Behind Retail Therapy's Mood-Boosting Power
Retail therapy is described as shopping to invoke a positive emotion or feel better about ourselves, with 62% of shoppers buying something to help cheer themselves up. This type of shopping isn’t done to meet a need like grocery shopping does, as it more relates to buying clothing or beauty products that will boost our moods.
The reason why retail therapy is so powerful is that it acts as an endorphin release. This is a neurotransmitter that sends impulses to the brain and through the nervous system, so as we purchase unplanned items it involves an element of surprise that will trigger this endorphin release. This will enhance our mood and make us feel happier. However, it’s important to manage this retail therapy properly.
We will explore the science behind retail therapy throughout this article and focus on how it works to boost our mood.
How Does Shopping Make You Feel Better?
Retail therapy is often seen as a bad thing, but the truth is that it can make us feel better and can be good if controlled. There are many psychological benefits of going shopping, including:
Dopamine Increase
As mentioned, retail therapy will increase our dopamine levels which can make us happier as a result. Sometimes you don’t even need to purchase, as window shopping and filling up an online cart can have similar effects.
Feel in Control
Not being able to control what’s happening in our lives can be frustrating and stressful. Retail therapy can help us feel in control as we can make our own decisions about what we purchase. This is different from regular shopping, as it is more about impulse rather than planning.
Distraction
If we are feeling sad about something, going shopping can help take our mind off of it and can make us happier. Shopping for retail in-store can also bring the opportunity to go to other amenities, which is the aim of places like the shopping centre in Leeds.
Social Interaction
People who don’t get enough social interaction can use shopping as an opportunity to talk to others. Speaking to people can be some of the best cures for sadness, as loneliness is one of the biggest reasons why people feel down. This can make retail therapy more than just purchasing goods.
What To Keep in Mind With Retail Therapy
Using retail therapy to overcome sadness is completely fine, as long as you can manage it. While it has a serious power to improve your mood, it can also negatively affect your mood if you overspend or don’t think about what you’re buying. There are some things to keep in mind when shopping to improve your mood:
Stick to Your Budget: Overspending and debt are two of the biggest dangers with retail therapy. Setting a budget can help with this and prevent you from losing out on more than you can afford.
Shop for Things You Need: Take the opportunity to soak in retail therapy only when you need something. If you need a new T-shirt or new shoes, you should go shopping for them.
Window Shop First: Window shopping can act as a replacement for actual shopping, as looking at stuff through windows and or adding to an online cart without paying can have similar benefits.
Think About The Purchase: Give yourself time to consider whether you can afford an item before going out to purchase it. Your clothing choices can impact your mood and confidence, so you need to make wise choices.
Get Help: If you rely on retail therapy too much, you might need to consider getting some professional help to solve it. You don’t want to end up getting a retail addiction.
How to Spend Healthily With Retail Therapy
With retail therapy, you must spend healthily so that your finances stay balanced and you can afford other necessities. You first need to understand your spending habits by identifying your triggers, tracking what you spend and setting a strict budget. The budget that you set needs to not put too much strain on your total finances, as retail therapy spending should be done in moderation to be more effective in boosting your mood. Once you have your mind set on something it can be hard to ignore it, whether it’s a big purchase like artificial grass in Melbourne or something smaller like a pair of running trainers, however you need to be sensible.
One way that you can reap the benefits of retail therapy without spending too much money is by appropriating a percentage of your monthly income to purchasing one luxury item. You should ensure that this item is thought about in advance so that you know just how much will be leaving your bank account, and if that is considered to be affordable.
When to Seek Help
Knowing when retail therapy starts to become an issue is very important, as it can quickly spiral out of control if it is unmanaged. Accompanying retail therapy with traditional therapy will be the best way to help with your mental health. You should think about seeking further help if you feel a compulsion to shop, neglect your other responsibilities, use it to cope with emotional distress or get anxiety after spending.