We all indulge in retail therapy every now and then, especially women, shoe shopping, dress shopping etc. etc. I too have indulged incessantly in retail therapy in the past but I have learnt after all these years that it is not as effective as it sounds/feels.
Here are the pros of it:
1. Great stress reliever, boosts your mood, alleviate depressive symptoms.
And the cons are:
1. It can become a compulsion if not controlled.
2. You could go in huge debt.
3. The happiness of buying new things just lasts for a few days. Disappointing right?
How do you control it if you have become addicted:
1. Avoid online shopping, it is easy and convenient, you will end up hoarding up unwanted items.
2. Try to do window shopping more, don’t buy until and unless you really need something.
3. When you go shopping, keep a to-buy list and try to stick to the list.
4. Try to leave your extra ATM cards at home.
5. If you really like shopping, keep a monthly budget aside.
6. Invest in a hobby and do that once you are stressed out or feeling depressed.
7. Indulge in self-talk if you get tempted to go binge shopping.
What do I do when I get stressed or depressed?
Various things some of which you could try as well if you get clueless:
1. Go and sit in a coffee shop/bar alone, look at people, observe them, read a book, like a nerd.
2. Friends, right time to call upon them.
3. Go sit by a lake or a river.
4. If you are into music, learn compose music/instrument playing.
5. Singing, reallyyy helps, I sing everyday.
6. Cook an elaborate dish.
7. Write diary entries.
Long list actually 🙂
I learnt all this the hard way after having wasted a lot of money on retail therapy, may be I should not be harsh by using the word “wasted” 🙂 at the end of the day what we do earn for? our happiness, right? But it is never too late to get wise and invest our energy/resources in the right direction and manage our lives.
-D