The Joy of Shopping

When we think of retail therapy, we all get that feeling of euphoria with the thought of purchasing our favorite handbag, clothing item, or pair of shoes. When we tend to feel down and out or have something change the trajectory of our day... we want to shop. Once you swipe that card or hand over the cash, your mood instantly gets better. But what if that's not a bad thing?

We all have those days when we feel out of control and lost within our own emotions. The easiest thing to do with time and money is to shop. Many studies have shown that when we add things to our cart digitally or physically we create that dopamine feeling in our brains. At times we don't even need to purchase the actual item but having the idea that it was available to purchase makes us feel more whole.

Emotions like anger or sadness can take over our sense of control. When we aren't happy it can feel like our life is spiraling. Instead of laying in bed, we have always been told to get up and go or do something to get it off of our minds. Most of the time this pushes us to "go outside" and the first thing we do is spend money. I know for me a bad day turning into a shoe purchase will easily make me forget about any of the before. My focus will then turn to the excitement of when they will ship to my door. We all strive to control the uncontrollable and retail therapy has proven to end confusion and pinpoint happiness at its' intended feeling.

Now that you're out and about or typing away in the Nike search box, your eyes are glued to all the options. When your thoughts are everywhere visuals can help distract or ease the anxiety. When you window shop your focus then shifts to the possibilities of how you'd look in that dress or that jacket you've been eyeing since it came out. And that ladies and gentlemen is how your mind transfers from "I can't handle this" to "What if I just buy an outfit and take myself to lunch in it?". Altering your mindset to things you want or like versus what may be going on in your life at that moment creates happiness.

Do you want to buy an overpriced T-shirt or cry?


Along with taking yourself out for a shopping date another thing we do is surround ourselves with people we love. The best part of shopping is always tagging your friends along with you. Grab a coffee and go vibes. Even if you don't go out, texting your friends about which item to buy versus another creates joy. When your friends pitch in on loving the shirt or pants you're buying you tend to want it more and feel happier you thought of it in the first place.

Retail therapy is a huge activity we all participate in in one way or another. Between group chatting about your new pair of shoes, grabbing clothes off the shelves, or even shopping through the window the joy it brings is endless.

So before you sit in your feels or scream in your pillow think about that new hat you saved a couple of weeks ago... it's waiting 😉

Stay Saucy,

Saucemeup