By Karen Espig
These days, we are more conscious of focusing on our wellness and mental health. Unfortunately, there are many self-care myths out there, and retail therapy is one of the most popular. One issue with spending your way to joy is that it typically only provides a temporary quick fix. It can also add to your problems.
Let’s examine the dynamics and consequences in more detail and then explore some more effective options for self-care.
What Is Self-Care?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Self-care is the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health. They can prevent disease and maintain health. They can cope with illness and disability. This can be done with or without the support of a health worker.”
Self-care includes physical and mental health and looks a little different for everyone.
Pros & Cons Of Retail Therapy
Retail therapy is about browsing for or buying things you want. You may not necessarily need these things. The goal is to boost your mood or distract your attention from stress or problems. It has been shown to provide a quick uplift to your spirits and can undoubtedly be an effective distraction.
However, its effect is fleeting, so if this is your primary self-care practice, it is not sustainable.
Buying stuff works partly because it provides a sense of control and autonomy. Feeling sad, stressed or anxious makes us feel out of control. Sudden, difficult life events can be unsettling, and making definitive purchasing choices, even small ones, can be comforting for some.
On the flip side, too much shopping has financial consequences, which can impact other areas of your life. The time and money spent online browsing or at the shops mean you do not engage in other more enduring self-care practices. These include exercise, time spent in nature, or vacations away.
Unfortunately, sometimes people opt for the quick fix purchasing brings so as to avoid facing or learning to cope with deeper issues than a bad day at work or a fight with their partner. To be clear, no amount of retail therapy can successfully address depression, anxiety, or loneliness (to name but a few). Consumerism merely distracts from real-world problems that will remain when the glow of shopping wears off.
Alternative Enduring Self-Care Practices
Genuine self-care involves engaging in activities and practices that promote long-term well-being and address more profound needs. It includes the healthy management of both acute and long-term stress. Proper self-care allows for personal growth and a more positive approach to life. It may not give the immediate dopamine rush of an impulse purchase, but proper self-care creates a significant and more lasting benefit.
So, what can you do instead of buying your way to calmness? The good news is that the list is long and varied, and a critical step in your self-care practice is simply to make your physical and mental health a higher priority in your life overall.
Self-care begins with the very basics: a good night’s sleep, good food, and regular moderate exercise, which, of course, you have heard over and over (there’s a reason for that; it’s been proven!).
Take some time to think about activities and moments that bring you joy. Are there hobbies you’ve wanted to learn or get back into? Do you long to spend more time with the important people in your life? Perhaps you need a few hours a day to yourself?
Identify your personal needs and set aside time and energy to meet them.
It has been shown that mindfulness, i.e. being more conscious of the moment, goes a long way towards creating balance and improved health. You can start small with just five minutes a day, where you focus on breathing and being in the moment. Start a gratitude journal, or begin your day with positive affirmations.
Invest time in your friendships and relationships; if you don’t have any, allow for them. Loneliness and social isolation affect our mental and physical health. I’m talking about real social connections, preferably in person, but a video call can also do the trick over long distances. Quick texts or comments on social media aren’t going to cut it.
It is important to emphasise that spending time with people who leave us feeling drained rather than supportive is the opposite of self-care. Part of self-care is letting go of toxic relationships and dynamics and making room for new, healthier options. This is not always a comfortable choice, but it is a healthy one.
If you decide to indulge in a little retail therapy, do it intentionally. Instead of impulse buys, purchase items you actually need, or that will have long-lasting use. Be mindful of environmental and long-term financial impacts.
Steer clear of self-care myths, and set yourself up for better health using real and worthwhile wellness techniques. Next time you want to shop, bring your bestie. You might find yourself enjoying your time so much that you don’t buy anything at all!