You heard us right. It turns out those little shopping trips to Target and T.J. Maxx have science to back them up — and have been proven to improve your mood and relieve stress and anxiety. Keep reading to find out how, and let the guilt that may come with spoiling yourself melt away.
It’s Science
Turns out ‘retail therapy’ is not just a term that we use to justify our spending habits, but an actual phenomenon proven to boost your mood. One of the reasons we see this mood boost following a shopping trip or personal purchase is that it helps us to feel in control. Not feeling like you are in control is a large contributor to feelings of stress and anxiety.
Shopping in-store is also a sensory overload for our bodies and minds. The sensory stimulation we get when shopping helps us visualize positive outcomes instead of negative ones, reducing anxiety. It also helps distract us from other stressors in our lives.
Another reason that retail therapy improves our mood is that the thought of buying something that brings you joy or serves you personally in some way actually releases dopamine, a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good. Dopamine acts on parts of the brain that bring a sense of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. So in short, yes, retail therapy does actually improve your mood. It’s not just a placebo effect.
The Importance of Filling Your Own Cup
The phenomenon of retail therapy reveals a deeper physiological need to serve yourself before you serve other people. Think of it like this— you have a pitcher and three glasses. To fill the three cups you must first fill up the pitcher. In this case, you are the pitcher and the glasses are other tasks and people in your life. We need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves and fulfilling our needs, both physical, mental and emotional, before we take care of and serve others. To give energy to other things you first need to give yourself energy. If going to Target and shopping for some holiday decor or a new outfit, or running to grab a sweet treat downtown is what fills your cup up— then we certainly aren’t going to stop you!
What do you think? Have you ever used retail therapy to relieve stress or improve your mood? Let us know by mentioning @VALLEYmag on X!
