The holiday season is prime time for shopping sprees. Whether you’re picking out gifts to celebrate the end of the year with loved ones or simply taking advantage of seasonal sales, it’s a shopper’s paradise. But beware: unplanned shopping trips can quickly become impulse-buying frenzies if you’re not careful.
According to a Medical Express report, shopping when you’re hungry, tired, lonely, or stressed significantly increases the risk of impulsive spending.
Similarly, rushing to shop right before stores close or during online flash sales can also lead to impulse buying or overspending.
Beth Frates, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, explained that shopping can trigger the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward. This can lead to impulse buying or excessive spending. She noted that the pressure from large-scale discount events and the expectation of gift-giving during the holiday season can be perilous traps.
Want to dodge the impulse buy bullet? Self-care is your secret weapon. Frates recommends fueling up with good food, getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep, engaging in physical activities like walking, spending time with friends, and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness to calm both body and mind.
Additionally, try a stress-relief method, such as the 4-7-8 breathing technique, before shopping. When you spot something tempting, pause and ask yourself: “Do I really need this, or is it just a fleeting urge?”
Set a shopping budget or time limit to keep yourself in check. By resisting dopamine-driven temptations, you can enjoy shopping responsibly. After shopping, engage in activities that provide psychological rewards without spending money, such as walking, spending time with friends, or indulging in hobbies. These activities give your brain the fix of dopamine in a much healthier way.
Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran from the University of Arizona noted that while gift-giving during the holidays has pagan roots, the desire to share with others is as old as humanity.
Previous studies show that stress-shopping can trigger various physiological responses, such as the fight-or-flight response. This includes a faster heartbeat, muscle tension, elevated blood pressure, and rapid breathing. Financial strain can also add to psychological stress.
The holiday season bombards us with choices, and our brains can only handle so much decision-making before fatigue sets in. This mental fatigue can lower self-control and coping abilities.
Waiting in long lines, dealing with sold-out must-haves, and time crunches are all stress-inducing obstacles that can send our fight-or-flight response into overdrive. Our brains interpret that ticking clock as a threat, ramping up the pressure even more.
Frates pointed out that not everyone feels jolly during the shopping season, as it can be a source of stress and obligation for many. She emphasized the importance of developing effective stress-relief strategies, such as mindfulness, to ensure a healthier holiday season.
Most Commented