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| Note to self. |
Retail Therapy Patient: "Hey, I bought something!"
Minimalist: "And?"
Patient: "And now I'm happy."
Minimalist: "Are you really?"
Patient: "Actually, I'm not feeling as happy as I was when I first bought it."
Minimalist: "That is because that kind of happiness is temporary at best."
Patient: "Oh, now I am sad and I have buyer's remorse."
A while later - "I bought something else, and now I'm happy again. Oh, hold on..."
Minimalist: "Argh. I can help you with that."
Retail Therapy is the act of buying something to make one feel better. It does actually work... for a very brief moment in time.
The effect quickly wears off, while the credit card balance tends to linger. Buyer's remorse soon sets in. The cycle repeats.
If you are feeling down, here are 5 therapies more effective than buying stuff you don't want or need just to feel better from the initial rush.
Nature Therapy - go for a walk in the park or some other natural area. Sit quietly. Breathe. If you can't do that, look out a window with a view, or look at pictures of nature. They all have lasting benefits for mood improvement.
Conversation Therapy - meet with a good friend and talk about your feelings.
Exercise Therapy - a 30 minute workout does wonders for your state of mind. It does not have to cost anything, and you will be improving your health at the same time. Can be combined with any, or all of the other forms of therapy mentioned here.
Meditation Therapy - sit quietly, and clear your mind for 20 minutes.
Garden Therapy - gardening is good for every aspect of a person. After a session you not only feel better, but will also have healthy food to eat, which will further improve your mood.
Repeat as necessary. Lasting mood improvement guaranteed, and you don't have to buy anything. No buyer's remorse, no debt.
Just getting back from my impoverished brothers house and believe me a little retail therapy went along way there. Tubs to put the kids few toys in, a container to make sure that toothbrushes stayed off the dirty floor. Some small containers to hold bulk spices,to keep mice from chewing through plastic bags. A comfy mattress and waterproof sleeping pad for the bed wetters a little retail therapy did wonders for this home.
ReplyDeleteResearch has shown that the most satisfying reason to buy things is to give to someone else. Poverty sucks. It sounds like there is a lot of need there. Your brother is fortunate to have such a good sister. Families should support each other. If we don't, who will?
DeleteAgree, all of these are wonderful therapies. May I add reading therapy? Sometimes just sitting and reading is very fulfilling. Thanks Gregg your posts are always so timely and meaningful.
ReplyDeleteConsider Reading Therapy included in this list. I would be lost if I did not read, or know how to read. I am a sponge, and I soak up reading material of all sorts.
DeleteI need input, and reading is how I get it.
Hello! Reading Therapy is a big one for me, and I use my library a lot! I've never been into shopping, to the chagrin of my shopping sisters. My boyfriend and I like to play games together. Although that may involve some shopping, most people have a deck of cards to play some gin rummy, or some dice for a game of yahtzee (no specially printed points sheets needed, we use scrap paper and make own - all the info you need on the web). We also get puzzles from our library to do. These are great ways to spend the cold/dark winter months. Plus it is a way for he and I to hang out together, laugh, connect. Always a good thing. Great initial list, Gregg, enjoyed reading it. -- Mary
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteYES! YES! YES! Puzzle therapy! How could I forget that one?! Decades ago I always had a puzzle going. I was in college. People dropped by randomly to puzzle, very social and a great way to break from studying. I've started puzzling again lately. I have a puzzling buddy I get together with just about every week. We puzzle until the wee hours of the night. I have one started right here now. So much fun! My family are puzzlers too. We are going to start sharing puzzles. Though we have to share via snail mail.
Wow, I had no idea libraries have puzzles to check out! I'll see if mine does and if not suggest it.
Thinking about how many hours I'll probably puzzle in old age makes me not dread it!
You made me smile talking about a deck of cards and Yahtzee! Both are staples in my camping gear and have been taken along and enjoyed since I was young. I went to a cabin with my adult daughter and son in law for a few nights. Brought out a deck of cards and played gin rummy! Tons of fun! We are kindred spirits that way. Terri
Puzzling to the wee hours sounds awesome! It's great to find a buddy to do these simple but engaging things. We carry cards with us camping also - gin rummy around the camp fire is a blast. Gregg, I wondered about music therapy...I know you are a musician! That is so fun that you and Linda sing to each other. Portland Oregon (near where I live) has a station that only plays classical music with very few interruptions, and basically no ads. It is called All Classical and you can listen to the music online allclassical.org. Nancy, I too love art therapy, but am not very good at drawing...yep, I admit it, I have a box of colored pencils and a coloring book! Thanks to everyone who wrote things, and Out My Window, thank you for helping your brother who is in such need - what a wonderful sibling you are. -- Mary
DeleteI love the additions to the list. Linda just asked me how I managed to not include Music Therapy, one of our favourites. We enjoy both listening to music, and making music. As a matter of fact, about 1/3 of our communications with each other are sung.
ReplyDeleteNo need for retail therapy at all.
Yes! Music therapy even if you just play a record or radio if they still have stations that mostly play music!
ReplyDeleteI think we need this posted again with all the additions! I'm enjoying this!
Agreed. I will do a post of the definitive, reader-generated list of "Activities More Therapeutic Than Shopping". Linda and I have also enjoyed this thread a great deal. So positive and joyful to talk about all these good things. More proof that readers make the blog.
DeleteSo true - we need to get off the hamster wheel that is consumerism.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many better things to do than buy things we don't need that I am amazed that conspicuous consumerism has ever become a thing.
DeleteAfter visiting your blog I can say that I love your art, and am inspired to take up the pencil, pen and ink, and brush once again.
Great list and great additions.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Stay tuned for the post on the definitive list of wonderful therapeutic activities. Readers really pulled through on this one, and I am so thankful for that. What fun.
DeleteWe too love puzzling, but I'd like to add art therapy since I like to draw. Just takes a pencil and any kind of paper to let your creativity out! It struck me that the entire list is an exercise in creative thinking as the antidote to shopping. Great ideas, all! Nancy
ReplyDeleteOMG, how do I miss these things? Art is not only therapeutic, but is also a bonafide therapy that has done good for so many people around the world. Not only that, but Linda and I have both enjoyed the pleasures of making art at various times in our life together. We have not recently, though, and I suspect that will be changing.
DeleteThank you for this important addition to our shared list. I love your take on the overall theme, which is of course, creative thinking as you say.
Shopping pales in comparison to all these wonderful creative activities.
I’m late to the party but I want to add cleaning therapy to the list of therapies combating shopping. The emptying of a drawer/box/shelf, working through the content, cleaning and sorting does wonders. Also making sure all laundry is done, ironed, folded, hung usually relieves me of the need for more.
ReplyDeleteLove cleaning therapy.. Cheers!
DeleteThanks for adding to our expanding list. I wonder if making the bed in the morning fits into the cleaning therapy category, because I do that, and if feels like a good way to start the day.
DeleteI do enjoy a neat and tidy living space. Neat, tidy and minimal, that is.