Today's Women of Age

I was thinking about this the other day after I bought a new sweater. I did not need this sweater but I liked it and could picture myself wearing it. And for a moment it made me happy. I got that dopamine rush.

And that’s when I noticed that this year I have been buying more clothes than I usually do. It’s a little frustrating because what I’m buying doesn’t fill the needs of the capsule wardrobe I’m trying to create! It’s also curious because I’m not going into an office anymore and my social obligations are limited.

Hmmm. So what has changed that I find myself doing this? And I realized it was due in part to the chaotic political environment we’re living in. I’m getting overwhelmed and stressed by the news and shopping for clothes online provides a bit of escapism that ever so temporarily makes me feel better.

Now experts agree that small doses of retail therapy are fine. They give us “happy vibes” and a sense of control. We may not be able to control all the big things that are happening in the world and our lives, but at this moment we can buy that red sweater or that pair of shoes.

But some warn that it can become an addiction. Many of us may know someone who falls in that category and while I am not at that point, it does give me pause.

Which begs the question, when I get that urge to shop as a stress reliever, what else could I do instead?

Here are a few ideas that would work for me:

• Head outside. Mother Nature provides a great antidote.
• Call a friend. I have some friends who give me the space to vent and that always eases the pressure of life.
• Get moving. Exercise and dance can tap into those same happy hormones.
• Listen to music.
• Pray or meditate.

So like many things in life, retail therapy is fine in moderation. It’s not an answer or solution to whatever stressors we are experiencing, but it may lift our spirits for a smidge. And sometimes a smidge is all we need to keep on keeping on!