Intentional Shopping From The Restless Mind
Hello, 2024
It’s been awhile since I’ve written an update on my shopping habits and I feel like it is the perfect time to dig into this topic. While I have made some excellent strides towards being more intentional when it comes to shopping, the temptation to shop has been a force to be reckoned with in my life recently. My partner and I have been stuck at home for a week quarantining with the modern-day plague, covid. My symptoms have not been in any way severe, however the most noticeable has been the fatigue. I’ve been sleeping and lazing about like one of my cats, (but doing so with much less poise, I assure you). With my low energy combined with the desire to rest and let myself heal, it has been difficult to find things to do away from screens and it’s been especially challenging to resist the urge to shop.
A Restless Mind
In some ways I have enjoyed my extra time at home, allowing myself to be idle during a time when it’s exactly what my body needs. My mind doesn’t always want to be agreeable though, I recognize that it has been on the search for distractions. Sometimes I am able to remind myself that it’s ok to be doing nothing or to only be doing the thing at present. I can sit at my dining room table and only be focused on eating my yogurt cup. I can relax in my comfy chair with my feet up and watch the cardinals flit about outside my window.
Even with the progress I’ve made since beginning my journey towards a more intentional life, I still feel like my brains default setting is to look for something, anything to fill the void it experiences when it is restless. When I don’t take steps to be intentional with my thoughts this leads me to act without intention. In my restless mind there is a resounding voice saying: I should be doing something. I should be thinking about something, without actually having any particular plan in mind. When I don’t give myself a plan, I end up doing things out of habit. This isn’t always a bad thing necessarily, but this week my brain is falling back onto a few not-so-great habits. I’ve been itching to fill my time by getting on my phone and looking for my next great escape.
Shopping as an Escape
Browsing my favorite brands on my phone after a long day of work and miscellaneous adulting is kind of like getting on an airplane at Cleveland Hopkins in the middle of winter, knowing you’re headed for Tampa. It’s an escape from reality, even if for just a couple of hours.
My brain tricks me into thinking that I’m being productive, that I’m solving a problem when I shop online. I get caught up in the search for the perfect item to fit my need—researching, reading reviews, performing price comparisons. So not only is it a vacation from reality, I also feel the thrill of solving a mystery as if I’m Sherlock Holmes himself.
Resisting The Temptation
Browsing for clothing, skincare and makeup is like a sweet treat for my brain, coated in sugar and deliciously addictive. One way I counteract the urge to shop has been to rely on some of the healthy habits I’ve built for myself. Not unlike having a list of coping mechanisms for managing mental health issues, I have been relying on a list of things I can do instead of browsing. During this rest week at home I have:
Worked on the blog
Journaled (A skill I learned to regularly practice during 2023)
Meditated
Went for a couple short walks when I felt up to it
Spent time playing & cuddling with my kitties
Watched Enola Holmes & Enola Holmes 2 on Netflix (for the 4th time?)
Read a few more stories in my copy of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes (see my theme here?)
Remembering My Why
While it’s been helpful for me to have a replacement activity I can lean on in times of weakness, I’ve noticed that pausing to remember why I’m trying to be more intentional is equally as powerful, if not more. I’ve been keeping track of my budget every month for the past couple years and on more than one occasion this week I took a glance at it. Just a quick check-in. This practice helps to remind me that I feel so much more confident when my money is being spent thoughtfully and in my best interest. I find joy in owning beautiful things and in exploring my personal style and I don’t want to diminish that joy by overspending or overconsuming. I don’t want to feel shame or guilt for spending money on things that bring me joy.
Keeping a Wishlist
Another useful tool in my intentional shopping toolbox is a wishlist. I’ve been utilizing a wishlist since early 2021 which was a tip I learned from Patricia of A Small Wardrobe. The basic premise is that when you come across an item you’d like to purchase, first put it on a wishlist and sleep on it. I give myself about a week or longer before returning to evaluate whether or not I still want the item. I find that when I give myself a little space to come down from the initial high of seeing, wanting, coveting…I am more capable of making a well-grounded decision. Do I actually want this item? Was I in it just for the thrill and not necessarily for the item itself? As it stands, I have six items on my wishlist. Most items are clothing, but there’s one pair of shoes and a piece of jewelry as well.
Did I purchase anything during my week of quarantine?
Yes, yes I did. But before you judge me too harshly, {I see you over there on the internet}, two of the items I bought have been on my wishlist since November, the third item is a replacement AND I had budgeted for all three. I’ve been wanting to try two makeup products from Merit Beauty. I own a few products from their line and I was intrigued by one of their newer releases, the Solo Shadow, which is a matte cream eyeshadow. I purchased the shade called Studio. In addition, I chose one of their tinted lip oils in the color Falcon. I placed my order with Sephora because I wanted to also replace my mascara.
I feel confident that I adhered to the rules I set for myself.
1. These items have been on my wishlist long enough for me to have decided with certainty that I wanted to go ahead and make the purchase.
2. I also was aware of how much I was spending and had planned ahead to make sure I allocated the money from my budget to cover the cost.
How are you handling the winter months, and/or spending more time indoors? Do you find it harder to follow your shopping rules? Do you find it difficult to give yourself a break from screens in general? Please feel free to leave a comment, I’d like to hear your struggles and your wins too!
Thanks for reading. Happy Friday.
Britt