You don’t have to run for a runner’s high - even staunch non-runners like myself can score those happy endorphins through other types of exercise, such as yoga or kickboxing.
Solution: If you find yourself reaching for your credit card to feel good, take part in other activities that give you the same feelings instead. It’s clear that shopping is associated with good feelings. And another 2014 study from the University of Michigan found that buying things you personally enjoy can make you three times happier than simply browsing. And those who love to shop can attain the same high through the act of buying.Ī 2014 research study from the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that “retail therapy” not only makes people happier immediately, but it can also reduce lingering sadness. But it’s attributed to the release of dopamine that occurs after you’re done with your run. I’m definitely not a runner, so I’ve never experienced one. They say that after running, you get a runner’s high. Some of the most common psychological triggers for shopping may ring true with your own spending style. Knowing what drives me to spend means I’m more mindful of the phenomenon occurring in the future and can combat boredom with something other than a trip to the shoe store. Sign Up NowĪfter my month without shopping, I had a lighter closet but a greater awareness of my own shopping triggers. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%.