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This blog is another opportunity to feel grateful and thank you dear Universe: You continue to bless me with recovery and overall health.
Playing games, asking inquisitive questions, getting extra goodies, accompanying my parents shopping on their weekend drive and taking a stroll with my grandfather to a local market, shopping for grocery items, walking through those small stores and streets, and swinging by his favourite spots, where everyone literally recognized him offering the food in season, as kids those days were filled with back-to-back fun activities.
A decade later, as an undergrad, my friends and I would spend hours on the shopping streets, feeling fulfilled by getting a hang of the latest trends at a bargain, walking back happy and satisfied with our arms overflowing with dozens of shopping bags. Even today a lot of my fascination is based on limited offers and deals, filling my cart with goodies and instantly feeling connected and joyful. At times, the joy derived feels momentary but the very next moment: – who cares?
Literally, all of us have such memorable moments and for many shopping is so much more than what we buy, isn’t it?
Over the years a rise in digital literacy has made online shopping an inevitable part of our lifestyle. E-commerce platforms across the globe are adding interesting features to successfully gamify shopping experiences and drive user retention and engagement by targeting price-conscious buyers even in the most underserved markets. The offers of deep discounts for a limited period create excitement, urgency, and an overall irresistible experience for takers.
Post diagnosis with a rare disease, Isaacs’ Syndrome (a neuromuscular condition stemming from muscle hyperactivity), my life underwent a drastic change, and following that diagnosis, I also discovered I was suffering from chronic ailments like Lyme disease (a bacterial illness transmitted by ticks), Glaucoma (which damages the optic nerve), and Membranous Glomerulonephritis (a progressive kidney disease), I was bedridden and vulnerable to health complications yet fun remained the most critical part to regulate stress and fuel the brain with happiness, and what better than buying a treat for a thrill by mood.
It was all the little things that created the difference, as little as receiving a message from Amazon that a package was sitting on the doorstep.
Online shopping comes in handy and gains even more importance when physical activities are challenged. Even while stationed at home it was quite easy to gain access to stress-relief products like Noise cancellation headphones, Iyengar Yoga props, Aromatherapy diffusers, a chess board, a study lamp, prescribed medicines, and a list of related items, Planners, and Meditation sitting stools to help deal with everyday challenges.
The smell of something new is so quirky and was definitely my need of the hour in tough situations for the happiness quotient. Managing a balanced and healthy meal also became quite easy. Though consumerism has been criticized for finding real happiness, if done with a conscious effort could have health benefits:
- Took away from reality for some time by distracting me visually.
- Comforted with the least physical tiredness.
- Avoided crowd and billing counters.
- Luxury of receiving the products directly at home.
- The process of shopping was effortless with a click of a button.
- Felt safer considering my health complication.
- Saved on the traveling hazards.
- Better access to product information.
- A cost-effective strategy with better discounts.
- Wider range of options.
- Easy returnable policies
- A doorway to choosing good products with the help of customer reviews.
Warning: turn away from being a Shopaholic
Too much of anything could be harmful. Today, marketing gurus are extraordinary creators and are known to frame and reframe our needs. We literally follow people so much so much so that, at times it becomes important to define our limitations and learn to control our horses. Even Billionaires like Warren Buffett (an American citizen, known to be one of the most successful investors of all time) refrain from holding Credit Cards due to high-interest rates and the potential for impulsive spending.
- Getting addicted and going out of control to shopping could find us standing in an uncomfortable zone.
- The Marketers understand our pulses better than we do and very well know their jobs of selling a product therefore staying conscious while making purchases is important.
- Might drain our pocket: sticking to a budget-friendly spending habit is the healthy way out.
- There is a lot out there to allure: follow a strict disciplinary approach.
- A pleasant experience of shopping could turn around to a matter of concern if we go overboard.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed above in this article are the author’s own and do not represent any kind of medical advice.
