你有過這樣的體驗(yàn)嗎？壓力大的時(shí)候，逛逛超市，刷刷網(wǎng)店，下單一堆必需品和非必需品，這才總算舒坦了。

密歇根大學(xué)2021年的一項(xiàng)研究顯示，購物可以滿足人的控制欲，緩解壓力的效果是只看不買的40倍，減輕悲傷的效果是其3倍。

According to a study done by University of Michigan researchers, shopping to relieve stress was up to 40 times more effective at giving people a sense of control and that shoppers were three times less sad compared to those that only browsed for items.

購物減壓有多普遍

據(jù)華盛頓郵報(bào)報(bào)道，2017年，美國最大金融導(dǎo)流平臺(tái)Credit Karma對(duì)1000多名消費(fèi)者展開調(diào)查。超過半數(shù)受訪者表示，曾通過沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)來緩解壓力、焦慮或抑郁，23%的受訪者有過刷爆信用卡的體驗(yàn)。

More than half of the 1,000 consumers polled by Credit Karma said they have impulsively shopped to deal with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they’ve maxed out a credit card in the past year.

從年齡來看，68%的千禧一代體驗(yàn)過沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)，而X世代和嬰兒潮一代分別只有53%和26%的人會(huì)通過購物減壓。

Millennials, 68 percent, responded by saying they have stress spent in the past, compared to 53 percent of Gen Xers and only 26 percent of baby boomers.

Notes

Millennial：千禧一代（出生于20世紀(jì)時(shí)未成年，跨入21世紀(jì)后成年）
Gen Xer：X世代（出生于1965-1980年）
Baby Boom：嬰兒潮（1946-1964年）

從性別來看，48%的男性和31%的女性沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)者表示，在壓力大的時(shí)候會(huì)選擇買酒；82%的女性和52%的男性選擇買衣服；42%的女性和22%的男性選擇買珠寶；而44%的男性和30%的女性選擇買電子產(chǎn)品。

In regards to genders, 48 percent of men and 31 percent of women who have stress spent said they had purchased alcohol when stressed. Eighty-two percent of women stress spent on clothing compared to 52 percent of men. Women also lead stress spending for jewellery, 42 percent, compared to 22 percent for men with men stress spending more for electronics 44 percent versus 30 percent for women.

為何購物可以減壓

醫(yī)學(xué)表明，買買買可以降低血壓，維護(hù)身心健康。早在上世紀(jì)80年代，《芝加哥論壇報(bào)》首次半開玩笑地將這種為了調(diào)整情緒或精神狀態(tài)而進(jìn)行的購物行為命名為“購物療法”。

In fact, shopping to reduce stress can actually help you live a healthier life by making sure that your blood pressure is lowered. Shopping to relieve stress is also called retail therapy as a form of regulating stress.

Credit Karma的調(diào)查顯示，82%的沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)者并不后悔，甚至很長一段時(shí)間內(nèi)都保有極佳的消費(fèi)體驗(yàn)感。

The survey found that that 82 percent had only positive feelings about their purchases and that the positive mood boost that followed those purchases was long-lasting.

如何避免沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)

然而，對(duì)于多數(shù)人而言，購物療法存在副作用，剛開始看似無害，久而久之也許會(huì)發(fā)展為消耗金錢、引發(fā)沖突的強(qiáng)迫心理，從而帶來更大的生活壓力。

However, the side effect of retail therapy, for many, can start out as a relatively harmless mood booster but could possibly grow into a compulsion that drains finances, causes conflict, and thereby adding a significant amount of stress to a person’s life.

因此，如果不想被購物療法的副作用影響，就要學(xué)會(huì)避免沖動(dòng)消費(fèi)。以下是幾個(gè)小竅門：

?購物清單

可以在購物前列一份清單。買圣誕禮物也好，買日常雜貨也罷，購物清單可以幫助你理清思路。如果能夠堅(jiān)持按照清單消費(fèi)，就可以適當(dāng)獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)自己：比如順便買杯咖啡，或者回家以后放松一下。

Prepare a list prior to shopping. Whether you’re purchasing Christmas presents or buying groceries, having the items you need written down will provide you with clarity and order while you’re shopping. Reward yourself for sticking to your list and you’ll be more likely to commit to it: buy a cup of coffee while shopping or plan a fun activity for when you return home.

?抵制誘惑

想想你最大的開銷是什么？在商場(chǎng)買買買？外出吃飯？度假？列出消費(fèi)明細(xì)，才能采取措施抵制誘惑。比方說，如果你周末經(jīng)常外出吃飯，那就在周五那天往櫥柜里屯點(diǎn)食物，以便督促自己在家下廚。

Think about what you struggle with most financially. Do you spend too much money at the mall? Eating out? Vacations? Make a list of where your money is going and take necessary steps to avoid temptations. For example, if you spend too much money on dining out on the weekends, stock your cupboard with groceries on Friday so you’ll be more likely to stay in and cook.

?減少攀比

別再與鄰居、同事或朋友攀比了。大家的經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況因人而異，決定因素多種多樣，但絕對(duì)與個(gè)人價(jià)值無關(guān)。攀比不僅耗費(fèi)錢財(cái)，還會(huì)降低滿足感。與其怨天尤人，不如感恩當(dāng)下。

Give up the need to keep up with your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Everyone’s financial situation is different and it’s dependent upon a variety of factors, least of all being one’s self worth. Comparison leads to debt and dissatisfaction with what you already have. Appreciate what you currently have by practicing gratitude.

這樣看來，適當(dāng)?shù)馁I買買的確可以減壓，但還是要以個(gè)人的經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況為前提，如果只因一時(shí)沖動(dòng)而一擲千金，到頭來后悔的還是自己。

（來源：中國日?qǐng)?bào)雙語新聞微信  編輯：商楨、實(shí)習(xí)生王安然）