When Stuff Doesn’t Feel Good
I specialise in the thoughts, emotions and behaviours behind shopping, decluttering, organising, our self-image and wardrobe and our relationship with our living spaces and environment. I teach people to identify and let go of what’s not serving them so they can enjoy freedom and peace of mind in their wardrobes, homes and lives.
Whether we’re consciously aware of them or not and from the warmth of our beds or the buzz of the local mall, the following are just some of the pinchy feelings and habits that follow us around as we shop every day.
Before the shop
- Fear of missing out on the best items
- Feeling envy or competitive with others who shop more
- Feeling less attractive, glamorous or on trend than others
- Feeling inauthentic or unexpressed in your style
- Dreading shopping
- Feeling left out or deprived if you’re not in a position to shop
- Spending hours and hours browsing items online
- Feeling beaten down by the algorithm as you scroll social media
- Constantly checking for sale price updates
- Believing the next thing you buy will finally complete your style aesthetic
- Continually researching, procrastinating or talking about a future purchase
- Telling yourself that the next thing you buy will definitely be your last
During the shop
- Buying stuff late at night because you feel lonely or sleepless
- Impulse buying for a quick hit of excitement
- Buying stuff because it’s in fashion or nice on others
- Feeling lost in your style after life changes
- Confused about your body shape or colouring
- Unclear on your signature style
- Repeat buying because you feel uncreative or uninspired
- Using shopping as a core social activity to keep in with the tribe
- Feeling uncomfortable about your appearance in the changing room mirror
- Avoiding shopping in person
- Fretting about your size in a desired item being unavailable
- Relieved a desired item is in stock
- Relieved a desired item is out of stock
After the shop
- Feeling low or desensitised
- Feeling continually dissatisfied with your experience or items
- Worried about how you’ll fill your time if you decide to shop less
- Being complacent about returning unsuitable stuff before return date
- Obsessing on the next thing you feel you need
- Feeling guilty after you buy that you’re overconsuming and not helping the planet
- Feeling bad after you spend money about others who have less
- Worrying after shopping that you won’t have the money for your bills or priorities
- Weighed down about your lack of savings and poor financial decisions
- Feeling overwhelmed when you receive deliveries or arrive home with multiple bags
- Wondering if you’ll have the space or how you’ll organise and store the new item
- Questioning if you’ll even get to wear the item
Even though I understand this area deeply and have been teaching selective shopping and decluttering for 16 years, I’ve no doubt the No Buy year ahead will bring further interesting insights into all these area, personally as well as professionally. I’m genuinely excited to do this!
If you want break the cycle of unhelpful thoughts, emotions and behaviours in a shopping push-pull, or if you are fascinated by people and you want to set up a business and help clients shop and declutter in a way that’s meaningful, sustainable and life-transforming and successful in the long term, I’d love to help.
Find out more about The Declutter Academy where you can do a Self-Study Training to support you in mastering your own shopping, decluttering and organising, or a Certified Training so you can set up a rewarding business and work with paid clients. It’s self-paced learning and designed to work around your learning preferences and schedule!
We’ve currently a special offer on The Declutter Academy monthly payment plans and one-off payments. Save up to 33% for a limited time only.
Learn more and register directly for immediate access at https://decluttertherapy.com/33-sale-academy/
