day 91: 365 days no shopping
Five things I’ve learned in 3 months / 91 days of zero shopping:
You lose some control whilst drinking wine. Also, while in quarantine, that control is TESTED. DON’T hit the ‘place order’ button (for the record, I didn’t.)
None of us could have ever expected we would be forced to be in our house for weeks at a time.
This: One; helps the ‘no shopping 365’ ( No where to go! No one to see! Nothing to do! ) Two; makes you hate your loungewear choices REAL quick. I will absolutely be purging everything related to this #homelifelook at the very beginning of 2021 (possibly before, and I’ll sleep naked) and will totally be reevaluating all pajama and loungewear choices prior to future purchases.
It took a while, but...working out...I’m into it. I DO feel better once I do it, but as someone who is not drawn to exercise, it takes me a LOT to actually DO IT. I started little by little and can notice I feel better both about myself and what I’m wearing. Let’s hope month 4 - 12 stays that way.
Getting creative - I have worn more that I haven’t worn in years, in effort to be creative and see what I actually like. And most of it? I don’t! I have enlisted a friend (shoutout to Kathy Buri) to give me honest, unbiased advice on if I should keep something or donate. I try it on, send a pic and she has no idea my thoughts, whether I’m in purge mode or absolutely still obsessed with the piece. It works!
Lastly, this is hard for someone who looks to shopping or retail therapy during stressful times. We are in a QUARANTINE and can’t be around humans. STRESS MUCH? There have been client shifts, changes with freelance work, income, the unknown etc etc etc!!! Just as we all are...I’m stressed. So trying to understand how to alleviate that stress without hitting up a website and even browsing (browsing leads to buying) is something I’m working on. Still. Still no purchases, still no shopping.
At the start of this, I was confident I could go 12 months with no shopping but shockingly, after going through it for 3 months, I’m not sure I can. My confidence has gone down - does that happen? I think priorities have shifted, and I’m just more aware that life is short, buy the shoes (this was my email signature line in my early 20’s - CRINGE).
I mean heck, I may need a new loungewear set because I have worn the butt out of all the others ones I have during this whole thing!
But on another note, there are other bigger things to worry about, so I’m just taking day by day!
***I would also like to note, that I think during this time, we need to purchase from small businesses to keep them alive! So I have bought some quarantine pressies for friends, purchased flowers and needs (or just for fun) for Annabelle and have started birthday shopping for family for later this year. I am not buying unecessary items, but helping businesses in need and maybe just maybe, the click helps my mood too!***
Sending you all prayers, loving thoughts, virtual hugs and ‘stay safe’ wishes - can’t wait to see what is on the other side of all of this.