How to form Healthier Shopping Habits
Creating sustainable shopping habits can be challenging to get into - it's not as easy as swapping out your current brands for more ethical ones. It all comes down to consuming less. This blog focuses on the importance of buying less. We can think about two things.…. How we shop, this is how we can consume ethically and sustainably and When we consume, so how frequently we shop. This all begins when a consumer moves from a mindless shopper to a more conscious consumer.
Think about this, purchasing more sustainable brands doesn't give a free pass to buy as often and as much as we want. The fashion industry has started playing a part in transparency and sustainable practices but more needs to be done. This brings consumerism to light, the impact it has on the environment, the ecosystem and overall health of the planet. If you think deeply, the rate we purchase, spend and consume are unsustainable unless change is done.
High demand comes high production but this means that products are made cheaply in bulk rather than through quality. We can learn to have a circular system in mind when shopping and taking control of our money and spending more consideration towards each purchase.
We can take a look at the top 6 ways to become conscious consumers:
Avoid the temptation: The first part to forming a healthy shopping habit is to understand the deeper meaning to why we shop so much in the first place. If we've earnt that money, the first thing is to spend it as a reward. One reason we shop so often is because we have been shaped and influenced by social expectations of keeping up with the latest trends. The idea of FOMO has resulted to people shopping more than ever. Another one is the idea of "retail therapy" influencing our need to de-stress by shopping and hence giving us emotional comfort. This need for comfort is costing the planet.
Know what we own: To have more control in our spending habits is to know what we have in our closet. This can mean going through it every so often and seeing what you actually have and need so it avoids overlapping clothes you already have. This is also a good time to go through and section clothes you might want to donate which can support a sustainable lifestyle.
Minimise spending windows: You can decide to put time limits on your apps and time browsing through windows. This is helpful in teaching yourself discipline and control and you may find that you can resist the attention shopping advertising has on you. You will likely purchase less and use your time better for other activities.
Leave it in the cart: To minimise clothing consumption, try leave the item in the cart for at least a week and this way you can spend time thinking about whether you need that item or if it was an impulse decision. If after this period you decide you'll benefit from this purchase you can go ahead with the purchase.
Create shopping rules: Create a list of things you actually need. Limit yourself to one item of clothing per month of season. You can even challenge yourself to going a whole year without buying something new. You're still able to find things your family or friends own that they no longer need so reusing clothes can create healthy shopping habits.
Find hobbies: Avoid the temptation to shop out of boredom by finding things to keep you busy. We can spend less time on our devices as that is where advertisers will grab your attention. Instead of going on our phones or computers, we can try reengaging with our community and joining social groups and clubs, find hobbies and new forms of exercise. Something that will keep you away from your browser.