How to look after your wellbeing and finances this Black Friday

by Health and Wellbeing Expert Stephanie Taylor at StressNoMore

“Black Friday is here again. Often penned as the busiest shopping day of the year, the annual occasion is an opportunity for retailers globally to make serious money and consumers to spend it on the hunt for bargains ahead of Christmas.

“But, while grabbing a bargain might be great, shoppers need to be cautious not to overdo it.

“If not done right, Black Friday sales can result in increased stress levels, lack of sleep and potential financial struggle later down the line.
“While shopping has long been called ‘retail therapy’ and has been linked to raised levels of dopamine and positive thinking, it can trigger negative feelings too.

“While browsing sites for the best Black Friday deals, consumers may find themselves stressed due to an overload of product options and repetitive marketing that makes you feel like you might miss out if you don’t buy an item there and then.

“This could ultimately trigger anxiety, which is problematic for decision making and could result in rushed, uncalculated, panic purchases.

“Another recent study revealed that bad experiences linked to online shopping could be putting our brain under emotional stress, too. It highlighted the top three annoying experiences, such as your package arriving late, websites crashing as you’re about to purchase and your package getting returned to the depot following a delivery error. These issues are particularly prevalent amid Black Friday and the festive period, where consumers regularly face issues buying and receiving their online purchases.

“Meanwhile, the busy shopping period may cause increased levels of fatigue and issues sleeping.

“Spending hours staring at a screen all day has been known to increase eye fatigue, which comes when you spend too long concentrating on something for too prolonged exposure to blue light.

“And with several e-commerce retailers launching sales in the early hours of the morning, this can play havoc on our sleeping patterns and circadian rhythms.

“Plus, despite the promises of discounts, Black Friday can result in financial struggles for many, with many likely to overspend. Mental health experts have revealed how unnecessary spending around this time could be detrimental to those who are vulnerable to emotional purchasing. Debt has regularly been found to increase depressive symptoms.

“However, it’s not just our wellbeing that is affected either. Raised levels of anger caused by Black Friday, lack of sleep and financial concerns are all contributors of increased stress levels that could eventually lead to a stroke or a heart attack due to increased blood pressure levels.

“How to protect your wellbeing and keep your cool this Black Friday:
– Only buy what you need
– Unsubscribe from marketing emails that pressure you
– Limit yourself to a certain amount of shopping time per day/week and if you feel yourself getting stressed, stop!
– Don’t choose sales over sleep – there likely will be an even better deal at a later date
– Set yourself a budget to avoid future financial struggles

“Although, it’s not just about the consumer, as retailers have a duty of care to their customers to help them avoid experiencing any of these negative impacts when shopping on their sites, too. They can help by setting realistic start times for sales, ensuring their website is up to date and not putting too much pressure on them to purchase by offering similar alternatives if they miss out on deals.”