4-3-2-1 Shopping Method

How To Free Yourself From Big-Sale Excitement

We're constantly bombarded by sales and discounts all as a way to force our hand to make that purchase (remember how we talked about that hit of dopamine in the last blog post?). This time of year we have gone from Thanksgiving sales, right to Black Friday (which lasted two whole weeks), to Cyber Monday (also a week), then to different Christmas & holiday promos, and before Christmas had even begun we were getting emails promoting Boxing Day sales (which will last at least 2 weeks), and now inboxes are full of emails about Valentine's Day...and December isn't even over yet!

We are being trained to go from one thing directly into the next, and stores are hoping and praying that they're feeding into the thrill & excitement of getting a good deal. (Which I hate to break it to you, but all those "sales" aren't in our best interest. Most large retailers are still making money off of us, and they've learned that we'll buy more if we're excited and think we're scoring a deal.)

My Personal Styling business, in its entirety, revolves around having a wardrobe that is authentic, thoughtful and intentional, which begins with thoughtful and intentional purchasing.

Before you get your undies in a knot, I am not against a sale- I love a sale just like everyone else. This is about not getting swept away by the prospect of scoring a sale so that the excitement clouds our decision making.

So how do we avoid that super fun impulse-shopping mindset, and move into more deliberate, purposeful shopping without scrimping on the thrill of finding a new favorite?

The 4-3-2-1 Method is one that has been taught and talked about for years and is adaptable to many different scenarios we face in everyday life. This particular method is my spin on helping you focus on creating that thoughtful and intentional wardrobe that you love and that truly works for you, by making thoughtful and intentional shopping decisions...even when a great sale is beckoning you!

Let's count it down :

The 4-3-2-1 Shopping Method

4 : Take a breath...and count to 4

All the spike of excitement to settle a bit. When we do this, we allow the thought and intention to move in...without taking all the fun out of shopping. Once things are calmed down, do you still want the item?

3 : Think - "Would I wear this with 3 different things I currently own?"

The key word here is "Would" because that brings in the intention- "will I, or won't I?". When you ask "Could I wear this?" the answer is almost always yes because it's hypothetical. But by asking "Would I wear this?" it confirms what is actual. If you can actually see yourself using the item in 3 different ways, it could be a winner!

2 : Take 2

This step is about giving yourself some space to breathe, think and consider. While you can just take 2 minutes, moving your body helps your brain process (it's science). Here's what I recommend :

If you're shopping in person, take 2 laps around the store or if you're shopping online, take 2 laps around your space. When you remove yourself, even slightly, you're giving yourself space to let it all sink in and go through these questions :

Do I really love this? Do I feel my absolute best in it? Does it feel effortless? Does it feel like me? Does this item function for my lifestyle? Will I wear this right away?

Once you've taken 2 and gone through the questions, if it's still a keeper, move on to the last step.

1 : When/where will I wear this in 1 month?

The key to having a great wardrobe is to have clothes that function for your life. Typically, events and lifestyle don't differ much from one month to the the next. If there isn't an opportunity to wear something in the next 30 days, the big question is- how will this item actually work for me?

Giving yourself the time and space to THINK about an item before purchasing the will save you from :

• Wasted money.

• Guilt.

• Clutter, chaos and confusion in your closet.

• A disjointed closet that's full of individual pieces, rather than cohesive, versatile options.

• Clothing that collects dust rather then invoking joy.

Sticking to this 4-3-2-1 Shopping Method will give you the foundation that you need to create a wardrobe that is authentic, thoughtful and intentional whether there's a sale or not!

For more insight into Dopamine Shopping (and what how Dopamine Dressing is SO much better) click here to read the blog.