Black Friday is around the corner and people across the nation will go crazy again to reap the benefits of flash sales and attractive deals.
On Black Friday, innumerable stores reduce the prices of their services and products, driving millions of people to go to the retailers. American retailers earned more than $7 billion on Black Friday in 2017, according to the American Marketing Association.
On average, a person in the United States spends more than $1,000 to do Black Friday shopping, according to The Balance. These flash sales come along with a great amount of stress and excitement.
Many stores offer attractive deals on a first-come-first-serve basis due to increased popularity and people wait in lines for long hours, feeling tired and fatigued.
For shoppers, it could be quite hectic and stressful, especially those who have a history of mental health conditions. Large crowds, unruly shoppers, and long lines could increase irritability, anger or anxiety. And stress could exacerbate these mental health issues.
According to the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, “Flash sales like Black Friday can place great stress on people’s shopping experience. Periods of poor mental health can in some cases be accompanied by impulsive decision making, or anxiety and worry about the future.”
There is also a scientific reason why Black Friday shopping affects your mental health. The flash sales and large crowds on Black Friday give a massive boost to one of your brain chemicals called dopamine, a neurotransmitter that gives you a feeling of intense pleasure when you are about to make a sizzling deal, of course, for a little while.
The shoppers are not the only ones who are affected by Black Friday sales, the store workers also put extra efforts throughout their shifts with small breaks. The workers are also stressed out because they must help control large crowds and indulge in bargains with customers over several items. So all of this is quite stressful. Nevertheless, shopping on Black Friday can be less stressful if you plan well. You can plan ahead to expedite your shopping process. You can go online if you want to avoid those long lines, large crowds, and unwanted long waits.
