Feeling burnt out, depressed, at a loss and hopeless? I suggest finding your “glimmers”

A little under a year ago I pretty much lost all my vices. Those discarded in the past now include refined sugar, alcohol, sleeping in, and some other mundane things that I felt should be left in my twenties. Then came the election, a few personal issues in December, an inauguration, and a period of very grey January days during which the news brought wildfires, plane crashes, and female entrepreneurs I admire being called “difficult personalities”. 

I had nothing to turn to except one night when I indulged in some ice cream and was met with a violent stomach ache. So I’ve decided to bring back a vice and that vice needs to be shopping. I believe this is healthy. It's not normal to lose all your outlets, and yes, I still have plenty of workouts in which to vent my frustrations. But I believe we just need something that feels slightly more naughty. Something that sparks in-the-moment, pure, dopamine-fueled joy. I call these moments “glimmers” and I create them for myself when I know it's going to be a dark week. Glimmers can be a delicious meal, a dinner date, but when you need something on the fly they require a little more spontaneity. They require leaning into your vice drawer and pulling out that one that just feels great in the moment. Zero guilt. It doesn’t count. It's a glimmer.

And that’s why I reserve at least an hour every night for my shopping glimmers. In the past I have written about maximalism and responsible shopping, and I have been challenged by this recently. I love clothes and my vice is requiring me to choose wisely. It takes more work, but is it worth it? Absolutely. We need glimmers and if mine can also support the brands I’m trying to highlight, I feel at peace with that. My bank account doesn’t though.