Don't worry, this article isn't going to advise you to give up any facial cleanser and cappuccino that comes your way and just spend money on necessities. You should treat yourself and indulge in self-care, amid a nightmare pandemic. Retailers want you to take care of yourself - specifically, for their brands. It is a multibillion-dollar industry.

Consider the advertisements for lavender-scented candles and the hundreds of posts with titles like "15 Self-Care Products We're Using Right Now."

However, the abundance of self-care goods on the market, combined with a need for relaxation, can easily contribute to irresponsible spending. Provided that the idea is as squishy as a $40 bath pillow, it's also convenient to purchase a variety of items in the name of self-care. Before you spend money to make yourself feel better, consider the following:

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Anger will lead to bad decisions. And it's been a challenging year. It's no surprise that you want to treat yourself. Many people can find it easier to "add to cart" than to discuss their emotions. The computer game intended to distract you becomes boring; the journal meant to encourage you gathers dust, and the tea meant to soothe you finds a home in the rear of your cupboard. What sort of self-care causes you to lose money - and then feel guilty about it?

When you're down, don't go shopping. For eg, Sarah Newcomb, a behavioral economist for the investment consulting company Morningstar, has discovered that if she goes shopping for clothes while feeling depressed or nervous, she will waste money. As a result, she mostly shops while she is in good spirits and looks her finest. To hold emotions in control when shopping, remember "I deserve this," or "this will solve it," and dreams of living someone else's lifestyle, says Amanda Clayman, a psychiatrist, and counselor specializing in financial security in Los Angeles.

"That's why we're particularly vulnerable to advertisements or health influencers who seem to have their lifestyle in place," she says. When you combine emotional insecurity with online shopping, it's easy to succumb to impulse purchases. "At this stage, you can virtually buy stuff with the force of thinking," says Newcomb, who is also the author of "Loaded: Money, Psychology, and How to Get Ahead without Losing Your Values." Distance helps, but takes a step back from the purchase before you feel calmer. Give it some thought.

YOUR NEEDS - AND YOUR CAPABILITY TO SPEND?

When it comes to self-care, try to be more deliberate and less sentimental. According to Newcomb, "the sweet point of financial self-care is thinking, 'I have needs and I have money. “How can I make the most use of my meager capital to fulfill all of my needs?” (She considers social contacts, respect, trust, and a sense of mission to be needed)

Consider the desire that a purchase of self-care fulfills. Is that regular smoothie giving you a reason to get out of the house and meet new people? Is this a good way to help a small business? A delightful snack? If you're looking to save money, maybe you can fulfill your needs in other, cost-effective ways.

Knowing how much money you have is part of being intentional about it. If you keep track of your expenses, you can figure out how much money can go into smoothies and other self-care expenditures.

BEST WAYS FOR YOU TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE

Now that you recognized your needs and how much money you have to spend on them, you can plan to invest in self-care goods. Perhaps you've discovered that visits to the smoothie shop were satisfying your need to get outdoors. In that case, go for a stroll around the park, maybe with a homemade smoothie in hand.

Learning a few ways to treat yourself can be beneficial when you're feeling down and trying to convince yourself that you deserve that shiatsu foot massager you can't afford. Consider what usually makes you happy. Clayman enjoys taking showers. Perhaps you feel happier after talking with a friend.

If you're not sure where to begin, follow in the footsteps of Newcomb, who feels grounded when walking in the forests. According to Maria Rodas, assistant professor of marketing at the University Of Southern California Marshall School Of Business, "a lot of research suggests that bonding with nature will regenerate vitality and have cognitive benefits." Rodas also claims that many people are yearning for liberty and power because they have had very little of it since the pandemic.

She claims that making things will help meet those needs, and it doesn't have to be creative. You could draw a sketch, but you could also make a pie or design a new spreadsheet for a personal project. Be present in whatever action you want, advises Clayman. She claims self-care is a "first and foremost state of mind," not a tangible thing.