It takes everything in me to avoid making a pit stop at the cafe near my block to get a little treat, but I end up caving 9/10 times, because how could I possibly get through my day without my emotional support Tropicana juice box?
Yup, you read that right. Did I just reward myself for doing normal human activities that are expected of me, such as waking up from bed and going to class? Yes, I did. But it’s not just me, I swear!!!
THE LITTLE TREAT PHENOMENON
This interesting spectacle has been coined as ‘little treat culture’, and is especially prevalent amongst Gen Z. Think of it as a reinvented lipstick effect, the one that had the millennials in a chokehold during the 2008 financial crisis. In an era of economic and political instability along with a collapsing job market, buying little treats has evolved into a quiet movement of resistance against a bleak future. This form of purchasing seems to be a futile attempt of grasping onto the last remaining feelings of control, in a world where our freedom to choose is rapidly disappearing.
The little treat culture encompasses a variety of things – Lip gloss charms, morning matcha latte runs, bag tags, stickers and even the infamous Labubu. Somehow, accessorizing my pain with every little trend on the internet seems to be my new favorite hobby these days. Although, this has been especially terrible for my wallet as I gulp my Nescafes and Tropicanas by the dozens as a reward for a bad day, or even just a day if I’m being really honest.
LITTLE BUYS, LIMITED FUTURE?
Why is it so normalised to celebrate our small wins by spending a fortune on the latest collectibles? Is it just our capitalistic environment feeding into our fears by helping us microdose on these mini dopamine hits?
Well, in today’s economic, political and social climate, big purchases such as buying a home and saving up for retirement seems quite out of reach for us. Cue the memes that go “I should have bought a house in 2009 instead of being in preschool”. So, if I’m not going to be guaranteed long term safety and happiness, you bet I’m going to turn to tiny purchases that get me through the week.
Moreover, it’s an instant plus in my books if it’s Instagrammable – every little aspect of our life has become performative (or has the potential to be). From going on a morning run to reading a book at night, anything I do for myself can be used to seek validation from others, including my little treat indulgences. Maybe I do want people to be slightly jealous of my very aesthetic study set up in a cute little book cafe, when in reality I’ve just spent half an hour trying to fix the lighting in the picture, in an attempt to craft the perfect narrative for myself.
BUT, ARE THEY ALL BAD?
This begs the question: so, do we stop indulging ourselves? Well, not exactly. While I agree that little treats (at least for me) play a very significant role in determining my mental health for the foreseeable future, it isn’t necessarily the best coping mechanism. Additionally, purchases can only get you so far, that too from a financial perspective. Novelty dies, and you’re soon reaching for your next hit, whether it’s through retail therapy or binging on your 6th packet of chips.
TREAT YOURSELF BETTER
But trust me, there is a sustainable way out of this. First off, remove the shame associated with this phenomenon. It’s okay to want a little treat to get through your day – however, this constant need to grasp on to bouts of happiness could be indicative of something larger going on in your life which probably needs fixing. Sugarcoating it (quite literally if you’re someone like me with an uncontrollable sweet tooth) will not help you cope with a situation that needs a healthy amount of introspection and problem solving.
Next, would be to set firm boundaries for yourself. Spending too much on little treats? Set a tight budget of how much you’re allowed to indulge per week. Writing down your expenses is truly the biggest reality check in order to understand where your money is going. Remember, constant little treats add up, creating big holes in your wallet. My advice would be to sit down and calculate how much you’re currently spending and direct yourself from there.
This brings me to my next point: learn to give yourself little treats that set you up for long-term joy and fulfillment. This could be by intentionally setting aside time to do activities that you love. Crafting, naps, bird watching, a warm bath – little treats are all around us if we look for them in the right places! Don’t give into the misconception that the internet feeds you about self care and treating yourself. Treating yourself does not have to be monetary in nature and can be extremely beneficial in helping you destress.
TAKEAWAY
We all love a little treat, but it’s up to us to decide what we indulge in and how often we do so. Being more mindful about navigating this by implementing the above strategies will help us from being trapped in an endless cycle of guilt and anxiety. That being said, while it’s important to be careful, do not rid yourself of a cold coffee every once in a while. We all deserve to have an occasional guilty pleasure. Here’s to treating yourself!