Shopping is becoming more and more popular leisure activity. However, some people feel that this has both positive and negative effects. Why is shopping so popular? What effects does its increase in popularity have - IELTS Writing Samples (2024)

FAQs

Is shopping becoming more popular as a leisure activity? ›

Shopping has become very popular as a leisure activity in our revolutionized world. With the advent of technology and the rise in the use of social media platforms, it has also been marketized as a means to draw the attention of friends, family, and followers.

Indeed, all of them listed enjoyable shopping as one of their top five leisure activities. They used terms such as ''fun,'' ''thrill,'' ''excitement'' and ''satisfaction,'' and they enthusiastically provided stories and examples that exemplified their experiences with this form of shopping.

Why shopping is a popular activity: Shopping is a popular activity among teenagers for several reasons: - Self-expression: Teenagers often use their style and fashion choices as a form of self-expression. Shopping allows them to find clothing and accessories that reflect their personality and individuality.

It has been stated that going shopping used to be a household chore, but it has recently transformed into a leisure activity or a pleasant outgoing.

The act of shopping provides individuals with a sense of control and autonomy over their choices and preferences. This empowerment can translate into improved self-confidence and a more positive outlook on life. The act of purchasing desired items can also evoke a sense of accomplishment.

Comparing and researching products and their prices are a lot easier with abundant online consumer reviews. Cheaper deals and better prices are also more available and accessible, since most online shopping is done without a middleman, directly from the manufacturer.

Shopping is new – it's about attaining something new. So dopamine is released when we shop. And apparently, it happens not only when we shop, but also in anticipation of shopping: “A lot of us are not necessarily addicted to the things we buy, but rather to the thrill of the hunt.

There are several examples of leisure activities. They include surfing, bicycling, traveling, horseback riding, tennis, golfing, skating, walking, swimming, weightlifting, hiking, martial arts, and skiing.

Shopping is an ordinary activity, it can be engaged in by the very young or the very elderly.

Shopping activates the pleasure centers of the brain and releases dopamine, the “feel good” hormone. That's the basic biological, organic benefit we get. However, there are other mental and psychological benefits we experience from it. Provides creative expression and aesthetic pleasure.

What is so good about shopping? ›

Relaxation and escape: when done in small doses over short periods of time with a particular goal in mind, and not as an ongoing or compulsive activity done to excess, shopping as a form of “me time” can be helpful, Ms Yarrow suggests.

Instant gratification

When you shop in-store, there's no waiting around for an item to arrive. You immediately have what you need — and there are no shipping costs. For shoppers who like to quickly eliminate items from their shopping list, it may be appealing to visit the store and leave with your purchase.

The hedonic dimension of leisure shopping is related to feelings of entertainment (Kim, 2002), enjoyment (Guiry et al., 2006), pleasure, and excitement (Kim and Kim, 2008) that shoppers might experience "from just being at the marketplace, experiencing stores, products, and people" (Bäckström, 2011, p.

Yes, shopping can be seen as both a necessity and a leisure activity. For example, browsing for new clothes, discovering unique items in vintage stores, or finding great deals can be fun and rewarding experiences.

Leisure retail is used to refer to retail outlets that attract shoppers to spend some of their free time browsing and shopping.

The most common leisure activity in modern society, watching television, encapsulates some of the paradoxes of leisure and meaningfulness.

Stacked bar chart showing time spent per leisure activity in average hours per day. In 2016, Americans spent 2.73 hours a day watching TV, which rose to 3.05 hours in 2020, before settling at 2.86 hours in 2021. Time spent on playing games and computer use increased from 41 mins in 2016 to 56 mins in 2021.

Explanation: Entertainment and recreation activities became increasingly popular in the 1920s mainly because work hours shortened, giving people more time for other activities. With the introduction of mass production and industrialization, people had more leisure time and disposable income to spend on entertainment.

Trends point to increased individualisation, a focus on sustainability and the continuing high importance of the family segment. Tourism and leisure industry providers must adapt to meet consumer needs and remain competitive.