You may not have known it had a name, but you're probably familiar with the concept of “bitty treat” culture, as it's become popular on TikTok and elsewhere on the internet. It's the act of indulging in small, inexpensive pleasures as a reward for work done, or just for the sake of it.
That might mean buying yourself an iced latte while you run errands. Or, after finishing that task you've been putting off all day, you can take a walk to your local bakery and pick up some pastries.
Caitlin Harrison, an associate marriage and family therapist, explained it this way: “Small treat culture is the practice of acknowledging doing something difficult, unpleasant, or boring, and offering some kind of reward.”
Harrison, who works in therapy at Kindman & Company in Los Angeles, told HuffPost: As a woman in my 30s, I can say that I am also a participant. ”
A 2022 article in the New York Times argued that the rise of snack culture may have been a response to the “continued helplessness and sadness” that characterized the pandemic.
“The thing about snack culture is that you always go and get snacks on a regular basis,” Professor Tracy Ranella told the magazine. “At least you can rely on that. You're guaranteed that this little weekly ritual will at least satisfy something inside of you.”
While the term “bite snack” culture is new, the concept itself is not. As marketing expert Coco Jason Sitt wrote in The Conversation, this is similar to a theory known as the “lipstick index” (later the “nail polish index”), in which consumers tend to are more likely to buy small, affordable luxury items, such as cosmetics. hardship.
Snack culture is also a form of retail therapy, but it “focuses on small, inexpensive purchases rather than shopping,” Sitt writes.
Therapists say there are positive aspects to the “little treat” culture.
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British psychologist and wellbeing expert Lee Chambers said: “In a world where we tend to focus too much on big achievements and milestones, it's useful to celebrate the small victories.” HuffPost.
“Small treats can act as positive reinforcement and create a positive feedback loop toward healthy habits,” says Chambers. “They can increase motivation and emotional well-being in the moment and foster a sense of accomplishment.”
It goes without saying that there is value in infusing your days with simple moments of joy and fun. As marketing expert Sitt explained, the positive emotions we experience when we buy iced tea or a new lip balm aren't about the product itself.
“They stem from the consumption experience of taking time off from work, feeling like you've earned a reward, and doing something to take care of your emotions,” he writes.
Zainab Delawala, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta, says that using external rewards to motivate oneself to complete unpleasant but necessary tasks can be “useful and perhaps empowering.” He said that there is a sex.
“For example, if voting is important, but waiting in long lines is a deterrent, then 'treating' yourself with a latte to make it more bearable can be a bit of a life hack.” Delawala says.
But there are also drawbacks.
That being said, relying too much on treats to get through the day can have an impact. ”“This includes becoming dependent on external rewards,” Chambers said, and “focusing too much on short-term gratification.” “Also, as it becomes standard operating practice, the benefits may diminish and become the norm.”
Some have also criticized the “little treat” culture as being consumerist because it often involves spending money (although it does not require much money, such as spending time outside, doing crossword puzzles, or listening to podcasts). may also include self-care activities that do not require self-care). .
“The 'little treat' culture can be a challenge given its close association with consumerism,” says Chambers. “It can strain finances and make people feel like they can’t even afford a small treat, which can be discouraging.”
Recently, there has been a lot of talk on social media about whether the “small snack” culture has gone too far.as One viral tweet posted that: “The snack culture is getting out of hand. You don't need an $8 cup of coffee because you did your laundry.”
Delawala said it could be a slippery slope. If you rely solely on external motivation to complete even the most unpleasant daily tasks, you may lose your internal motivation in the process.
“Intrinsic motivation is a very powerful behavioral activation mechanism, and as long as we can connect it to our personal values, we rely on it to do most of what we need to do. ,” Delawala said.
“It feels good to “reward'' yourself with small rewards, but it's only temporary pleasure and creates a dependence on “rewards'' that are not originally related to the task at hand.'' Masu. First of all, what does high-quality coffee have to do with laundry? ”
If you can connect housework to one of your core values, such as maintaining an organized living space that supports mental health, performing these daily tasks can give you an intrinsic sense of satisfaction. , which helps you stick to the habit, Delawala explained. .
Harrison doesn't think the “little treat” culture has actually gone too far. Perhaps there is some gender bias at play. Historically, women's interests and spending habits have been viewed as empty and frivolous, while men's interests and spending habits are often not monitored to the same level.
“I think rather this issue is a critique of the tendency for women to participate in general,” Harrison said. “Society likes to comment on and shame women for their pleasure-seeking activities. To me, restricting pleasure seems puritanical and boring.”
As with most things, Chambers says the “little treat” culture is best practiced “carefully and in moderation.”
Harrison advised approaching your personal reward system with thoughtfulness and self-awareness.
“If that snack is having a negative impact on your work, home life, or mental state, stop and reconsider your pattern,” she said. “If you can instead have something to look forward to in a boring and depleting life and it will bring joy to your life, then by all means do it.”