Why are obsessed with tracking our holiday purchases
There's a child-like joy that comes with ordering something online for the holidays – whether it be clothes or kitchen gadgets.
We sit anxiously refreshing the U.S. Postal Service or FedEx pages to see when our items will arrive, and we become overly excited, hopeful and anxious.
According to Owen O’Kane, a psychotherapist and author of "Ten to Zen: Ten Minutes a Day to a Calmer, Happier You," even the smallest positive future events can motivate us when we're feeling down.
Experts say there's something about the anticipation of waiting that is exciting for those in need of change in their lives.
When our package finally arrives, many of us are satisfied. But that initial excitement has probably waned because our obsession with our parcel represents much more than the item we purchased.
For some people, the arrival of a package may also represent "an imagined positive future where you can control your needs for a book or blender or blouse," making life feel more manageable and less monotonous.
For more on holiday health and wellness, visit USATODAY.com