You ran the full dopamine shopping loop — browsing, comparing, deciding, placing the order, and the anticipation of waiting. Each step gave your brain a small hit of dopamine. The research says the biggest spike actually happens at the moment of deciding to buy, not when the package arrives. The wanting is the reward.
Why this exercise matters
Impulse purchases are rarely about the item — they're about regulating a feeling. The next time you feel the urge to buy something, pause and notice: am I shopping for the thing, or am I shopping to change how I feel right now?