Treating yourself doesn’t have to involve a blowout Zara shopping spree, an entire block of Brie and a jar of Nutella. There are plenty of healthy ways to indulge that don’t crash your bank balance, damage your teeth or give you a dreadful hangover.
Skip the snacks and instead go for a walk in nature. You can enjoy the scenery and re-energize your body in the process.
Take a Hot Bath
Treating yourself doesn’t always have to involve ice cream and shopping sprees. In fact, there are many healthy ways to reward yourself that don’t cost you anything at all.
Taking a hot bath is one of the most relaxing ways to treat yourself. Make it even more enjoyable by adding skin-softening oils, scented bath products and epsom salt to soothe sore muscles. Listening to music in the tub is another way to relax your mind and body.
Eat Your Favorite Treat
If you’re feeling celebratory, eat your favorite treat. This could be a small cup of ice cream, a piece of cake or a grilled cheese with swiss and tomato on whole wheat bread.
However, it’s important to recognize if your craving is based on emotion or hunger so you can make better choices in the future.
Eating a treat in moderation is OK, but don’t use food to reward yourself on a regular basis. Instead, try one of the other healthy ways to treat yourself!
Go for a Walk
Walking is an inexpensive and accessible activity that offers many physical and mental health benefits. Walking can be as simple as strolling the streets of your neighbourhood or as elaborate as hiking.
Even a short brisk walk has been shown to improve cognitive functioning, such as creativity. It’s also been found to help boost the immune system and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check.
Find a partner or group to go for walks with, and make it a daily routine. This will help you stay on track and commit to your exercise goals.
Take a Nap
The post-lunch slump is often the perfect time for a nap, which can help you feel more energetic and alert. But it’s important to keep the length of your naps short, because longer naps may throw off your nighttime sleep cycle and leave you feeling groggy.
Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein were both big fans of the afternoon snooze, so if you’re struggling to get through the day without one, go ahead and take a power nap.
Watch a Movie
Whether you are watching an action film or a heartwarming drama, movies can give you an emotional boost. They can also teach you about different cultures and social issues.
Watching a movie alone can help you engage with the story and reflect on what it means to you. You can also learn about your own struggles and achievements from the movie character’s journey.
Instead of eating candy or junk food while you are watching a movie, opt for healthy snacks like frozen grapes, popcorn and guacamole. These foods will boost your mood and increase your concentration.
Listen to Music
Listening to music is one of the best ways to treat yourself. It has a wide variety of benefits including boosting mood, decreasing stress and even helping you sleep.
Music can also be a powerful social tool. Listening to music together can help people feel connected and relieve anxiety. Visiting friends with their favorite playlist is another way to treat yourself without spending much money.
Indulging doesn’t have to mean maxing out your credit card and a blowout Zara spree. Try these healthy and affordable treats.
Read a Book
Treating yourself does not have to be expensive. In fact, there are many ways to feel good that don’t involve spending money at all.
These simple, easy, and cheap ways to treat yourself are a great way to show yourself some love. Whether you’re celebrating an accomplishment or just wanting to feel better, these little pleasures will definitely do the trick. Think of it as your own personal emotional happy hour! You deserve it.
Go Shopping
If you love to shop for clothes, shoes or accessories, treat yourself with a new outfit or even just a nice pair of socks. Just make sure you are shopping for things you need, not just want!
These healthy ways to treat yourself will boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself. Most of them are free or inexpensive, and many of them can be done on a regular basis! Make this your emotional happy hour and watch how it improves everything you do.