It’s easy to forget about taking care of ourselves. Most of us put others first, work long hours, and have little time to dedicate to self-care or long luxurious soaks in the bath. However, treating yourself isn’t just a luxury – it’s an essential part of maintaining good mental and physical health. Without it, sometimes, it’s easy to fray at the edges long before you notice you have done.
There’s great value in treating yourself if you can to help upend this. That doesn’t mean spending way over your budget or going on ten holidays a year, though that would be lovely. It just means showing yourself a little appreciation once in a while, and if you want to, tokenizing that to be meaningful.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of treating yourself and share some practical ways to do it. We also hope this guide gives you the permission to do it, to stop you feeling guilty for even trying.
Getting Over That Guilt
It’s essential to understand that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish – it’s necessary. Many of us feel guilty about taking time for ourselves, but self-care is what actually allows us to be our best for others. We usually know how nurturing others can help them which is why we’re glad to do it, so why not focus on yourself?
You can pay attention to signs that you might need some self-care. Feeling constantly tired, irritable, or overwhelmed could be a great way of telling you to slow down and take a breather, or be a little more positive than you are. If you get over the guilt of investing in yourself, you might actually do it.
Just Start Small
Treating yourself doesn’t have to involve grand gestures or expensive outings or buying a new car every time you feel a bit down. Of course, most of us can’t do that anyway. Luckily, small, consistent acts of self-care can be just as effective. This could be as simple as enjoying a cup of your favorite green tea in peace, taking a leisurely bath, or spending 15 minutes reading a book you love and even writing a review of it after.
The secret really is to make these small treats a regular part of your routine. Set aside a little time each day or week for something that brings you that sense of peace. It all adds up.
You Don’t Have To Treat Yourself “One Way”
Self-care really does look different for everyone. What relaxes one person might stress another out – for example, meditating in the lotus position for an hour may help someone feel rejuvenated, but to you that sounds like a one way ticket to being in terrible aches and pain.
Taking some time to explore different options and find what truly makes you feel refreshed and recharged is smart. Maybe you love retail therapy such as by finding the most beautiful Designer Crossbody Bags, or building your vintage book collection. It could be physical activities like yoga or hiking, or just having a spa day.
You might even discover a form of self-care you never knew you’d enjoy. Maybe you’re a construction worker covered in tattoos and with a fondness for whisky, only to find out a luxurious bath bomb is the height of comfort to you. That’s great.
You Have To Set Boundaries
One of the biggest issues in treating yourself is finding the time to do it, and as we all know, time is spent just as easily as money. This is where setting essential boundaries becomes non-optional. Learn to say “no” to appointments or requests that drain your energy without adding value to your life, unless of course you really need to be there. It’s okay to decline invitations or requests like overtime if you’d rather just recharge during your well-earned time off.
Communicate your needs clearly to those around you. Let them know when you need some alone time or when you’re setting aside time for self-care. Most people will understand and respect your boundaries if you explain them clearly. Or sometimes, self-care is just saying no without tripping over yourself to explain why.
Treat In Moderation
So far we’ve spoken about not restraining yourself or feeling bad about putting yourself first, but it’s good to discuss the counter side to that argument. While self-care isn’t all about indulgence, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to something special now and then. But remember moderation – these treats should enhance your life, not strain your resources or health. A night with a cheese board, a glass or two (or three) of wine is lovely for a night in, but should you do that four nights a week? Probably not.
Sometimes, the best way to treat yourself is by giving yourself permission to relax, to not be productive, or to simply enjoy life without guilt, so don’t think you have to really make an event of it. A treat you enjoy is better than one you ruin the appeal of.
Create A Relaxing Environment
Sometimes, it’s really as simple as this. Your surroundings can have a big impact on your mood and stress levels, so creating a space that feels calm and inviting can be a form of ongoing self-care and a treat. If you come home from work knowing you can relax and find comfort in your reading corner, maybe you don’t need to spend $400 on books as a treat this month, you can just finish your backlog.
As you can see, sometimes it’s not just the treat you have, but how it improves your life in the best possible way. It takes time to get there, but detaching your treats from an obligatory sense of consumerism can actually make material purchases feel more necessary and worthwhile. It’s ironic, but can also help you treat without really questioning it.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to treat yourself correctly and enjoy doing so. You’ll also make it more of a staple of your everyday life.