Treat yourself. You’ve likely heard it a time or two. Buying the latest skincare item or grabbing brunch with your besties is fine and dandy when your goal is to create the picture perfect self-care moment for Instagram. But treating yourself shouldn’t be just a trendy hashtag. If you’re on the verge of burnout and need a pick-me-up that packs a punch? That mimosa won’t help.
I’m really passionate about helping women put themselves first. Busy-ness is not an excuse. If you run yourself into the ground, you’re less productive at work, your kids don’t get the best version of you, and hobbies? What hobbies? The better you take care of yourself, the better you can take care of those you love (yourself included).
Flip the script on how you define treat yourself from indulgent moments into daily small acts of self-care. Caring for your mental, physical and emotional well-being isn’t Instagram glamorous. Quick starters can include skipping your weekly Netflix binge, silencing your cell phone an hour before bed, and choosing quiet time with yourself.
Okay… :steps off soapbox:
Treat Yourself First
Ever gotten home after a rough day at work and said nope, not today satan? I for sure have. Sometimes, it takes every ounce of self-control to not change into sweats and throw myself on the couch in exhaustion.
And working from home? What are ergonomics again? Working from my sofa took a toll on my neck and shoulders. During COVID shutdowns when massage and acupuncture were temporarily closed, yoga was the only activity that helped ease my self-imposed pain. Might have required me to brush the dust off my yoga mat, but yoga went a long way to help.
Second best decision was lacing up my sneakers and pounding pavement whenever I could fit a walk in. Getting outside in the fresh air is highly underrated. Enjoy your lunch outside in the sun and consider a walking conference call.
Have you ever been to the movies solo? I know so many people that won’t, but I’m here to tell you, you must if you haven’t. My favorite way to treat myself is to escape mentally by immersing myself in a great story on a giant screen. And yes, popcorn helps plus you get it all to yourself.
But most importantly, don’t guilt-trip yourself while enjoying the story on the screen. Don’t mentally add things to your checklist. Don’t think of all the errands you could be running. Don’t worry about having forgotten to take something out for dinner that night. Just watch the movie! Your to-do list will be waiting for you in two hours.
Treat Yourself to A Class & Exercise Your Brain
I once read that learning a new skill only took the desire to learn and acceptance that you might suck in the beginning.
As a recovering perfectionist, it’s really hard for me to try new things. I always want my first attempt to turn out beautiful and free of errors.
While wandering the streets of Soho in NY, I passed a storefront called Craft Jam. I took a picture of the shop to remind myself to look them up.
Craft Jam was a store where people take crafting classes! 🤯 I saw a watercolor class with Ingrid Sanchez of CreativeIngrid and before I could change my mind, I bought a class ticket. I cried during class because I was so frustrated that my attempt at painting flowers looked like such crap. In the end, I developed an appreciation for watercolors and framed my artwork as a reminder that first times suck, but there’s beauty in trying.
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, often takes the official photos of her family for their Instagram account, but what are the odds that the first photos she took were fabulous?
Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it will allow you to exercise your brain. So what’s something you’ve always wanted to learn?
Volunteer Your Time
Before Meghan Markle fell in love with Prince Harry, she was an advocate for women’s rights, fought for gender equality, and volunteered her time with several organizations.
Think you can’t volunteer because you don’t have enough time? Volunteering doesn’t require you to give up a full day or even long stretches of time. Do you love to read? Consider helping elementary school kids to read. Love to walk? Check out your local animal shelter and ask about walking dogs. Do you love gardening or yard work? Help out a neighbor by asking to mow their lawn.
These un-luxurious ways to treat yourself are both difficult and very easy. No, these aren’t luxurious, easy things to do, but they work and when I take charge of my mental health, I feel like the Queen I really am. What about you?
