From time to time over the course of everyday life, we all need to treat ourselves to certain things, and to relax, let our hair down, have a bit of fun, and take care of our own personal well-being.
Often, when we think of “treating ourselves” we immediately think of the kinds of indulgences that may be fun and pleasurable in the short term, but that are often harmful or troublesome if taken too far – like binge eating junk food or going clubbing, for example.
While you can treat yourself in all sorts of different ways, it’s always a good idea to have certain ideas at your disposal for some “treats” you can give yourself that are likely to do some good on a deeper level, instead of only being about the pleasure of the moment.
Here are a few good ideas of some things to treat yourself with.
Some comfortable and stylish clothes
Getting yourself some comfortable clothing that is also stylish at the same time, such as some great knitwear, can be a great thing to treat yourself with during special occasions – such as when celebrating a promotion at work, or giving yourself an early Christmas gift.
Not only can comfortable clothing really help you to relax, unwind, and feel more at ease over the course of day-to-day life, but outfits that are also stylish and fashionable can really help to boost your confidence and to encourage you to feel like the best possible version of yourself, too.
Clothes can have a remarkable impact on how we feel, perceive ourselves, and how we experience day-to-day life in a variety of different ways. Although it might be easy to overlook how significant this can be, it’s a really good idea to have some items of clothing in your wardrobe that you can rely on to put you in a good mood and help you to relax.
A get away to somewhere green and tech-free
There are all sorts of fantastic benefits that come from our modern digital technologies, ranging from our computers and smartphones, to our TVs, tablets, and all the rest.
Not only can these devices help to entertain us in a bunch of rich and engaging ways, but they can also allow us to enhance our careers and work on any number of different projects we might choose, while simultaneously staying up-to-date on what’s happening in the world, and communicating with our loved ones across a variety of different locations.
At the same time, though, there are some reasons to be cautious about being too plugged into the world of digital tech at all times.
For one thing, writers like Nicholas Carr, author of “The Shallows,” have pointed out that too much time spent in front of screens, and online particularly, seems to have some really negative effects on our attention spans – making it more and more difficult for us to focus on anything for a prolonged period of time.
Then, as recent documentaries like Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma” show, spending too much time on social media can have a range of different negative side-effects as well, including things like heightened stress, anxiety, and depression.
Putting all of this together, whenever you’re feeling a bit stressed and highly strung and feel like treating yourself, treating yourself to a weekend getaway somewhere green and relatively tech-free can be a great way of helping to reset your perspective, give you the opportunity to take a deep breath, and allowing you to take a step back and reset.
A good story that carries you away to some other place or gives you a different outlook on the world
As human beings, we’ve been fascinated and obsessed by great stories and storytelling since the dawn of time, with many of the earliest tales that we know about appearing to stem from an oral tradition of storytelling – where tribes are gathered around fires and recited myths, legends, and adventures.
Today, too, great storytelling has the power to really carry us away to other places, or give us a different outlook on the world and our own lives.
Whether in the form of reading a great novel that you find really engaging, or watching a TV series that features really gripping storytelling, as opposed to just being light entertainment, treating yourself with a good story can be a brilliant way of adding a bit more magic, depth, and fascination to everyday life.
Time spent with people you cherish
When deadlines end up piling up at work, and when you are highly distracted by various different daily chores and obligations of yours, there is a real risk that you might end up spending a lot less time with the people you cherish most in the world than you would really like.
Most of the time, this is in no way intentional – it’s just the way the things end up panning out, and before you know it, you might find that a significant amount of time has passed since the last proper, undisturbed, get-together.
One of the best things you can ever treat yourself with is time spent with the people you cherish most in the world, without allowing yourself to be heavily distracted by things like work and your other preoccupations.
When all is said and done, the richest thing in life is the interpersonal relationships you have with people you love. So, be sure to find regular opportunities to spend time together for the sake of everyone involved.
A creative hobby
Next time you feel like making a bit of an impulsive purchase, why not get something that allows you to take up a new creative hobby, whether that’s painting, pottery, woodcarving, or knitting?
Engaging in creative pursuits gives us an excellent outlet for expressing ourselves, while simultaneously allowing us to get in touch with the deeper and more meaningful aspects of our own souls.
Not only are you likely to find that your quality of life significantly increases in various ways when you take up a creative hobby, but taking up a creative hobby can also be really exciting and fun, and can give you a whole new thing to invest your time and attention in, and become enthusiastic about.
A day of letting your hair down and just relaxing
From time to time, everyone needs moments when they can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with not having to do anything at all other than take it easy.
If you’ve got a lot on your plate and you tend to be a very busy person, who is frequently rushed off their feet, it can be quite difficult to find opportunities for these lazy moments – and on the other hand, it can definitely become a real problem if you have too many of these moments.
If you’ve been feeling burned out, though, and can’t remember the last time you just stayed in bed late on Saturday morning watching funny videos and enjoying a cup of coffee, you should really look for an opportunity to just take it easy for a day, in a totally undisturbed manner.
This may involve booking a day off work, getting someone close to you to take over a couple of your normal responsibilities for a day, or rescheduling certain things in your calendar to create a bit of extra space.
Sometimes, though, just sitting around and taking it easy for a while can be a pretty rejuvenating experience.