10 Actually Healthy Ways to Treat Yourself
Written by: Cora Gold
Many people believe the way to achieve success is to hustle and grind nonstop. Women especially feel the need to put in extra effort to get ahead at work. While hard work is important, it’s equally important to stop, take a breath, and recharge.
Self-care means more than sipping umbrella drinks or spending too much money on a spa day. Taking care of yourself is crucial in staying motivated, productive, and energized, and it’s most effective when it’s soothing your mind and body. Try rejuvenating yourself with some of these healthy, self-enriching ways to treat yourself.
1. Experiment With Aromatherapy
Getting started with aromatherapy need not cost much at all. If you want to go the freebie route, you could always harvest a bunch of lavender, dry it, weave it into a sachet and place it under your pillow for nighttime relaxation bliss. However, you can also pick up most diffusers for $30 or less and fill an entire room with scent.
What about when you want to energize yourself, not wind down to sleep? Try eucalyptus — this scent appears in multiple candles because of its uplifting fragrance that gently invigorates your senses. It also serves as an excellent insect repellent, making it a natural addition to outdoor floral arrangements. You can add a few drops to a USB diffuser and work on your patio without all the pesky mosquitoes – spending time in the fresh air can do wonders for you when you’re not worried about bugs.
2. Start a Fun New Fitness Routine
Fitness doesn't have to be a chore. Moving your body is enjoyable once you find activities you love.
Are you the social, extroverted type? Why not consider getting in a pickup basketball game or finding a partner for regular tennis outings? Working out with a buddy can help you stick to your routine — making excuses when someone awaits you at the gym or court is harder.
Perhaps you're into mind-body fitness — explore a practice like yoga or tai chi. You'll cultivate a deep sense of inner calm and possibly torch mega calories if you select an athletic form, such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa yoga.
3. Have a DIY Spa Day
You don't have to drop hundreds of dollars on a pricey day spa to enjoy a bit of pampering. You can whip up some of the best beauty treatments using ingredients from your kitchen. Why not plan a day with your BFF or partner — or both?
You can use inexpensive plastic tubs or clean kitty litter pans to soak your nails pre-pedicure. While your toenail polish dries, pamper your face and hair with homemade balms and pomades. Whip up a luxurious homemade bath bomb and add some flower petals to sink into a heavenly steamy retreat.
4. Take Time Off Work
When was the last time you took a mental health day? Your emotional and spiritual well-being is equally vital as tending to your body. If anything, it's doubly important because your brain runs the show — it's the most crucial organ to nurture.
If you have paid leave, why not use some of it to treat yourself to a little self-care away from the office? If you're one of the millions of Americans who lack this necessity, can you afford to leave a few hours early on a Friday to extend your weekend a bit?
5. Go Hiking
Hiking is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health. Getting moving in the open air acts like a natural antidepressant. If gazing at pictures of nature can ease stress, imagine the anti-anxiety benefits of submerging yourself in it while producing oodles of endorphins from the exercise.
You may also give your immune system a boost. Investigators who researched forest bathers found a higher number of natural killer cells, vital germ fighters, among those who spent time overnight in the woods. The effects lasted for up to 30 days after exposure. The magic lies in phytoncides — oils plants emit for a defense that stimulates the human immune system.
6. Phone an Old Friend
Whatever happened to your old college roommate? Why don't you give them a call and catch up? If they live close enough to you, suggest an impromptu get-together for coffee or tea.
Human beings are social creatures and loneliness increases your mortality risk significantly. Reaching out to others can make you feel less isolated, especially after the pandemic.
7. Try a New Recipe
Thanks to a hybrid schedule, you might have more time at home now — use those extra hours to get a little fancy in the kitchen. You don't have to prepare a feast for a king, but there's nothing wrong with taking a healthy new recipe for a spin.
Have your taste buds been a bit bored lately? Why not excite their taste for the exotic by whipping up a fabulous Indian curry? Turmeric helps to ease inflammation, especially if you add a dash of black pepper to make the curcumin more bioavailable.
8. Plant a Garden
If you missed the pandemic gardening craze, you still have time to get in on the action. Even apartment dwellers usually have a sunny patio or balcony where they can plant a few green beans and tomatoes. You'll enjoy fresh organic produce you won't have to travel to the store for, reducing your carbon footprint.
Get involved in a community garden project if you're more social. Many have a reasonable buy-in price for a plot for an entire year. You'll never have to worry when you go on vacation when you have neighbors willing to water your crops — as long as you return the favor.
9. Learn the Art of Massage
A professional massage is a treat but can cost a small fortune. Do you have a partner or BFF? If so, there's no reason you can't learn several of the techniques to try on each other.
The five basic strokes to master are effleurage, petrissage, vibration, tapotement and friction. You can also experiment with various devices such as specialty mitts with roller balls that feel heavenly on achy backs.
10. Upgrade Your Bedroom
When was the last time you gave your bedroom an overhaul? You owe it to yourself to make the place you rest conducive to sleep.
Start by banishing electronics. If you must keep devices in your room, power them down and use special stickers to block any persistent lights. Switch to an old-fashioned windup alarm clock instead of one that blinds you in the morning. As a bonus, you won't accidentally sleep through if you lose power overnight.
Indulge in pillows, soft sherpa throws and aromatherapy galore. Consider switching out your light bulbs to light lavender LEDs. They cast a relaxing glow around your room that can ease your worries when you step inside.
Nourish Yourself in a Beneficial Way
It's time to stop the endless grind. You only have a limited time on this planet — don't spend every minute of it at work.
Instead, indulge in one of the tips above to treat yourself in an actually healthy way. You'll help refresh your mind, body, and spirit in the process.