Just Treat Yo Self

I am a big believer in treating yo self, and not just because I love Parks & Rec. I genuinely believe that treating yo self is good for you, and it’s something that I practise absolutely shamelessly (as you should too). So, before we get on with the rest of this post, here are 5 good reasons you should treat yo self, right now (if you want to):

1. You deserve it – you’ve made it through today. You’re doing well. Just keeping on can be hard. You deserve something that will make you feel good.
2. It will pick you up – who would have thought that getting something that you want leaves you feeling good?
3. It’s a little bit of self-care – treating yo self is a little way to show yourself some kindness and reaffirm your own value, whether that’s that you’re worthy of sometime off, getting to read that book, or a little bit of ice cream
4. It can motivate you – either having a treat waiting for you when you achieve your goal, or just to reaffirm you’re on track feeling good about yourself and a project can make you more keen to get on with it
5. When you treat yo self you’re better able to treat those around you – if you’re in a good place and you know how to value (and spoil) yourself, you feel much more secure and positive and so you’re much better able to take care of those around you without needing something in return

SO JUST TREAT YO SELF TO A COOKIE

The first and most important rule is that if you want a cookie, you can have a cookie. You’re a gosh darn grown up.

Treat yo self just because you can. If it makes you happy, just do it. Sometimes you just need to take a moment to go, yes, I am doing a good job, or yes, I have survived this awful day, week, year, and I deserve something nice. Those new shoes will put a pep in my step. I’ll come back to the office rejuvenated if I take myself out on a long lunch. I’ve been using the same old set of pencils for so long and I’ve improved so much that my work deserves a step up in quality.

You deserve to look after yourself, and feel a little bit special from time to time.

It’s also so nice to schedule in things to look forward to, because sometimes even grown ups need bribes. For me, that comes in the form of Friday morning cocopops. During the week at work I have a healthy breakfast, but when it comes to Friday I am allowed to have some cocopops and it marks the end of the week as a joyous time. It also gives me something to focus on Monday through Thursday.

Yes, a lot of my treats are food orientated, my dog and I have a lot in common starting with the fact that you can get us to do anything for a snack.

BUT REMEMBER COOKIE IS A SOMETIME FOOD (copyright Elmo)

While Oprah says that a treat isn’t something that must be earned or justified. If you have a treat every day, it stops being a treat. For example, Christmas is great. But if you had Christmas all year round it wouldn’t be a special occasion any more, and you’d probably end up hating Wizzard. And I’m saying that as someone who LOVES Christmas.

I wrote a little while about practising patience, how to do it and why it’s worthwhile, and one of the big morals of that story is the cookie will taste better if you wait for it. I have actual first hand knowledge of this now, I used to have an evening treat every night with my cup of tea – a biscuit or some chocolate, just something sweet and lovely. But now, I only have those things on weekends (and sometimes Friday if it’s been a tough week), and let me tell you I appreciate them so much more.

I’m trying to practice this even more with big treats, and actively save up for them. This is in part so that I don’t spend as much, and in part so that it feels way more exciting when I get them. For example, I have been coveting a Monica Vinader pendant for the longest time, and I’m just waiting until I really feel like it’s a big treat yo self moment.

Remember when Donna and Tom celebrate treat yo self day, it’s the best day of the year, not every day of the year.

Natalie