12 fun treats for a stressful day that don’t involve food
Photo credit: Inspired Stock Shop
“It’s been a tough day (or week!) . . . I deserve a cupcake!” (or ice cream, or a latte, or pizza!)
Have you ever said this to yourself? Me too! (more times than I’d like to admit….)
It’s human nature to want to comfort ourselves when we’re stressed. Food is a popular choice for showing ourselves some love, but we don't want to sabotage our physical health while trying to care for our emotional health. Here are 11 intentional ways to treat yourself and lower your stress.
The trick is to come up with some non-food treats that are readily available when you’re feeling the stress and looking for a little comfort. Ideally, they’ll be things that are easy to get on a whim (not something you have to order or make a future appointment for -- think instant gratification), affordable, and something you can use or enjoy right away.
That said, it can also be fun to order an item or make an appointment and have it to look forward to later in the week. Simply having something to look forward to can help reduce stress.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to treat myself when I’m feeling stressed:
1. New nail polish. Because what girl doesn’t love to get a new shade of polish?! Be sure to pick one that is cruelty-free and non-toxic. The one I’m loving for spring and summer is Beach Resort Blue.
2. A new journal. Journaling is one of the most effective ways I’ve found to lower my stress, and I love getting a new journal! You can find them at your local bookstore, or stores like Target. Or, if you’re looking for a guided journal, I highly recommend my Find Your Center self-care journal.
3. The latest issue of your favorite magazine. Readily available at any grocery store, pharmacy, or bookstore.
4. Watch some guilty pleasure TV. A few of my current favorites are The Way Home (NBC/Hallmark), Outer Banks (Netflix), and all the cozy mysteries on Acorn TV, like Murdoch Mysteries, Harry Wild, and Agatha Raisin.
5. A new workout outfit! These can be harder to come by, but if you have access to even a Target, you can usually find something cute and functional. And as an added bonus, it’ll motivate you to work out!
6. Fresh flowers. Nothing brightens up a room, and a day, like fresh flowers. And nowadays it’s easy to get beautiful and affordable flowers on the fly at most grocery stores. If you have a Trader Joe’s in your town, that’s a great place to get really pretty flowers. I got some gorgeous peonies there (one of my faves!) this week for $6.99.
7. Download a new app. Okay, apps may not be your jam, but I LOVE apps. You can find an app for everything these days, and they’re inexpensive (often free) and you can get them instantly. A really cool one I like is Stylebook. It helps you catalog all your clothes, put together new outfits, and even schedule out your wardrobe in advance, plus I’m pretty sure it has more features I haven’t tapped into yet. And it’s only $3.99 . . . cheaper than a latte!
8. An at-home facial. Really relax and wind down by treating yourself to an at-home facial. There are plenty of products out there you can buy for this, but one of my favorites only requires one ingredient that you probably already have at home -- honey. I learned this natural beauty trick from Amanda Cook at Vintage Amanda. Just be sure to use pure raw honey. It will make your skin look and feel divine!
9. A nice candle. Burning a nice fragrant candle just creates a feeling of coziness and relaxation . . . perfect after a long hard day. You want to be sure you’re using candles that aren’t full of toxic chemicals. One of my favorite candle brands uses coconut wax, FSC certified sustainable wood wicks, and essential oils that are non-toxic and free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
10. Get a blowout (aka a shampoo and style). Letting someone else do all the work of washing, drying, and styling my hair feels like such a luxury (it's especially great if you’re hair-styling challenged like I am). Honestly, I’d do this every day and never style my own hair again if I could. If you’re lucky enough to have a blowout bar like Dry Bar in your city, I encourage you to take advantage of it. This one’s a little pricier (usually around $40 plus tip), but worth it!
11. Buy a new Tarot or Oracle card deck! This is definitely one of my favorite treats for myself. You can find them at your local mystic shop, often at bookstores (Barnes & Noble carries a nice selection), or you can find an infinite variety on Amazon. If you’re new to Tarot and Oracle cards, or just looking for some new ideas, you can find one of my favorite Tarot decks and one of my favorite Oracle decks on Amazon. Both are terrific whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned card reader.
12. Treat yourself to a new book. Another favorite of mine. This one can become a little time-consuming (especially if you’re obsessed with bookstores + indecisive, like me). But, just the time spent in the bookstore feels like a treat, and then leaving with a fun new book is a bonus. If you don’t have a bookstore nearby, try Target or even Walmart, or go to your local library. Much like a bookstore, going to the library is a treat in itself. Need some inspiration? Here’s my favorite book I read in 2024.
So next time you're feeling stressed and you tell yourself you deserve a donut or slice of pizza, be intentional in how you show yourself some love with one of these non-food treats instead. You’ll be glad you did! :)
What are some of your favorite ways to treat yourself that don’t involve bad-for-you food?
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