Everyone should do something nice for themselves every once in a while. But in what ways can you treat yourself?
I use various ways to treat myself.
For example, I treat myself to a cheat meal if I eat clean and nutritious foods 80% of the time. In other words, I allow myself to go a little wild with every fifth meal.
And I like to have such rewards for the tiny commitments I make every day. But also for achieving both short- and long-term goals.
But you don’t always need a solid reason.
Rewarding yourself with a treat is undoubtedly an effective way to stay motivated. And I’ve sorted the rewards in this article from small to large.
So let’s dive in!
Daily ways to treat yourself
You can use any of the rewards below to treat yourself daily. Just be careful not to go overboard with any of them, especially with the edible tips.
- Go on a walk, either a short or long one. It’s such a simple way to treat yourself. And if you never go for a walk, try it out and absorb the environment.
- Buy a good coffee or tea. Sure, you can set one at home at a much lower cost. But going outside to get a premium coffee or tea feels very rewarding.
- Watch a series, movie, or documentary. This way is one of my favorites. When I crush my goals for the day, I’ll treat myself to a documentary or series as part of my night routine.
- Sleep in. Staying in bed is a great reward if you have been getting up early the rest of the week. Otherwise, it may cause more guilt than pleasure.
- Order food from your favorite place. Once again, I use this way to treat myself when I eat nutritious self-made meals 80% of the time. And this approach works great for me.
- Do nothing. The world is always running, and you might feel caught up in that cycle. But sometimes, the best thing to do is chill out, relax, and take it easy.
- Play a video game. You either love video games or think it’s a waste of time. But just like watching a movie or series, it’s a great way to reward yourself.
- Read a book. For those who love reading, this is a straightforward way to relax. And if you never really read that much, try some non-fiction books on topics that interest you. It might just turn you into a bookworm.
- Take a bath if you have access to one. If not, why not take a long hot shower? Both are perfect ways of treating yourself.
- Listen to a (brief) motivational podcast or video. Simple but effective. You might even be able to use this method at work to reward intervals of productive work.
- Buy an ice cream or frozen yoghurt. Love desserts so much that you want to eat them throughout the day? Why not use it as a way of treating yourself?
- Treat yourself to a bakery. Do you prefer bakery goods over icecreams? Feast on some croissants, a doughnut, or anything else you desire the most.
- Enjoy a good wine or beer. Buying your favorite beverage is an excellent way of spoiling yourself, especially if you wouldn’t usually buy it due to a premium price tag.
- Watch the sunset or sunrise. The sun rises and sets for nothing. So make some time to enjoy the wonders of its (dis)appearance sometimes.
Occasional low-effort rewards
The items in this list are rewards you can use sometimes but not all the time. And they require some time or effort, but not too much.
- Skincare. Skin is the largest organ of your body, and thus, it deserves care. However, even if you have a daily skincare routine, you can always do something a little extra and spoil yourself some more.
- Get a new journal. Buying a new journal has always been a joyful experience for me. So if you enjoy journaling or set many goals for yourself, you will love getting yourself a high-quality journal.
- Set new goals. The process of setting goals is motivating. This activity also works great with others, like your spouse or team members.
- Create a vision board. Did you ever make one? If so, you will know that making a vision board feels inspiring. And it will also empower you every time you see it.
- Buy new clothing. The best way for all fashionista’s to treat themselves. Why not use this as a strategic method to reward yourself for following up on your goals?
- Tidy up your place. Though it may feel like a chore, tidying up your home is rewarding for most of us. Maybe not doing the cleaning itself but indeed the feeling afterwards.
- Try something new. Life has so much to offer and I would argue that everyone should try more things. It’s how you learn what you like. And you only live once after all. So here are some ways to find what inspires you.
- Buy something you’ve wanted to buy. Never bought the thing you wanted for some unexplainable reason? So what’s a better way of treating yourself today than to get that one thing?
Occasional treats that require some effort
The following items are fantastic ways to spoil yourself but require some effort. Why? Because for most of them, you will have to go outside.
- Start a DIY project. Always wanted to do something creative? Why not pick up a DIY project? Have a browse through this list if you need some ideas.
- Learn a new skill. Learning is fun and super beneficial in many ways. But what to pick up? Think about professional skills, personal development skills, social skills, or fun skills, like learning a new instrument.
- Go to a sauna or spa. A day out like this is a typical way of rewarding yourself. So schedule a day out and treat yourself to a little retreat.
- Visit the cinema. Is there a new movie coming out that you would love to see at the cinema? That’s a great reward to stimulate yourself to crush some goals.
- Take a massage. I love this way of treating myself. And if you’re like me, scheduling occasional massages is a great way to spoil yourself.
- Plan a hotel night. Spice it up by booking a night in a hotel somewhere. Of course, it requires some money, which makes this a fantastic option to reward yourself.
- Go to your favorite restaurant. Treat yourself to your favorite foods. Spend this evening alone or take a friend with you.
- Do something nice for someone else. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is to do something for someone else. And, notice how it makes you feel too.
- Visit a new place or city. If you ask me, there’s nothing more joyful than exploring a new area or city. What place would you like to go to for the day?
- Enjoy a tasting experience. Most people are up for a wine or beer tasting event. But there are many more options, like chocolate tasting, specific foods, a high tea, etc.
- Enjoy a day on the beach. Do you just want to go outside the house and relax, without spending a lot of money? Then, treat yourself to a day at the beach.
- Do something on your bucket list. The best way of spoiling yourself is to do what you desire the most. What’s on your bucket list? And if you haven’t got one yet, treat yourself by making one today!
Scarce but great ways of treating yourself
This final list includes some great ways to spoil yourself. But they also require most of your time and often, quite some money. Yet, they’re great to schedule every once in a while.
- Plan a weekend trip. Weekend trips are great because they get you out of the house, but they don’t necessarily have to cost lots of money. Think about a camping weekend, renting a little campervan for a couple of days, or spending an entire weekend exploring a new city.
- Book a holiday. Holidays are like a weekend trip but on steroids. Going away for a longer time is a joyful experience for most people. It also gives you more options because you can travel a little further. That means you can go places for the specific occasions you want to tick off your bucket list. Either way, a holiday is one of the best ways to treat yourself.
- Travel extensively. I love traveling and got the best experiences of my life from it. And if you feel like you want to do something different, why not plan and work your way up to an extensive period of traveling? It will motivate you to keep going. But, again, there are many options here. You can buy a van, convert it, and travel through the states. But you can also fly out and trip through Europe, Africa, South America, or Asia.
Closing thoughts
If you’re looking for new ways of treating yourself, I hope you’ve found some through this article.
What’s the best one?
That depends on your unique desires.
For me, it’s to gain as many different experiences as possible and travel around the world. Unfortunately, many items on my bucket list come with a little price tag.
That’s why I also use daily ways of treating myself.
And I use these strategically to reward specific behavior. More specifically, I spoil myself when I stay consistent in my health habits or take action on my goals.
If you want to use these ways to treat yourself the same way, is up to you. But it’s an excellent way to keep yourself motivated.
Want more inspiration to live an extraordinary life?
Then sign up for the weekly newsletter in which I help you to achieve your dreams and live your best life!