Treats are not to be confused with rewards; treats are for no reason. Treats should be harmless and uplifting. Treats to avoid are any activities that can take control over you instead of you having control over them; shopping, eating, screen time (computer/TV/mobile phone) and maybe gambling. It’s probably not a great idea to treat yourself to betting half of your salary on a horse called Charley.
This got me thinking about treats and I brought the subject up with a few friends and some people’s treats are really funny (funny cute not funny weird). Like not moisturizing after a shower, using a special cup for morning coffee, reading a really bad sex novel, lighting a very expensive scented candle or doing some colouring in when you’re in your 30’s.
I often treat myself to not doing things, like moisturising (as above) or washing up, but my biggest treat is looking at pretty things; starting at the trees out of the window, looking at art books, scrapbooking.
I also love organising and tidying up for the same reason. To look at my apartment when it’s clean and tidy is a treat, even staring at the rug in the living room is a treat! Visiting pretty places is a big treat for me which means a 20 minute walk can easily be a treat.
Music is also a treat; going to gigs or listening to my favourite playlist or hearing an exciting new album. I don’t listen to as much music as I used to and sometimes I almost get a feeling of relief when I listen to good music because it’s such a treat.
The important thing is to work out what is a treat to you. It really could be anything. Weeding, taking an extra shower, pairing up your partners socks, dancing, sharpening all of your pencils, getting back into bed for an extra 10 minute cuddle, anything!
What is curious is if you ask someone how they treat themselves they might not be able to answer right away. Some treats seem so small and silly that you hardly notice them or can’t pick them out of all the daily tumult and routine of life. But they are there, and if they really aren’t there they should be! If you are struggling with some new habit or a big change maybe treating yourself more could help you to get through it.
How do you treat yourself? How would you love to treat yourself? What would it really take to be able to enjoy that treat? I bet you treat other people all the time. It’s time to be sweet to yourself too!
So think about it and treat yourself today. Treat yourself every day!
Kim
Co-founder, The Clean Sheet