Reasons Why You Should Treat Yourself Today
There’s more to the whole "treat yo’self" idea than just a fun phrase. In years past, treating yourself might have been viewed as opulent and self-indulgent. However, recent research proves that there is a variety of health – mental and physical – benefits of making time for a little self-care. In fact, depriving yourself of such care and the occasional indulgence can lead to mental health issues, including depression, and contribute to an increased risk of certain lifestyle diseases. If you’ve ever needed a good reason to book that weekend getaway or call in sick for that mental health day, then here are five health benefits that will back you up.
Relax With A Stress-Free Spa Day
Stress is a significant contributor to mental and physical health issues. Allowing yourself a little pampering with a stress-relieving massage and a relaxing spa day can help reduce your stress level and manage your anxiety. In fact, research actually establishes a connection between the frequency of spa visits and better sleep, fewer sick days, reduced absenteeism, and fewer hospitalizations.
Massage therapy stimulates lymph flow and improves immune function. Not only that, but better lymph flow naturally eliminates metabolic waste, toxins, and bacteria from the muscles. These benefits work together to reduce muscle soreness and fight off disease, which is enough of a benefit to warrant treating yourself now and then.
Take Time To Enjoy Your Favorite Hobby
Most individuals these days think they’re too busy for hobbies. No matter how busy you are, though, you can afford to treat yourself to a hobby. There are a variety of benefits to having a hobby in which you regularly indulge in. Enjoying a hobby not only improves your mental health, but also helps you better manage the extra time that you do have and prioritize what is important to you. A hobby also helps you establish social connections with others, have a richer self-identity, and overall improve your self-esteem.
Hobbies can also help improve your mental health by encouraging you to cope with your stress in more constructive ways. Rather than sitting down to the distraction of a TV program, you’ll be able to channel your focus into an activity like playing a sport or instrument, painting, or rock climbing. This type of focus is vital for helping you recognize your strengths and weaknesses, as there is more to your self-worth than just one facet.
Get Active!
Exercise is about more than just aerobic ability and muscle mass. It is another effective way to treat yourself well and invest in your wellbeing. When it comes down to it, people who follow a regular exercise regimen do so because of the mental health benefits it has to offer, such as increasing energy, improving self-esteem, reducing depression and anxiety. Physical activity can also help individuals cope with issues associated with ADHD, PTSD, past trauma, and more.
If you’ve never been one for exercise, though, don’t worry. You don’t have to instantly become a gym goer or exercise fanatic to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Find something that you’ll enjoy doing, and you’ll double the benefits of treating yourself in this way. Get active and go for a scenic hike or bike ride, take a walk, or play a sport you once loved.
Avoid Burnout
Treating yourself well – in any capacity – also affords you the opportunity to increase energy and avoid burnout from work, school, family, and your social life. Whether you’re investing time in a workout, treating yourself to a spa day, prioritizing better sleep, or learning to say no, you are putting more value in investing in yourself, which has mass payouts.
Far too often today, individuals allow themselves to become overly invested and stretched thin, which has damaging effects on not only our energy levels but also our capacity to meet our daily obligations in our professional and personal lives. Learning to limit what you participate in and treat yourself will help you avoid the damaging effects of both.
Stop Depriving Yourself
Many individuals avoid treating themselves in an attempt to avoid being too indulgent. In this case, though, the opposite often ends up happening, leading to deprivation. While moderation is a good approach, enjoying a treat once in a while can help you avoid deprivation and lead to balance and better health. To help yourself focus on that balance, you need to determine whether you feel guilty when you treat yourself or if you only treat yourself when you feel you "deserve" it. This shouldn’t be the case.
Avoiding deprivation by periodically treating yourself helps you feel more satisfied and less deprived. Not only that, but it can also reduce "cravings" for more indulgent behavior, such as enjoying delicious food or having a drink with a friend. If you view these luxurious activities as beneficial components to your overall wellness, you’ll be less likely to overindulge when you do give yourself the opportunity to enjoy a treat and live a more balanced and fulfilled life.
So, next time you need a little "me time," be like Tom and Donna and "Treat Yo Self!"