How many of us wake up on Friday morning and say TGIF or FriYAY or something of the sort? Why is that? Because we work hard all week and look forward to some free time to do things we enjoy! Well instead of living for the weekend, what if we took a few minutes to integrate a little weekend into every day of the week? Well, it’s Monday, and that means it’s time to treat yo self!
These 10 ideas can take only minutes. How many minutes a day do you spend doing for others… work, spouse, kids, friends, etc? Don’t you think you deserve at least a few minutes a day to do for yourself?
10 Simple Ways to Treat Yourself
- Indulge in the calming power of scent.
My friends call me a hound dog because I can scope out a scent like a, well, hound dog. Not surprisingly, I’m a huge candle lover. When Ryan and I merged homes, he couldn’t believe the amount of candles I had and asked “why do we need all of these?” Well now he’s often the one suggesting we light one! Chesapeake Bay Candle makes some of my favorite scents, and they have a Mind & Body Collection that feels like such an indulgent treat when you light them. I also love their reed diffusers; we have the Balance + Harmony in our powder room and it’s scents the entire hallway.
- Give yourself a scalp massage while you shampoo.
My best friend is a hairstylist and she gets raves about her scalp massages while she shampoos her clients’ hair; it’s certainly one of my favorite parts of getting my hair done! Why not do this ourselves? You’re already shampooing, take another minute to work that scalp!
- Take a bubble bath.
Light a candle, use an amazing smelling bubble bath and just relax. Turn off your mind when it starts to go through the list of all you have to do. We have Chesapeake Bay’s peace + tranquility candle, a Cashmere Jasmine scent by the bathtub right now and it’s fresh and clean notes make me feel like I’m curling up in a cashmere blanket (so appropriately named!) and breathing it in calms me while I soak.
- Stop to ask yourself if you had 5 free minutes, what would you want to do?
Then do that.
- Bring in some green.
It doesn’t mean you have to buy flowers, you can pick some from your yard, or even clip some branches from a tree and place in a vase. Having a little nature indoors always lifts my spirits.
- Commit a random act of kindness.
I know we’re talking about treating yourself, but doing a random act of kindness for a stranger can not only make their day, but be equally or even more so rewarding for you.
- Before bed, take 5 minutes to lay down with no distraction.
Cover your eyes with a soothing eye pillow, light an aromatherapy candle (Chesapeake Bay joy + laughter is my bedtime jam!), mist your sheets with a linen spray and massage a nice lotion onto your hands. This bedtime ritual will help you fall asleep more relaxed. Just don’t fall asleep before you blow the candle out. 😉
- Stop into a favorite store to just browse.
This is one of my favorite things to do… go into a thrift shop or craft store, with no list of things to buy or obligation to be there other than to look at pretty things and be inspired.
- Make a list of 10 things you do well.
I know it sounds cheesy, but as a society we’re not told to do this often enough; you’d be surprised how it might be harder than you think to come up with the 10 things because you don’t think usually think that way. Sit down with no distractions, your favorite pen and a great smelling candle (reflection + clarity is appropriate) and get writing! 🙂
- Say no to something that you don’t have time to do.
I know this is hard to do. So hard. But there are times that it’s ok to say no! When a friend or family member asks you a favor, they wouldn’t ever want it to be at the expense of you stressing out about having an overflowing plate.
What are some ways that you like to treat yourself? What are some things you save for the weekend that you could integrate into the week?
I hope this list gets your juices flowing about things you can do to treat yourself throughout each day. You’re worth it!
This post was written in partnership with Chesapeake Bay Candles. As always, all ideas opinions shared are my own.
Eileen says
Thanks for the inspiration. It is so easy to forget my won needs,