On a daily basis, you’re told that you must do this, or this will happen, and if you don’t do that, then this will happen. Go to the gym, or you’ll get flabby, eat more veggies, or you’ll get sick, or work more hours, you’ll get left behind, and put an entire paycheck into your savings account, or you’ll be on the brink of homelessness.
What if you wanted to skip the gym, or order those fries instead of a salad, or buy the outfit you’ve had in a cart of your favorite website? Go ahead and do it; treat yourself to that thing that you want. You deserve happiness, good health, success, opportunity, and good fortune.
Far too often, we overthink things. We wonder if we’re too much of a pushover, if we’re too assertive, if we need to fight harder to move up the ladder of success, or if we’re a good wife and mother. These thoughts play over in our minds and leave us with undeserved feelings of guilt. The keyword being undeserved. These worries and fears add stress to your already stressful days.
Women are way too hard on themselves. It’s okay to indulge in some of the little things that life has to offer. Here are some things that you can enjoy that will help to wash away some stress,
Enjoy that glass of wine
You don’t always need a reason to have a glass of wine. There are enough proven health benefits that make it a healthy choice – it improves memory, helps your heart, reduces the risk of some cancer, and may even help burn fat. Sometimes a glass of wine is exactly what you need just because.
Eat every last bit of that chocolate
Grab that entire package of dark chocolate or gluten free chocolate and sit on the couch and enjoy. Your week has been a tough one, and your chocolate cravings just haven’t gone away. So release some endorphins and serotonin and indulge in your favorite chocolate delight. It’s been proven that some dark chocolate has some health benefits for your heart.
Take time for yourself to recharge
Women have a hard time taking time for themselves because putting themselves first doesn’t feel natural. But self-care is necessary, and without it, you’ll become scatterbrained, resentful, and moody. How many times have you lashed out at your children or husband for the little things?
It doesn’t have to be a huge event or even an entire day. So grab some smelling salts and candles and head to the bathroom for a long hot bath with some soothing music. Or grab a cup of tea and that book you’ve been trying to read for months and curl up on the couch with your favorite comfy blanket.
Buy those shoes you’ve had your eyes on
You know the ones; you’ve had them in your cart for weeks. It’s a practical concern not to spend money on something that isn’t exactly necessary. Saving money and making wise choices are a must. If you have the money, and it won’t put you in a bind, it’s okay to buy yourself something every now and then. If you’ve wanted them for this long, then you deserve them.
Say “No” to the things you don’t want to do
This self-destructive act of feeling the need to go to every single birthday party, BBQ, or get-together you’re invited to must stop. It’s okay to say no, the world will not end, your friends will not hate you, and the truth is everything will be better than okay because you won’t feel stressed. So stay home and binge watch Netflix, sit on the beach or sleep in until you’re forced out of bed. Self-care is not selfish; it’s necessary.
You work hard on a daily basis, taking care of your family, nurturing your relationships with your friends, and you barely have time for the little things you deserve. Treating yourself doesn’t always have to be some grand event – go to that yoga class, get that massage, go to dinner alone, and take an extra 5 minutes in the car alone before going into the house. It’s okay; these things will help you to recharge.
