You work hard every day and deserve to reward yourself. The time and effort that you put into your job, the care and patience that you show your family, and the interactions with friends and acquaintances are all rewarding experiences but can leave you feeling worn down when you don’t take time for yourself.
Giving yourself a treat, whether large or small, for the continued commitment you have to your responsibilities is a healthy way to keep yourself motivated and prevent burnout.
Take a Vacation
The first thing that many people think of when it comes to rewarding themselves for their hard work, is a vacation. This is a fantastic way to recharge and get away from the everyday stress for a time. A vacation usually requires a lot of planning and forethought, so this is the big reward that you can look forward to once or twice a year. The fact that it happens only on occasion just makes it more special when the time comes.
You may look at family-friendly options such as cruises for kids, or plan a romantic getaway with your significant other to reconnect and get some quality time alone.
Whatever your choice is, a trip can be just the thing you need to keep you going and give you something tangible to look forward to.
Have a “Me” Day
Vacations are great, but they aren’t always feasible when you need a boost the most, and you probably aren’t able to take them as often as you would like. This is why you need to have some solid options for a more frequent reward.
Taking a day for yourself is a good choice. You may want to arrange to have the house to yourself so you can enjoy the peace and quiet with no demands on your time. Use your day to pamper yourself. Do some spa treatments, relax in a long, hot bath, read an interesting book, or involve yourself in any activity or self-care practice that makes you feel relaxed and happy.
Buy the Outfit You’ve Wanted
How many times do you come across the perfect outfit in a store or online, but can’t justify the cost of buying it to yourself? Well, when you’ve been putting in so much hard work, why wouldn’t you splurge on occasion? Looking good can help you to feel good, so let yourself make the purchase once in a while.
Indulge
Small indulgences can be just as satisfying as larger ones sometimes. Maybe you’ve had a tough week at work and celebrate successfully navigating through the challenge with a long lunch out of the office on Friday.
When you’ve been forced to work overtime and struggled through long mornings, consider replacing your normal morning beverage for that gourmet coffee you wanted to try. This can be a great incentive to get you out of bed and moving.
Dessert or other small treats are other options. If you are a lover of chocolate, then you understand how even a small bit can improve your mood. So why deprive yourself of that?
Plan an Outing
There are times when you need a change in routine and need to get out of the house and do something. A perfect reward for when you get into those types of moods is to plan an outing for yourself, or with friends.
Go to a concert for one of your favorite bands or check out a local craft fair. Look at your local paper for community events that interest you.
Order Takeout
After a grueling day at work, followed by picking up the kids, and then fighting traffic to get home, the last thing you want to do is cook dinner. Takeout may seem commonplace, but it can be the best thing ever when you are stressed and tired. Next time you can’t face the thought of planning a meal, reach for the phone and order out instead.
Treating yourself on a regular basis can be a fun way to keep yourself on task. When you know that something good is coming, you are more likely to focus and finish what you need to do.
