“Love yourself. Forgive yourself. Be true to yourself. How you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you.”
~ Steve Maraboli
Living a Healthy and Joyful Life with Autoimmune Disease
Most often, if you say the word “treat” people immediately think of sweets. It’s how we reward ourselves for our achievements, and it’s how we soothe ourselves when life is hard. There’s nothing wrong with the occasional sweet treat. They’re delicious! However, if sweets are the only way we treat ourselves, the excess sugar can increase inflammation and even kick off an autoimmune flare. So, I’ve come up with 101 alternate ways to treat ourselves. Thanks to the mind-body connection, these treats can actually decrease inflammation while simultaneously bringing more joy to our lives. That’s my kind of to-do list!
- Watch a sunrise.
- Watch a sunset.
- Stargaze.
- Listen to a rainstorm.
- Set up a bird feeder.
- Go to the park and read under a tree.
- Walk barefoot through the grass.
- Lie down and look for pictures in the clouds.
- Sunbathe.
- Make snow angels.
- Take a hike.
- Take a nap.
- Take a bath.
- Light some candles and turn out the lights.
- Float on a river.
- Swim in the ocean.
- Lie in a hammock.
- Go for a walk without your phone.
- Take a day offline.
- Seek out silence.
- Play your favorite music.
- Make yourself a happiness playlist.
- Learn to play a musical instrument.
- Sing in the shower.
- Sing a Tibetan bowl.
- Dance in your living room.
- Go to the theater.
- Go to a concert.
- Make love.
- Meditate.
- Take a deep breath.
- Practice laughter yoga.
- Practice restorative yoga.
- Watch a funny movie.
- Make a friend laugh.
- Read a novel.
- Read a children’s book.
- Browse an independent bookstore.
- Go on a book “blind date” – you pick out a book for a friend and have them pick out a favorite for you.
- Watch an animated film.
- Watch a favorite movie from your childhood.
- Have a Netflix marathon weekend.
- Plan a game night.
- Enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.
- Have fun with temporary tattoos.
- Snuggle with a pet.
- Go to the dog park (even if you don’t have a dog).
- Go to a kitty café.
- Go people-watching in a public place.
- Play with kids (or your inner child).
- Collect hugs.
- Go geocaching.
- Go for a scenic drive.
- Write in your journal.
- Write a poem.
- Write a hand-written letter.
- Call a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time.
- Practice a random act of kindness.
- Look through old photo albums.
- Print off some favorite pictures from your phone.
- Practice nature photography in your neighborhood.
- Draw a mandala.
- Enjoy an adult coloring book.
- Make a chalk drawing in your driveway.
- Create a vision board.
- Take an art class.
- Visit a museum.
- Put something beautiful up on your wall.
- Declutter.
- Get a massage.
- Try sound therapy.
- Visit a float tank.
- Visit a hot spring.
- Relax in a sauna.
- Give yourself a home facial.
- Get or give yourself a non-toxic manicure/pedicure.
- Give yourself a compliment.
- If you like scents, enjoy a favorite essential oil.
- Garden.
- Pick some flowers or buy yourself a bouquet.
- Look for 4-leaf clovers.
- Buy yourself a toy.
- Visit the farmers market.
- Take a farm tour.
- Go horseback riding.
- Ride on a rollercoaster.
- Fly a kite.
- Go antiquing.
- Go to the library.
- Be a tourist in your hometown.
- Plan a date night with your spouse or a friend.
- Dress up.
- Spend one entire day in your PJ’s.
- Take a solitude hour.
- Plan a solitude day.
- Plan a party
- Go to bed early.
- Sleep in late.
- Buy some new sheets.
- Say no to something you don’t want to do.
- Pick a goal you’ve always wanted to do, and take the first step toward achieving it.
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