“Love yourself. Forgive yourself. Be true to yourself. How you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you.”
~ Steve Maraboli
Healthy Pleasures
It’s human nature to seek out pleasure, especially during times of stress. The problem is that too often, we turn to food – unhealthy foods to be precise. That’s why it’s called “comfort food”, but the irony is that while it comforts us in the short-term, it often hurts us in the long-term by increasing inflammation and sometimes kicking off an autoimmune flare. So, I came up with a list of 101 treats that add to our health instead of detracting from it. I even included a PDF you can print and put on your fridge, for ongoing inspiration!
- 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 – airports and downtowns are perfect places.
- 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, diffuse your favorite essential oils.
- 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.
- Go to bed early.
- Sleep in late.
- Buy some new sheets.
- Learn a new skill.
- Say no to something you don’t want to do.
- Type up a mighty life list and choose the first one you want to check off.
Click Image for Printable PDF:
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