I have three words for you: ‘Treat Yo Self.’
If you aren’t a fan of the show Parks and Recreation, you may not be familiar with this phrase.
My birthday is coming up in a few days, and I always treat myself to cupcakes because they are my favorite guilty pleasure. What if it’s not your birthday, and you are just having a tough time moving through your divorce? Three words for you: Treat Yo Self.
What’s decadent to you?
Going to the grocery store, buy yourself flowers – Treat Yo Self
Have a long day of errands, listen to a new book – Treat Yo Self
Exhausting day at work, take a bubble bath – Treat Yo Self
Need to get out of the house, take yourself on a date – Treat Yo Self
Time to clear your head, go on a walk – Treat Yo Self
It’s funny how we all have a different idea of treating ourselves. Growing up, my mom NEVER bought us body wash. She didn’t grow up with it and saw it as a frivolous spend. So when I want to treat myself, I ‘invest’ in a new body wash or scrub, which feels like a luxury. In reality, it’s a five-dollar spend at Target, but to me, it feels like a treat.
What have you been depriving yourself of?
Treating doesn’t always mean spending money; in fact, I urge you to think of experiences you can gift yourself. Often in our fast-paced society, the gift of time is a luxury. Consider taking a personal health day away from your daily work and tasks. Has your body been craving movement? Try a free Yoga class online. Yoga with Adriene on YouTube has some fantastic complementary courses. One of my favorite episodes is Yoga for Neck, Shoulders, and Upper Back that takes ten minutes and transforms the tension in your body. Perhaps meditation is what you need to reset. Download the Insight Timer app for a complete library of options in meditation and more. A treat could also be as simple as spending a little extra time in the shower, massaging your scalp. What does your body need? What does your mind need?
One of the most liberating experiences, and terrifying, is taking yourself on a date. After my divorce, I decided to go out to one of the hottest new restaurants downtown. While I hadn’t worked my way up to sitting at a table alone (that’s for the real pros), I thoroughly enjoyed an incredible meal at the bar. I struck up a conversation with another patron sitting alone and ended up meeting one of the chefs, who unbeknownst to me was the winner of Top Chef, one of my favorite shows at the time. My solo date was indeed a serendipitous event. If doing something alone seems intimidating, ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen? Also, give yourself grace; your first solo outing will be hard, but I promise, it will get easier. Women, I admire who exude self-confidence often have no problem being alone.
Don’t just reserve a ‘treat yo self’ day to once a year. Treat yo self when you need it; treat yo self when you don’t. Learning how to nurture yourself as much as you do for others is not selfish; it’s a priority. Secure your oxygen mask before helping others. The same instructions that can save you in an airplane, apply to your everyday life, and learning how to ‘treat yo self’ can reestablish your most important relationship; the one with yourself.
Declare a ‘Treat Yo Self’ day and bring it!
Sending love and treats,
