5 Ways to Treat Yourself

Welcome to 2015. January brings with it a theme of wellness and self care. Whether you look at it as a gimmick or not, I can’t help but be appreciative of this healthy start to the New Year. Really, we should be treating our mind and bodies with the same attitude of wellness all year long, but hey, if we take one month to make it a priority, what harm can be done?

So jump on the band wagon. Make 2015 about all the little things you can do to treat yourself right. Instead of smoking that cigarette, eating a cookie, or wrapping your mind in a cocoon of stress, think of ways to indulge that actually do good for you. To get you inspired, below are five healthy ways to treat yourself; however, don’t feel limited to just these five — look around for ways that will make you feel good…. and do them!

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1. Practice Abhyanga or self massage: Abhyanga is the daily massage typically done with sesame or coconut oil in Ayurvedic practices (see how to do it here). Not only is it incredibly relaxing, but it also loosens up tight muscles, improves circulation, and helps release toxins stored in the body. To put a cherry on top, taking the time for yourself and going through the repetitive motions is extremely meditative.

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2. Take a Yin yoga class: Yin yoga is all about calming the mind, and sitting in passive poses to open up and relax the body. Its benefits are incredibly healing for muscles and joints, and it’s a great way to take a break from stress. If you don’t know of a Yin yoga class near you, give a look online. Just 30 minutes will have you feeling completely refreshed.

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3. Put on a face mask, and chill: Something about putting on a face mask and letting yourself hang out is so great for the soul! I like to mix up a homemade concoction of 2 tbs yogurt, 1 tbs honey, 1 tsp flax seed, 5 drops lavender essential oil, 5 drops tea tree essential oil, and then I apply it to my face for a good 15-30 minutes. If you have it available to you, I highly suggest applying the face mask before stepping into a steam room or a warm bath. After washing it off, spritz your face with some rosewater and give a nice hit of jojoba oil to moisturize. Afterwards, you’ll be glowing.

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4. Go to bed an hour early and read: How often do you promise yourself you’re going to read more and then don’t follow through? You get into bed thinking you’ll kill 20 pages, and then you end up scrolling through Instagram instead. Kill the habit. Stop what you’re doing, and go to bed about an hour earlier than you normally would. Then, just read. Or you can flip this on its head, and instead of getting out of bed right away on a Saturday, open your book before you do anything. Your mind will feel much more fulfilled from a good read than it will be from a good scroll. You’ll be so happy you did it.

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5. Grab a cookbook from your shelf, pick a recipe, and make a healthy dinner: Learning to cook is one of the best steps you can take for your overall health. The more home cooked meals you consume, the less sodium and saturated fats you’ll be filling your body with from restaurants. Beyond that, cooking is also fun! Make a project of it. Pick a recipe, pick up the ingredients, put a record on, and leave plenty of time to prepare the dish. You could teach yourself how to cook something you’ve always wanted to make, or maybe you can learn how to make an old favorite into something healthy. The more you experiment with recipes, the more skills and tricks you’ll pick up to incorporate into your own cooking. Let cooking be a release — from your day, from stress, from rules — make it an adventure all your own.

Follow Naomi on Instagram @NumieAbbot

Check out Naomi’s blog Numie Abbot

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9 years ago

I’ve been making it a goal to read at least one book per month. Not only does it help me reduce eye strain from too much screen time at work, but it’s the perfect (free!) way to treat myself. I have also been using dry brushing as a treat. Feels so good on a cold morning.

http://aroseisinbloom.blogspot.com

9 years ago

Love this, lady. You’ve got a knack for inspiring wellness and happiness. You da best.

9 years ago

Love these! I adore the one about reading more – I definitely need to stop scrolling through my twitter/insta/snapchats etc. for hours, just switching between them all.

Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com

9 years ago

I think setting time for yourself is hard but definitely worth it! I really want to read a lot more and maybe have a book discussion with friends. Something new I’ve never done.

http://www.flowercrowngoddess.weebly.com

9 years ago

such wonderful suggestions! this year I’m planning on clearing out as much clutter as I can as well as slowing down and stopping to savor the simple things of life; a beautiful sunset, the salty cleansing air of the sea, the warmth of a loving hug. the important things in life.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWeaverOfWords

9 years ago

My goal is to read 200 books this year so I really try to stop scrolling Instagram and grab a book instead :) Hopefully I’m gonna make it :)

9 years ago

I needed this reminder. I haven’t read much at all this year. :( I purchased a lot of interesting books, but never read them! Bad Julene! Must do better.

9 years ago

This is much needed for the new year. Thank you and happy new year, love!

http://etsy.com/shop/inabundle

9 years ago

I should go to sleep an hour earlier and read. It really makes me feel great and you start warming up the bed :) Besides, reading is amazing!

xx Cecil // http://www.wednesday19th.blogspot.com

nikki cloud
9 years ago

Love seeing your pretty face on the blog Naomi xoxo

9 years ago

So essential. Love this!

http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com/

9 years ago

I just started reading before bed, and I love it so much. I get reading into my schedule, which I often have a hard time doing, and it really relaxes me. I’ve been sleeping so much better. Great tip.

9 years ago

Focusing on self-care is definitely one of my resolutions for 2015. These are such great suggestions.

-Helen

http://www.sweethelengrace.com

9 years ago

These are really lovely ways to treat yourself, and I just bought coconut oil – it’s great for hair, too!
I’d love it if you commented back: http://cottonandcandie.blogspot.co.uk/ xx

yasmin
9 years ago
9 years ago

great ideas! i really need to read more and i would love to learn more about self-massage.

northern rustication

Jess
9 years ago

Can’t wait to try out this massage idea!
i’ve tried to focus on reading more before bed – makes a difference. Your mind feels much calmer.

9 years ago

This is on point! Self care is so important. When we feel good we do good xx

Jen
9 years ago

This post is so useful!
I like yoga also~
Anotehr “Ways to Treat Yourself” are also great idea!

http://safran-bolu.com

9 years ago

A very interesting and inspiring post! :)
I adore reading and face masks, but I will definitely try the other treats too! Thanks for such a nice inspiration. I always love to come to this blog. :)

Love, Thea / http://maedchenvommeer.blogspot.de

Kathy
9 years ago

I love these ideas. I love to read and most nights I read for 20-30 minutes before bed. This year I am trying to have less screen time. Facebook makes me depressed or mad often times. I like to see what old friends that I don’t live near are doing these days, but some comments people write are just stupid. I am determined to spend more time for myself this year. Doing things that make me happy. I am going to try to do more drawing and more reading. I love yoga too. And I’d like to spend more time with my dog.

9 years ago

Really good tips how to treat yourself. Definitely gonna try them out.

9 years ago

totally agree with making some “self” time. my favorite tip here was the self massage. it’s hard when going to a masseuse is too expensive but who said you couldn’t give yourself a massage?! thanks for the new thought. i’d also like to say that one of my favorite ways to make some “me” time is to buy myself some flowers. it’s not necessarily the fact that you bought it yourself that’s important, it’s the therapy that comes from fresh flowers in a vase.

love, kayesmiliing.blogspot.com

9 years ago

Love all of these ideas !! One of my goals from this year is to start habitually visiting the library again — books on ipad are great and all, but it doesn’t send you that physical and visual reminder to stop everything else and read that actually having a book on your nightstand does. Beautiful post Naomi — happy new year!
xo
http://www.threadandbones.com

meg
9 years ago

great ideas…i always wonder where my time goes, then realize the time suck that is instagram/facebook has taken me away from treating myself to me time.. can’t wait to try that face mask!

http://www.waterlilyshop.com
@waterlilyshop