Ten ways to reward yourself

Filed in archive Stay Healthy on September 20, 2007

Too many of us see food as a reward for being good. " I have been so good this week that I deserve a treat".
But who said we need to reward ourselves with a chocolate cake? I know of several other ways I'd rather spend my money than on a chocolate cake.

Think about how much a chocolate cake (or what it is you normally treat yourself with) is and how many you would eat during one week. Multiply that and see how many you eat during a year. How much does that come up to?
Put aside that amount and treat yourself to something you will actually benefit from!

1. Find a really good health magazine that will inspire you to exercise and live a healthy life.
2. Saving for a trip? Use the money to have fun once you get there or why not enjoy local health food?
3. Go to a spa treatment once a month or why not buy your won spa products and treat yourself as often as you want at home.
4. Give to someone else. Know someone who needs encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle as well as you? Give something inspiring to that person and help them change their life.
5. Buy a good cookbook with beautiful recipes and tips on healthy cooking. A present to yourself for life.
6. Buy new clothes, this is a great motivator for many.
7. Buy new sports gear. Feeling Good when you have done something good is an excellent self esteem kick.
8. Buy an iPod or MP3 player so that you can listen to music while you exercise.
9. Take a course in something you have always wanted to do or discover a new hobby.
10. Throw a health party. Prepare healthy food, alcohol free drinks and invite some friends over. Ask them to bring photos of themselves and you can talk about old times and how your health path has been, motivate each other. Dance or play games and have fun! A night you will not soon forget.

Of course there are millions of things you can do to reward yourself. Find something that works for you and motivate yourself.