How do you "treat" yourself if you don't use food?

[BridlingtonSand]

I don't smoke, drink or do drugs. If I'm having a tough day I use chocolate or Diet Coke to 'treat' myself. I have, once again, quit Diet Coke.

I don't want to turn to either of these again, so what do you healthy, sorted people do when you're having a tough day at work? Or your train is delayed and you're cold and tired and want to be at home? Or you're feeling sad?

I love my coffee made with my Bialetti. I have a 3rd cup of milk/frothy milk, then a big glug of strong coffee. Delicious, and it perks me up (as long as I've eaten - I had three of them once on an empty stomach and was definitely jittery!)

Sometimes stretch out on the sofa with a big soft rug and my little dog and dine out on Netflix :-)

Finding time to read is a real treat these days. At the weekend when DH is around to entertain the kids I love to make a cup of tea and curl up on the sofa for half an hour with my kindle.

A nap, in the daytime! I love an afternoon nap.

Singing - I'm in a band (just a bit of fun although we do the odd gig). It does wonders for the soul, it really is uplifting.

Ok, so this thread has made me appreciate how far I've come in terms of self care in taking a break, being kind to myself etc.

It's helped me to focus that where I really struggle is pretty much down to two scenarios. Firstly, when I'm commuting by train (and the journey is crowded, delayed, cold etc.). Secondly, when I've got a stressful day at work with lots of contact with clients/colleagues.

A coke or biscuit is a "little bit of something just for me". So I need to find another way of comforting myself in this situation. To some extent this is about planning better. (For example the sushi thing - I went through a real sushi phase where this was a lovely little treat. Sorry fellow train passengers. I've kind of gone off it recently though).

It's not spontaneous, but I love a hot stones massage. It's even better in the middle of a cold January/February when you feel like you'll never get warm again. The place I go to has an electric underblanket on the couch. It's so relaxing that I usually go to sleep.

Well done on cutting down on the diet coke - I should really do the same!

I'd say my top treats are:
Painting my nails
Something good on the telly
A nice dessert
Online window shopping (for clothes, homewares or holidays)
Even just basic self care, eg. moisturising, fake tan etc

I always found it difficult walking past somewhere with the smell of freshly baked bread, cake etc determined to lose weight, but oh, the thought of eating the stuff! Always so much harder when I was feeling fed up, or stressed, or tired. It finally dawned on me that I could enjoy that lovely smell without eating the goodies. It was quite a revelation, that I could, and do, enjoy the smell for itself. Cheaper, too!

Podcast on headphones
Maybe try crochet?

I find weirdly using my slow cooker really helps on days when I have to go on the train. Knowing I have a nice hot dinner ready right away when I get in just gives me a warm smug glow through the whole ordeal. I know that’s technically a food reward but you’d have to eat dinner anyway so I think it kind of doesn’t count??

Or if I’m cold (this is probably quite strange) I get in bed hold the covers up and then blast myself with the hairdryer for a few minutes... weird but bliss!!! I’m very careful to make sure that the covers are nowhere near the hairdryer to avoid the obvious fire hazard that would be!

One of my favourite things to do if I have a spare few hours (rare since dd) is browse charity shops for books. I find it wonderfully relaxing and you can get loads for very little money . Then I just give them back when I’ve read them happy in the knowledge I gave some money to charity (again slight smug feeling).

I buy craft stuff, or stationery
Or look up videos of someone crafty I’ve recently followed on YouTube
I love a hot bath and clean PJs

I have a worrying beauty box habit. The last one I ordered was £20 and beautifully wrapped. It’s an absolutely unnessessary gift to yourself that I personally go back to just to admire before using any of the products.

I genuinely get an illicit thrill when I press the ‘order’ button to buy them!

Also... sorry if this is lowering the tone there’s nothing wrong with a little session with your rampant rabbit ( or just do the job yourself). No weight gain and no money spent!! Do need a bit of privacy for that though... I’m going now probably over shared there

Read a book
Go for a walk in the cemetery/woods/beach and come home for a cup of tea and a book.
Curl up on the settee in the evening,with the salt lamps on,candles lit,incense burning,tv off and my kindle.

I see a theme going on here.

White hot chocolate

Bliss, esp on a cold night with a good book

Lie in.
Hot bath (love a hot soak)
expensive alcohol
certain types of telly
library books
charity shop bargains
Early to bed
lying down, closing my eyes, & doing nothing
getting a massage

Buy clothes, have a cup of herbal tea, have a nice bath, watch sthg good on Netflix, light a candle, but it read a good book

Nail varnish and massage.
Rare though!

We treat ourselves to "weekend" food whether homemade or take out.

Burgers
Curries
Chinese
Marinaded chicken and salad
Sunday roast
BBQ

I would treat/pamper myself with a long bath and facial (diy).

I don't think there's anything wrong with treating yourself with food if it's a meal - treating with snacks gets risky as it's easy to overdo it. I try to make really nice meals - lots of amazing recipes online to try.

If I'm in the mood where I feel like I should treat myself I turn off my phone, lay on the coach like a potato and watch junk on Netflix for however long I please under a blanket. It's something I used to feel guilty over as I always felt like I should be productive

I've recently made a list of ways to treat/reward myself without food, things I wouldn't normally justify the cost of for an everyday spend:

Rewards, all above £5, generally for managing to reach x weight loss or for going a week without cake for example.
Lipsticks I have been coveting that are £16 each.
A book off my wishlist (next one I'm going to reward myself with is Michelle Obama's book)
A new nail varnish.
A new pair of bamboo socks
New camera (this is my big one if I reach my weight target)

Treats, below £5 or free, to cheer me up instead of eating my feelings:
Painting my nails
Giving myself a facial
A full body scrub in the shower
An early night, getting the bed to myself for an hour.
A digital download of a film
A magazine
A nap

Just seen a few more ideas for treats or rewards to add to my list too, flowers being one of them.

@BridlingtonSand are you a member of your local library? I have massively reduced my book spending since joining the library. Mine is part of a consortium with neighbouring areas so I can request books they don't have. There's also an app through which you can listen to audiobooks on loan. It saves me £hundreds every year.

I’ve been wondering why I’m no longer a library member. Think it’s because it’s so far away from home (and Amazon has next day delivery).

Is it me, or are a lot people responding with food answers?

I used to buy myself a lot of treats, and I still do sometimes, but I managed to reduce it. Spending money and getting fatter is not very comforting for me! What works for me is my BuJo, just a notebook that I carry with me, and use for noting things I'm grateful for (when I'm sad), microjournaling, or planning real treats (delayed gratification) - among other things. I also listen to guided meditations on Insight Timer app, works great on a train/tube/bus!