58 Practical Ways to Treat Yourself Without Food or Spending Money After a Challenging Day

We’ve all had challenging days. Either at work, at school, or caused by a fight with someone or too much stress at home. When that happens, do you reach for the box of cookies or your credit card to order a new outfit online? It’s easy to think of self-care and taking care of yourself as eating treats or buying items you feel you “deserve” because your day was so difficult. And you totally deserve to eat whatever you like and to spend your hard-earned money however you please, but constantly rewarding yourself with food or purchases can lead to a negative relationship with food and a potential for debt or poor credit rating. Worse still, it can lead you to ignore all of those stressful moments because you automatically compensate with food or purchases and don’t give yourself time to process your feelings. So here’s 58 practical ways to treat yourself without food or spending money after a challenging day:

1. Stop at the park before you head home
2. Take a mindful walk
3. Sit outside and watch the clouds
4. Tend to your garden
5. Make yourself a bouquet of flowers
6. Ride your bike
7. Visit an animal shelter
8. Go for a scenic drive
9. Go window shopping
10. Visit a free museum
11. Take a new and interesting class at your local gym
12. Go to your public library or bookstore and browse the aisles
13. Go to a support group
14. Sit in front of a fireplace or fire pit
15. Paint your nails
16. Put on a face mask
17. Give yourself a foot massage
18. Wrap yourself in the softest blanket you own
19. Look up makeup tutorials to brush up on your makeup skills
20. Put on your favorite pajamas (or real clothes if you choose)
21. Wash and style your hair
22. Attend to personal grooming
23. Take a warm bath
24. Apply moisturizer to your entire body
25. Put a few drops of calming essential oils in your shower or in your diffusor
26. Re-read your favorite book
27. Read the comics section of the newspaper
28. Watch your favorite movie
29. Catch the newest episode of a TV show
30. Listen to a new or favorite podcast
31. Blast your favorite music
32. Pet your cat or dog
33. Do a yoga or workout video
34. Lay on the ground with your legs up the wall
35. Roll out the kinks on a foam roller
36. Go for a swim or just float
37. Stretch the parts of your body that feel tight
38. Dance or sing along to your favorite song
39. Put off any unnecessary work or e-mails
40. Say “no” to an obligation that interferes with your peace
41. Make a plan for how you’re going to get through the day or the week
42. Do a guided meditation
43. Take a body scan
44. Breathe deeply
45. Make art- any kind in any way
46. Make a list of all the things you’re good at (aim for at least 10)
47. Make a list of positive affirmations
48. Process your day in your journal
49. Call a friend or support person
50. Let yourself cry or yell, if needed
51. Check in with your emotions
52. Acknowledge an item on your to-do list you’ll never actually do and cross it off
53. Throw out (recycle) the junk mail
54. Donate clothes you know don’t fit and probably won’t fit again
55. Turn off your cellphone and stay away from social media
56. Unfollow negativity on social media
57. Take a short nap
58. Set yourself up for the next day and then go to bed early

 

 

Seeking additional support in your relationship with food and your body? In search of an experienced eating disorder registered dietitian nutritionist in the Long Island, New York area or virtually in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut? Send Christina an email to learn more about 1:1 nutrition therapy sessions!