Here are 25 awesome ways to treat yourself whenever you want to, just because you can!
We often think of a treat as something that must be earned.
You finish a project, treat yourself to dinner. You get a promotion, give your friends a treat. Basically, you do something big, then you get to celebrate.
We link joy with achievement, as if happiness must always be justified.
But if you look up the real definition of ‘treat’, it means: an event or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure.
That’s it! There are no conditions attached. A treat is something that makes you feel good.
It’s a small burst of joy, warmth, or comfort that reminds you you’re human and worthy of softness, no matter how productive or unproductive you’ve been lately.
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’d know that I am a big supporter of self-care and giving yourself the princess (or prince) treatment in life.
Because this is the modern world, and so the only one who can do that for you is yourself.
So, in this post, I am sharing 25 delightful treat ideas with you.
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These are things you’d find me doing every other day because I simply cannot exist without treating myself, and you shouldn’t either.
Here are some 25 simple, cozy, and joyful ways to do exactly that.
How To Treat Yourself – 25 Wonderful Ideas
1. Get Cozy and Just Read
Put on your softest pajamas, wrap yourself in that fuzzy blanket, and grab a book that you’ve been meaning to read for some time.
Find that spot in your house where you feel most comfortable. Could the couch, a lounge chair by the window, or your bed with loads of pillows?
You can light a candle if you want, make some tea, and just relax as you read.
This is hygge at its best. You’ve got a book, nice lighting, and the feeling of comfort.
This is my best idea for treating myself, so I had to put it on number 1.
2. Make a fancy drink at home
You know those drinks that look way too pretty to actually make? Make one anyway!
You can try hot chocolate with whipped cream, a matcha latte with the foam on top, or iced coffee with way too much caramel.
Take the extra five minutes to make it look nice. Pour it into your favorite mug or a pretty glass.
It just tastes better when you put that kind of care into it. A treat for both your senses and your creative mind.
3. Have a ‘do nothing’ afternoon
Everyone deserves to treat themselves to a lazy afternoon once in a while. It gives me such cozy-movie energy.
Put your to-do list in a drawer, and just lounge around during things like scrolling, watching YouTube, or lying on the floor for no reason.
We spend so much of our lives being productive and efficient and making the most of our time.
But you need an afternoon where you do nothing except existing and breathing. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
4. Take yourself on a solo date
Okay, this one might feel weird at first, especially if you’ve never been on a solo date.
Like, going to brunch alone, seeing a movie by yourself, and sitting in a park with just your thoughts? What do I even mean by that?
But dear reader, you are the closest person to yourself in this big world.
You can be surrounded by a dozen people (or even none), but it’s nothing if you have no friendship with yourself.
A solo date gets you to love your own company, and it nurtures your inner connection like nothing else.
You can order exactly what you want at the restaurant without sharing. You can see that weird indie film no one else wanted to watch. You can leave whenever you feel like it without checking with anyone.
It’s just you, doing exactly what you feel like, at your own pace. It’s a powerful experience, and a beautiful treat for your soul.
5. Bake something sweet
Eating baked goods is the most popular way to treat yourself.
But baking it yourself is even better, because you are indulging in creativity and also in control of what you put in it.
Put on music that makes you happy, throw on an apron if you’re feeling it, and just bake.
Cookies, banana bread, brownies — whatever sounds good to you.
Half the joy is in the smell filling your kitchen. That warm, sweet scent that makes your whole place feel like home.
And the other half is eating something warm and fresh, straight from the oven, when it’s still gooey and perfect.
Okay, this is making me hungry now. Let’s move on.
6. Buy yourself flowers
You don’t need a special occasion or someone else to buy them for you flowers. Miley Cyrus says so, girl.
Go out to a flower shop, buy a pretty bouquet that brings a smile to your face, and put them in a vase.
Set them somewhere you’ll see them often, and let them remind you that your space deserves to feel nice, just like you do, every single day.
7. Take a long and slow shower (or bath)
You take shower every day, I know, but a long and luxurious shower is how you treat your body to extra love.
Use your good body wash, the one you’ve been saving for some reason, and exfoliate properly. Maybe use a hair mask or a deep conditioner.
Stand under the hot water until your shoulders actually relax and you feel the tension melting away.
If you’re taking a bath, add some salts or bubbles, light some candles around the tub, maybe bring a book or play some music.
Then put on lotion (the kind that smells really good) and slip into clean and soft clothes. You’ll feel like a whole new person!
8. Watch your comfort show
There’s a reason we go back to the same shows over and over. They’re familiar, they’re comfortable, and we know they’ll make us feel good.
So, as a nice treat to yourself, watch a show you’ve seen a dozen times but still love. Get some popcorn or your favorite snack, and sink into the couch.
You already know how the episode ends, and that’s exactly the point. Sometimes you don’t want surprises or plot twists or anything that requires too much brain power.
You just want something that feels like hanging out with old friends.
Here are my favorite comfort shows:
- Gilmore Girls
- How I Met Your Mother
- Anne With An E
- Stranger Things (especially during colder months)
I’d love to know some of your comfort shows too. Do let me know in the comment box before you leave.
9. Write yourself a love letter
We’re usually so hard on ourselves, constantly noticing everything we do wrong. But this treat idea changes that narrative, making you appreciate yourself more.
You can just write down things you like about yourself. Coudl be big stuff, could be small.
The way you make people laugh, how you always remember birthdays, how you didn’t give up when things got really hard.
The fact that you’re a good friend, or you’re creative, or you try your best even when you’re tired.
Write it like you’re talking to someone you really care about, because you should care about yourself that way.
You’d be surprised how good it feels to read it back.
10. Order your favorite takeout
Give yourself the night off from cooking and dishes by ordering your most favorite thing. This feels especially good after a long and tiring day.
Chinese food, pizza, Thai, Indian — treat yourself to whatever makes your mouth water just thinking about it.
Don’t worry about whether it’s healthy or expensive, as long as you do it once a week, I must profess.
Put on something good to watch or listen to, set your table nice, take out your nice plates, and enjoy the meal guilt-free.
11. Have a cozy slow weekend morning
One of my proud pleasures in life is having slow mornings on the weekend.
Weekday mornings are not slow enough, try as you might, but on weekends, you can take your time and be a happy sloth till noon.
Here are some ideas for you:
- Do light stretches
- Have coffee in silence
- Read a book in your pajamas
- Make a proper breakfast and enjoy while watching the TV
- Take a warm shower
Don’t miss: 18 New Things To Do On The Weekend
12. Light a scented candle (or two)
If I had to pick my top five treat ideas, lighting a scented candle would be amongst them.
Scents are weirdly powerful at changing your whole mood and making a space feel completely different.
A good candle can make your regular apartment feel like a spa or a cozy cabin or wherever you want to mentally be.
Also, there’s something about the flickering light that’s just calming to watch.
Pick a scented candle that your senses love, like maybe vanilla, cinnamon, fresh linen, eucalyptus, or cookies.
Light it and let your space fill with that scent, and thank whoever you need to for creating these beautiful things.
13. Go for a slow walk
When you have an hour to spare in the morning or evening, go outside for a walk.
You can bring your headphones or leave them at home if you’d rather tune into the sounds of nature.
Walking has a way of clearing your head and shifting your perspective. Problems that felt huge inside your house somehow feel more manageable when you’re moving in nature.
The gentle movement is also good for your body without being demanding or exhausting. A real treat for your whole system.
14. Do a mini spa night
Dim the lights, light some candles, put on calm music or a podcast you like, and pretend you’re at an actual spa.
Do your whole skincare routine slowly, put on a face mask, and give yourself a hand and foot massage.
You’re taking time to care for your body, to notice it, to make it feel good. That’s a form of respect and love that we often forget to show ourselves.
Your skin will be so soft after, and you’ll feel super relaxed!
15. Revisit your favorite childhood comfort
Sometimes the best way to treat yourself as an adult, is to feel the childlike joy you had before life got harder.
There’s something healing about reconnecting with the version of you that knew how to play and be silly and enjoy simple things.
It reminds you that the person is still in there, underneath all the adult responsibilities and worries.
Here are some ways to do this:
- Watch that cartoon you loved as a kid
- Eat a snack you haven’t had in years
- Visit a toy store when you’re at the mall and buy something fun
- Eat gummy snacks or cereal
- Read a children’s book you loved
- Listen to a song that brings you right back to being eight years old
16. Buy yourself something small but meaningful
We’re so used to only buying things we need or waiting for birthdays and holidays.
But you don’t need a reason, an occasion, or someone else’s permission to do this. If it makes you happy, that’s enough of a reason.
You work hard for your money, and spending some of it on something that makes you feel good isn’t wasteful; it’s an investment in your happiness.
Here are some things you can buy:
- Cute mug for your morning coffee
- Candle you’ve been eyeing for weeks
- A notebook with a cover you love
- Plant for your windowsill
- Pair of cozy socks
- A book from your ‘to-read’ list
17. Journal without rules
Just grab a notebook and write whatever’s in your head. Stream of consciousness, messy thoughts, random observations, all of it.
Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation or making sense or whether anyone else would understand it. This is just for you.
It’s like dumping out everything that’s been weighing on you.
All the thoughts that have been circling around, taking up space in your brain, keeping you up at night. Get them out on paper where you can see them.
Sometimes you’ll discover you’re worried about something you didn’t even realize. Sometimes you’ll work through a problem just by writing about it.
And sometimes it’s just nice to have somewhere to put all the noise.
18. Listen to your feel-good playlist
If you want to treat yourself without indulging in food or spending money, then music is your answer, my friend.
If you don’t already have a feel-good playlist, then make one, and listen to it without doing anything else at the time.
Dance around like you’re a star in a music video, and jump on your bed if you want.
Even one song is enough to take you from heavy and tired to energized and happy.
So, let yourself be weird and free and fully in your body for a few minutes.
19. Take a nap
Naps are so underrated, but super powerful.
I just love curling up in bed whenever I find a few spare minutes during the day. Everything seems more manageable afterward.
Set an alarm if you’re worried about sleeping too long, but let yourself really rest.
Pull the curtains, get under a blanket, and just drift off. When you wake up, you’ll feel so much better.
20. Spend time in nature
Nature reminds you that you’re part of something bigger, that life moves in cycles, and that growth takes time.
You remember that you’re a living thing in a living world, not just a brain trying to get through your to-do list.
So, treat yourself to some time outdoors. Sit under a tree, feel the sun on your face, and listen to nature sounds.
When you come back to your life, the groundedness and joy will come back with you, and stay with you for long.
21. Create a cozy nook
Having a cozy place in your home makes it easy to take time for yourself because you have somewhere to go. You can indulge in all your treats and rituals here.
Pick a comfy corner somewhere in your home and add a blanket, a pillow, maybe a little side table for your coffee or tea.
String up some fairy lights if you want (always a great idea, btw), put a plant there, and make it your spot for reading, journaling, or just sitting and thinking.
Every time you sit there, your brain will start to associate that space with relaxation and peace.
It will be an anchor point where you can retreat when the world feels like too much (or just because you want to feel pampered).
22. Say no without guilt
Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for yourself is admit that you’re at capacity, that you need rest, that you need space.
People who really care about you will understand. And if they don’t? That’s their problem, not yours.
You can’t pour from an empty cup, and running yourself into the ground to please others helps no one.
So, cancel plans if you’re not feeling it, reschedule that coffee date, and stay home instead of going to that party.
“I can’t make it” is a complete sentence, and it only gives you more energy and time for yourself.
23. Try something new
New things shake up your routine in a good way and give you something to look forward to. They wake up your brain and make life interesting again.
Make a recipe you’ve never tried before, do your hair differently, and try that hairstyle you saved on Pinterest.
Pick up a random creative hobby just because it sounds fun, and take a different route on your walk.
Try a new coffee shop, visit a new park, and watch a show or read a book from a new genre.
I recently started reading fantasy even though I usually stick to contemporary romance, and what a blessed change it has been.
I’m excited to pick up my Kindle at the end of every day and just read. Makes me believe I might just achieve my reading goal before the end of the year.
Similar: How To Start A New Chapter In Life – 13 Auspicious Ways
24. Watch the sunset
Grab a drink, find a spot, and just watch the sun set on yet another day.
It’s one of those things that reminds you the world is still pretty beautiful, even on hard days.
Every sunset is different — different colors, cloud patterns, and feelings.
It’s humbling and peaceful watching this natural event that happens every single day whether you notice it or not.
For those 20 minutes or so, you’re not thinking about your problems. You’re just present, watching light and color and beauty.
It puts things in perspective for sure.
25. Go to bed early (and without your phone)
This one’s tough, I get it. But just for one night, when your mind is too overloaded, give yourself the treat of going to bed early and without your phone.
Get into clean sheets, read a book, or just lie there in the dark and let your mind wander. Fall asleep naturally instead of fighting it or staying up way too late for no reason.
Real sleep, the kind that actually restores you, is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
You’ll wake up feeling so much better, clear-headed, patient, and ready for whatever the day brings.
Here’s the thing about treating yourself…
It’s not selfish, frivolous, or something you should feel guilty about.
It’s necessary because this is how you refill your cup so you can keep showing up for life with more joy.
You can’t pour from an empty vessel, and you deserve to feel full.
You deserve to feel like someone cares about you, and that someone can be you.
So start small if you need to. Pick just one thing from this list, and make it your little act of love today.
Because you deserve to feel taken care of, especially by you!
Read next: 11 Powerful Habits To Become Mentally Strong And Fearless
You just discovered 25 ideas to treat yourself! What was your favorite from the list? Let me know in the comment box, and feel free to share an idea of your own.
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