Small Steps and Simple Rewards – Feeling Great About Yourself One Step at a Time
No one expects to be able to snap their fingers and all of a sudden feel different about their lives. It takes time and real lifestyle changes in order to get to a place where you are wearing a perma-smile. Everyone experiences mood swings from time to time, so never get down on yourself for feeling less than your best. We’re all human, so don’t worry about trying to be perfect. You can make a positive difference toward a good mood, but it doesn’t happen automatically. Even Nature Made SAM-e Complete takes a couple of weeks before it begins to work. It all starts with rewarding yourself in healthy, positive ways for accomplishing the things you feel that you’ve done well. Here are some tips for rewarding yourself in small steps.
Healthy Rewards
It is often tempting to give yourself a delicious gift to satisfy your progress toward positivity, but rewarding yourself with junk or sweets can be detrimental, too. By steering clear of your vices, you’ll continue down the path of healthy living and be able to make the changes in your lifestyle to make your mood the best it can be. So if you’ve lost a few pounds, or you’ve gone a week without lashing out or getting cross with your kids, don’t undo your hard work by having a piece of pie – instead put aside a ten dollar bill in a jar to keep for a larger purchase later. I’ve put together a quick list of other ways you can reward yourself in healthy ways.
- Treat yourself to a massage.
- Get a makeover.
- Have a night out at the movies (sneak in some fresh grapes or baby carrots for a healthy snack.)
- Go for a walk at the mall, or better yet, find an outdoor area you like and walk there. Bring a friend along, too.
- If you want to spoil yourself with a tangible gift, pick up a book, a new outfit, or even some exercise equipment.
Cheap Rewards
Not only should the gifts you give yourself be healthy, but they also don’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to spend much money to feel great about your improvements. Sure, sometimes it’s ok to splurge, but why waste money when you can get yourself a gift for next to nothing? Here’s another list of ways you can reward yourself without breaking the bank.
- Play a game with friends. A deck of cards costs pennies at the drug store, and there are more card games than anyone really has time for anyway.
- Take a mini Staycation.
- Pick some flowers and arrange them in a vase.
- Draw or paint a picture for your wall. (This is both cathartic and makes the activity the reward itself.)
- Watch a TV program or a movie online.
For some more tips on frugally rewarding yourself, check out this post on FitSugar.
Keep in mind that these rewards are there to give yourself the motivation you need to keep going, no matter what your goal is. It is much easier to achieve lifestyle changes when you can give yourself a surprise for doing so well.
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Comments
samantha mendoza Monday, September 14, 2009
i am very excited about doing this for myself and my family.I seem to trigger very easily with very lil ability to control.I feel very emotional and lonely inside but put a good show on for the world as to my family paying the price for my acting all day long.I saw your commercial on tv and it gave me unbelievable hope thank you.