REPEAT AFTER US: Treat. Yo. Self. Treat yo’self.
1. Get a nice journal/diary
Whether it’s to note down your appointments or let loose your deepest feelings, writing in a lovely notebook can feel so good. Don’t forget a nice pen to go with it, too.
2. Bookmark some tasty recipes… and actually make them
Set aside a day every week to try a new recipe from your list and pick up the ingredients on your way home. Challenge yourself – both your culinary skills and your taste buds. (Try Budget Bytes, BBC Food, and Epicurious for ideas.)
3. Invite some friends around for a games/movie night
Chances are you’ve only been seeing each other in the pub for the past few weeks, so why not have your mates over for tea and snacks? All the fun, minus the hangover the next day.
4. Or organise a pals’ day out
Bubble football, Escape The Room, a road trip to somewhere nearby you’ve always been meaning to visit…
5. Have a ‘spa day’ in your own home
Pretend Irish Water doesn’t exist for one evening and run a bath. Get a bubbly, colourful, fragrant bath bomb, apply a face mask, and have some clean, cosy jammies ready for when you get out. Bliss.
6. Take yourself out on a walk with a podcast
Podcasts are made for rambling through the woods or the park – you won’t even notice the time flying by. There are loads of suggestions here.
7. Try colouring
Mindfulness colouring books are all the rage at the moment, and probably the most enjoyable way to beat stress and take a bit of time for yourself this month.
8. Or just meditate
Many people swear by the Headspace app, which guides you through ten minutes of mind-clearing meditation. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
9. Set yourself a reading challenge for 2016
Five books, ten books, forty books, one book a month… It doesn’t matter how many.
Goodreads is a great way to keep track of what you’ve read and the books you want to try next, and it feels damn good to click that ‘I’ve finished this book!’ button. (Here are some good book suggestions. And here. And here.)
10. Stay off Instagram/Twitter/Facebook for the hour before you go to bed
Use the time to get ahead on your reading challenge. You’ll sleep better.
11. Make yourself a playlist of music that’s new to you, and a playlist of your favourite songs ever
Something from the new playlist may just find a place in the favourites playlist. You never know.
12. And break out anything you’ve been keeping ‘for good’
Wear something that makes you happy, get stuck into the fancy cheese, open that tube of expensive hand cream. You deserve it.
