Well, lately I have been doing things for myself and I was exactly like you at first. I was like man, I haven't done anything for MYSELF in so long I really can't think of anything TO do for myself. Food didn't even enter my mind honestly- okay maybe chocolate did. LOL But other than that- had to really think hard.
Here are some things I have done (and I have others I plan on doing also- but that list is for another time LOL) and even though some are things you have already said are not things you want to do- perhaps you might find something on the list that you either want to do for yourself OR it sparks a thought in your head about something else you would like to do for yourself?
Do you have children? Because most of my stress comes from things related to being a mom, homemaker, etc. So .... if you're not in the situation nor or not anymore (children grown or whatever) then some might not fit you- but I'll list them anyway!
I did get a new haircut- and while it was stressful for a bit to try to decide what to do (and a big change for me since I have had long hair to my butt most of my life and had only SORTA shortened it a couple years ago) - once I had it done I loved it (because I made sure it was exactly what I wanted before I had it done) and I'm so glad I did! I even have less stress because of that now- no more 30-45 min in the shower trying to get conditioner out and an hour to dry the stupid hair. LOL I can actually shower, fix my hair and do makeup in LESS time than my stupid shower alone used to take! So I find I can make myself look more presentable more often now. It's not often you can find time to wash hair/fix it/makeup/etc when it takes hours (like it did before) and you have 3 young children!
I did buy some new clothes- but only a FEW things because I keep going lower in size and I'm extremely frugal by nature and it really bugs me to buy clothes then not be able to wear them weeks later! I wore the same clothes for years and years before losing this weight. But the few things I did buy (pr of jeans, pr of shorts, couple shirts, eventually some dresses for church but bought them a little small so I can wear them for a longer time even though losing) really made me feel so much better than when having lost some weight and still wearing the huge shirts and sweatpants from before- yanno? You can see the difference and so can others- and those compliments really keep you motivated, let me tell you!
Try to find some de-stress time for yourself. Whether you have children or not- sometimes just BEING ALONE and not having to DO anything during that time can make a world of difference. I had forgotten this and always had atleast one child with me at all times- even when DH was doing something with the older two. OR even when I did have time alone- I always used the time to do things- clean house, wash dishes, wash clothes, etc. My time alone wasn't spent relaxing at all! If anything it was spent going 90 to nothing trying to get as much done as I could before they returned!!! But sometimes now I just decide that I'm going to spend that time alone doing something for ME! Maybe I'll do my nails, maybe I'll spend the entire hour or whatever reading online or answering emails, maybe read a book- watch a movie without missing half of it because of constant interruptions! Etc.
Even an hour of alone time NOT working or doing things around the house/etc- just occasionally -really helps me de-stress and helps me be more patient/etc during the stressful times.
Honestly- when you do things for yourself, even small ones.... it really helps with the stress level and for me atleast - it helps me be more a more patient, happier mom and a more pleasant wife/person to be around!
I wish I'd figured this out sooner! LOL
(remember- I didn't do all these things at once- it was gradual here and there the past few months- some even slightly before I started Atkins. I really think that's why I got serious about losing weight- I'd started changing my whole thought process about myself and wanting to feel better about myself and do more for myself- after about 9yrs of just being "mom" and "wife" and putting myself last on the totem pole 24/7. So some of these things I started doing and THEN I decided I also wanted to finally lose the weight and just so happened my sister had been doing great on Atkins so I decided to go for it. And I think I have been successful and persistent in doing so- very committed if you will- because I was already in the mindset that I was GOING to do this for myself- yanno?)
What else- let's see.
Spa treatment at GF on my last trip (solo) to WDW. Oh wait- that trip itself was a treat to ME also.
I started making time to be able to do my nails. Let them grow out a bit (tired of keeping them short -and my children aren't BABIES anymore- so there was really no REASON for me to keep them super short) and started doing fingernail polish about once weekly. It doesn't last all week and I end up having to remove it from it peeling off and therefore I don't always have fingernail polish on- but I "treat" myself to MAKING the time to do my nails at some point about once a week.
I also recently decided I'm going to care for my face better- and it's about time at almost 34yrs old! Ofcourse living in Texas- I've had a lot of sun damage throughout my life too.
So I looked into finding out what would help my skin/face and purchased some things (some ordered online and haven't arrived yet- but some bought at
Walmart/etc) and I've made a vow to myself that I will DO my face regime every morning and every night- no matter what. That's for ME... and I won't give that up for anything- even if it has to be done fast or not exactly at the same time because of other things I have to do/etc. But I no longer will just "give up" things for myself- for other reasons. And for about 5-6 days now (can't remember exactly) I have done so. And I'm proud for myself -that I am starting to care about myself enough to stick to it- that I have been taking care of my face/skin every morning and every night. I could see myself easily getting out of the habit or making excuses not to do so- but I have been committed to doing this for myself and not done that!
I think a spa treatment, pedicure or manicure or both, massage/etc are GREAT ideas. I may not be able to swing the time (sans children) to go get a massage or spa treatment/etc- but sometimes I have just enough time to go to a mall by myself for a bit and some malls have those water spraying massage machines- that you stayed dressed in -hopefully you know what I'm talking about? Man those things are GREAT and talk about de-stressing??? It's like almost IMPOSSIBLE to relax in one of those water spray massage machines and come out still stressed.
Oh and bubble baths. I used to take baths AND showers long time ago- but for years and years (since kids maybe? LOL) I've done the shower only thing- for time reasons. Lately I try to take a long luxurious bubble bath- even if it means after everyone else is asleep and I stay up a little later- and it's definitely a de-stresser. I like to read sometimes while in the bubble bath- you can't possibly sit and think about stressful things in your life (if you are like me and your mind runs a mile a minute even when you are trying to relax or go to sleep/etc) if you are lost in a book! This would only work if you like to read though- and I do.
Man, I feel like I'm forgetting some stuff- been so many lately. LOL I'm really not THAT "into" myself as it may sound- just making up for lost time..... so many years of doing NOTHING for myself ever!
I also plan on doing some things this summer that I used to enjoy doing and haven't done since I've had children (except once while pregnant and it wasn't any fun then LOL). Things like going to Six Flags -WITHOUT the children or maybe just the oldest since she can ride the rides with me and keep up with my fast pace also. The younger two with their daddy. This is something I enjoy (the rides) and I haven't done for so long simply because I was either pregnant OR because of having young children and being such a pain to even THINK about going and taking them, someone always having to not ride to stay with the youngest etc. Well to heck with having to wait till they are all old enough to ride/etc. DH doesn't like riding rides much anyway -so he can stay home with them and I'll go- because *I* enjoy it.
Things also like going to the water parks with the oldest two only sometimes- instead of every time going with all 3 and then spending the entire day in the baby pool with the youngest. That's fun for her- but not THAT fun for me (except enjoying her enjoyment of the day). So sometimes I'm going to go for MY enjoyment- and only take the older two since we can enjoy the "bigger" rides together.
No more sacrificing my own enjoyment EVERY SINGLE time (most of the time still- but not all the time) just because I'm a "mom" and baby comes first. Sometimes MOM is going to do something for herself- not just the fun the child will have.
Okay my list is getting long. Hopefully this list will spark some ideas for yourself about some things YOU would enjoy- or motivate you to do something for yourself even if it's something you didn't think you'd want to do or want to spend money on/etc. before reading this.
It's a mindset. You have to decide that whatever it is that you would enjoy and feel would help you 'de-stress' is something you are going to do because gosh-darnit you DESERVE it.
Oh and also- ditto on getting a new scale. That can be your first "splurge" for yourself. I can't tell you what a world of difference it was for me when I ditched the scale that was erratic and got a Tanita that is the SAME down to .2lbs everytime I step off, back on, off, back on. It is VERY frustrating to have a scale that bounces up and down just 1 second later if you step off and back on. It's so much nicer to step on (and yes, I still test it by off and back on again LOL I'm anal I guess.... just making sure it hasn't decided to become erratic also!) and KNOW that is the real true weight that you are.... even matching the dr's office accurately. (I don't weigh naked at home btw. LOL)
Do something for yourself. Something.... anything..... no matter how small it may sound- you'll be amazed how much better it will make you feel and hopefully you'll feel some of the stress slipping away.
I don't want to go buy new clothes because I have enough in my current size. I never really do much with my hair and honestly if I decided to get a new haircut the stress of deciding on a new style might be worse than my current stress level. There are not really any "things" that I want to buy. I don't want too much and I do tend to buy small things for myself (books, CDs, etc) on a pretty regular basis. Does anyone have any other ideas?
