Find Ways to Reward Yourself for a Job Well-Done
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. – Ovid, Roman poet
Rewarding yourself by relaxing and rejuvenating your mind and body is of the utmost importance especially in today’s fast paced world. We always seem to be going somewhere, doing something or thinking about our next project. Give yourself permission to take a break after you have achieved a particular task or goal. Many of us do not reward ourselves and our bodies for all we do. Everyone needs to rest. For instance, athletes follow training schedules that include rest days. Rest days help the body to restore, reduce the risk of injury and allow the body (think muscles and tendons) to heal from difficult training sessions.
Planning time to relax and rest either by yourself or with others is important for both your mind and body. Doing at least one thing for yourself every day or week will help you to:
1) stay grounded,
2) reduce your stress level, and
3) enable you to give to others because in order to take care of others you must first take care of yourself.
One great way to ensure that you are taking time to relax and rest is to reward yourself when you accomplish a certain number of small tasks or have achieved one of your goals. Here are a few suggestions for how you can relax, rest and take care of yourself:
Every time you complete a task on your to-do list or accomplish a goal put a certain amount of money (10 cents – $1) in a jar. When you have collected enough money treat yourself to a massage, a facial, a manicure or pedicure, a new book to read for pleasure, a new outfit, a night out with your spouse or friends, or a new exercise DVD or CD.
If you’d prefer not to spend any money be creative with ways to relax such as, reading (utilize your local library), taking a bath, watching your favorite TV show, going for a walk or run with your spouse or a friend, hiking with your family, going for a bike ride, scrap booking, and more. Find ways to relax and reap the benefits of caring for yourself. You will feel less stressed, have more energy to take care of daily tasks and others, have a more positive outlook on life, and have a greater ability to solve problems as they arise.
Nutrition Tip: Find non-food related ways to reward yourself and your family. Do something fun and active such as bowling, bike riding, hiking, or swimming. Give each other foot or back massages. Have a family game night or an arts-and-craft afternoon. Make a homemade card or note to congratulate others for a job well-done. Have a family book club night where everyone reads their favorite book out loud. There a numerous possibilities for rewarding yourself and children (if, you are a parent) without food. Be creative and have fun! 
How do you reward yourself? Let others know how you relax and rejuvenate. We can all use suggestions.
