How To Treat Yourself By Slowing Down With Self Care

Treat yourself to some kindness and self-care when life gets overwhelming.

Mindfulness, Wellbeing Workshops, Wellbeing Webinars, Wellbeing Consultancy, Wellbeing at Work, Leeds, Yorkshire, England — Treat Yourself @leedswellbeingweek

The world is busy. The grind never stops, the task list never gets completed, and yet the world still spins. Life is for the living, not to be passed by.

Does this sound familiar:

I put myself second
I’m overwhelmed at work and at home
I pile on the pressure
I need a break

You’re not alone - according to mind.org, 1 in 4 people in England alone experiences mental health problems related to stress and overwhelm each year. Building up good wellbeing habits is key to go from our own worst enemy to our strongest ally.

If you’re feeling too passive as you go through the motions, pump the breaks and prioritise wellbeing with at-home and in-office staff wellbeing ideas to treat yourself.

Self Care and Slowing Down

Are you a bit of a perfectionist? Or feel snowed under a pile of work, a list of responsibilities, and a boring routine. You may be slipping into habits that cause overwhelm without realising. These habits set an invisible high bar of (sometimes impossible) success, something difficult to achieve and can feel like the end of the world if missed.

Think about all the ways neglecting personal wellbeing and resilience training can impact your mind and body:

Headaches
Muscle tension/limb pain
Fatigue
Tired/sore eyes
Rapid heartbeat
Brain fog/difficulty thinking and concentrating
Anxiety
Forgetfulness
Racing thoughts
Mood swings
Tension

These can take a long-term toll on your health. Prioritising mental health and wellbeing training in your day-to-day life can combat them.

So, when things are going too fast - slow down! But how? Through mindfulness.

What is mindfulness? Living in the moment, taking time to be consciously aware of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. A form of control that can be found in everyday activities. AKA - treat yourself!

There are lots of benefits of mindfulness at work and home through treating yourself to be found, through practices that don’t have to cost a lot - or anything at all!

Treat Yourself

Little treats and self-care tips are all about taking a break, taking care of yourself, and taking on those signs of stress to turn them into something beneficial instead.

Small pockets of joy are so simple but boost the happy chemicals in our brains: mood-boosting chemicals that give you more energy, improve sleep, and have a domino effect of happiness all-round.

Here’s some mindfulness examples with 10 treat yourself ideas…

Go for a walk

Reconnect with nature and disconnect from technology by taking a short walk around your neighbourhood. It could just be taking a different route home from work. Take yourself on a date as you go: a film, dinner, a walk in the park, then buy yourself a bouquet of flowers on the way home.

Watch the sunset or sunrise

Watching nature’s beauty is a treat for the heart, mind, and soul. Take a peek from your window or find a scenic spot one morning or evening.

Enjoy a tea, coffee, or sweet treat in silence

Have a soothing drink without doing anything else. Appreciate the silence then take time to reflect and connect with reality. Splurge on a mini-treat like speciality ice-cream or luxury chocolate.

Get creative

Draw, paint, doodle, journal, scrapbook... The options are endless! Remember: let go of that perfectionism - you don’t have to be super talented to make art.

Do some exercise

It doesn’t need to be strenuous - go for a jog or run, bike around the city, play football, do yoga stretches, meditate, or just powerwalk.

Make a new playlist

Music has a highly beneficial impact on uplifting our mood. Create a new digital mood playlist, or shuffle some CDs. Even better, dance like no one's watching (in your room, in the office, making dinner in the kitchen…)

Bake or cook something new

Try baking sweet treats like cakes or muffins, or switch up your normal mealtime routine with batch-cooking, a brand new recipe, or homemade pizza with your family. Or have breakfast in bed!

Have a relaxing bath

Light a scented candle, pour in the bubble bath, and relax in the tub. You could read a book, take a nap, listen to music, or just lay there calmly. Bonus points if you put on a beauty face mask or add some extra mood lighting.

Spend time with loved ones

On the phone, online, or in-person. Organise a catch-up, a film night, a dinner date, a cooking class, a trip around your home city. Keep reading for some local ideas to treat yourself too.

Local Events to Treat Yourself

Getting out and about is a great way to work on mindfulness training, so we’ve put together some free or cheap ideas on what to do to treat yourself in Leeds and Yorkshire.

Go on a walking tour

Leeds offers engaging walking tours led by professionals to guide you around the city. There are private tours, public tours, and even coach tours every week.

Take the Leeds Waterfront Art Trail

Leeds is a city full of art murals - and this trail lets you see it all! Along with a scenic waterfront tour.

Food and drink festivals

Have a bite at one of the many food and drink festivals. Leeds is the foodie capital of the North, after all.

Wander around a gallery or museum

Art is a treat for the eyes, the brain, and the heart. Take it slow and take in the culture of Leeds’ arts and cultural venues, such as the Leeds City Museum and Leeds Art Gallery.