Teach Mom Learn

When was the last time you treated yourself to something special? If you’ve ever seen Parks and Recreation, Tom and Donna have an annual Treat Yo’ Self day where they go totally over the top treating themselves to anything they could ever want. Here’s a quick clip of Treat Yo’ Self 2011 in case you’ve never seen the show.

While Tom and Donna’s special day may seem extreme, they’re definitely on to something. We get so caught up in our daily routines and chores that we completely forget to have fun sometimes.

Moms do amazing things all the time. We deserve treats. Here are 50 easy (and often inexpensive) ways to celebrate Treat Yo’ Self 2021:

1 . Go to your favorite bakery -Buy that treat you’ve been wanting for months but haven’t tried because you’re “trying to be good.” Life’s short, eat the brownie or turnover or whatever it is you want!

2. Window shop at your favorite outdoor shopping plaza -This is the perfect way to spend a sunny day. You don’t even have to buy anything. Just wandering around taking in the beautiful displays and browsing at your own pace in stores is so relaxing.

3. Beach trip -There is nothing like being by the ocean. Just listening to the waves and watching the sun sparkle on the surface of the water always puts me in a better mood. If you’re in an active mood, take a walk and do some beachcombing. If you’re tired, bring a towel or chair and just sit, read, and take in the beauty around you.

4. Make your own pizza -This is a treat for everyone in your household and sooo much cheaper than sending out for pizza. Plus, no wait for the delivery!

5. Bake something delicious -being able to create something from nothing in a short period of time is pretty incredible. Plus you get to eat it when it’s done!

6. Pick up a fancy coffee -Yes, we can totally make coffee at home, but sometimes, you need something a bit more special to get through the day. Treat yourself to a latte from your favorite spot and take the time to savor it.

7. Go to Your favorite store and buy yourself one new thing -Go straight to the sale section and pick out something you genuinely love. Then, wear it on a day when you need an extra boost of confidence. Bonus points if you happen to hit a particularly good sale!

8. Take a day off from chores –Ask your significant other to take over your usual chores and use paper plates for dinner. You deserve a break!

9. Go to the library and spend an hour perusing the shelves -Or, if you want an extra treat, go to the local bookstore. Browsing through books was one of my favorite ways to spend a rainy or cold afternoon before I had Rae. Now, I only spend about an hour, but it’s still so much fun.

10. Actually read a book for fun -When was the last time you read a whole book for fun? Spend some time during a nap or after your child goes to bed and actually read for fun.

11. Have a friend over for a girl’s night after your kids go to bed -Possible girl’s night themes include: wine and cheese night, Real Housewives night, movie night, or dessert night.

12. Go for a walk -This is my favorite way to treat myself, and it’s completely free. I just love getting outside, burning off some energy (or stress, depending on the day), listening to a podcast, and spending time in nature.

13. Hit something -Go to the batting cages or hit wiffleballs in the backyard. Or go to the gym and attack the heavy bag. This one is especially effective if you’re frustrated or anxious. It just feels good to hit things sometimes!

14. Binge watch a show by yourself -That way, you won’t have to pause it to answer questions or wait for another person before you can watch the next episode.

15. Spend some time on Pinterest -This is much better than the usual social media scrolling we all fall into. Pinterest is inspirational and almost entirely positive. While social media can lead us into a spiral when we see others’ curated lives, Pinterest motivates us to enhance our own.

16. Get an ice cream -There is nothing better than an ice cream on a hot day. And if it’s been a particularly long day, make sure you get some toppings!

17. Conquer a few items on your to-do list -While this may not seem relevant to this list at first glace, checking items off your to do list is so rewarding, and they will no longer be hanging over your head once they are done.

18. Chocolate -enough said.

19. Read a magazine -When was the last time you actually read a magazine? And when was the last time you read a magazine for fun? Pick one up that you are genuinely interested and excited about and read it cover to cover.

20. Pick up flowers -Flowers make everything look prettier. Pick some up the next time you’re running errands (Trader Joe’s has great ones!) and give them a place of honor in your home. And if you have pets, check out the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants to make sure your flowers are safe for everyone in your home to enjoy.

21. Try a new beauty product -Buy something that makes you feel beautiful because you deserve it!

22. Buy new comfy socks -Old Navy and Target have great ones! For less than $10, your feet will be extra warm and cozy.

23. Shut off your phone (or at the very least, silence your email notifications) -We all need to unplug sometimes. When you’re done for the day, make sure you’re really done for the day. I know sometimes it’s not possible, but whenever you can, leave the emails until the morning.

24. Play with your dog or snuggle with your cat -Spending time with your pet is such a fantastic way to relax. Plus, they could probably use the extra attention. Curl up and spend some quality time with your furriest child.

25. Celebrate Take-Out Tuesday -Personally, I think Tuesdays are the hardest day of the week. Monday has some novelty, but when you wake up Tuesday morning, the reality of the week sets in. Why not support local restaurants AND get out of making dinner at the same time? Win-win!

26. Buy a new cozy sweater -There is nothing like a cozy sweater on a cold day. Trust me, I’ve been teaching in a classroom with the windows open all winter, so I know this better than anyone. Old Navy has some fantastic options for reasonable prices, or check out The Comfy, a super cozy wearable blanket made into a hoodie. My students inspired me to buy it, and now I live in it.

27. Play some video games -I fought my husband on this one so much, but it ended up being so much fun! He hooked up his old gaming system and we raced each other in Mario Kart. Take some time to completely escape from the real world and play something fun!

28. Say no to something you don’t want to do -Just do it. Ask yourself what the real worst case scenario is if you say no. Chances are, it’s not as bad as you think it will be. You’ll feel so much better after you reclaim your time!

29. Buy a new notebook – A new notebook is a blank slate that you can fill with thousands of ideas, memories, stories, doodles, or whatever else you want. Buy a beautiful one (and a fancy pen to go with it) and fill it.

30. Color -Remember when therapeutic coloring was huge? We should go back to that! Crayola has free adult coloring pages online, and so do tons of other websites. Also, twistable or woodless colored pencils are an extra special treat because you will never need to sharpen them.

31. Clean off your desk -Having a clean workspace is always motivating. Plus, it just feels so good to work somewhere pretty.

32. Treat yourself to a good cry -Sometimes, you just need it. However, there’s a huge difference between sobbing your heart out when something tragic happens on Grey’s Anatomy and the particularly cathartic bittersweet cry that can only come from a Pixar movie. Make sure you pick the right kind of cry. I would highly recommend Coco on Disney+ or watching videos of soldiers surprising their children or dogs -works every time!

33. Pick up a new board game and test it out -For about $20, you can treat yourself to an awesome night with family and friends. I personally love Hollywood Game Night or The Cat Game -it’s like Pictionary, only you have to use cat cut-outs to enhance your drawing. Here’s one from the first time we played.

34. Take a yoga class –Go in person or check out Yoga with Adriene on YouTube and dedicate the time entirely to yourself. And don’t be afraid to do your yoga in the playroom if you don’t have the time to do it alone-I usually do my workouts while Rae plays, and we end up laughing our way through Shavasana.

35. Take the day off from real pants -On days where you just don’t want to go to work, wear your best pair of black, matte leggings instead of pants. No one will be able to tell the difference if your shirt is long enough, and you’ll have an extra comfy day!

36. Look through old photos -If you’re feeling down, one of the best ways to remind yourself how wonderful things actually are is to go back and look through the photos on your phone. You chose to capture the moments for a reason, and being reminded of them treats you to happy memories.

37. Take a nap -Even if you don’t actually sleep, allocate an hour or two to just lounge and do something you enjoy. We’re all so productive all the time, it’s nice to dedicate time to doing nothing.

38. Old school dance party -When no one else is home, blast your favorite songs from high school or college, sing your heart out, and dance. Bonus -it’ll bring back so many memories! For me, listening to an old Taylor Swift album brings me right back!

39. Buy yourself lunch instead of packing it -I hate packing lunch, but I do it almost every day to save money and calories. However, there are days when I need something more special than my usual yogurt, granola, and fruit, and on those days, I pick up a sandwich and green juice from my favorite spot. When you have one of those days, go for it!

40. Mani Pedi -Comfy chairs, massages, and the inability to use your hands to check your phone or do any other kind of work. Plus your nails will look so pretty!

41. Get some of your favorite photos on your phone developed -Put them somewhere you will see them every day. I have a wall of Rae on the bulletin board behind my desk at work, and seeing her smiling face makes every day better.

42. Get a blow out -Go before a fun night out with friends or your significant other, or even for no reason at all! Plus you won’t need to do anything to your hair for a few days later, which is a nice bonus.

43. Try a subscription box -Subscription boxes are like someone sending you presents at set intervals, and I love them. I’ve tried Ipsy in the past and currently subscribe to FabFitFun. Both are fantastic and cost far less than a weekly trip to Starbucks when you break it down.

44. Rent a movie -When was the last time you actually rented a movie? I actually miss going to Blockbuster on Friday nights with my parents to pick one out! Now, most of us just watch whatever is On Demand or on our multiple streaming services, but what if the movie you want isn’t available anywhere? Treat yourself!

45. Get a special travel mug -Most of us don’t have time to enjoy our morning beverages at home, so pick up something that will make you smile on your way to work.

I have 2 favorites -one from Yeti and one from Gossby. The Yeti holds 30 oz, so it’s perfect for a decaf tea you’ll sip all day long. Not having to rush to drink something before it cools down is definitely a treat!

Tom custom-designed my Gossby mug with images of me and my cats, so that one is definitely most special to me. I plan to ask for one featuring Rae for Mother’s Day.

46. Buy the fancy pens -Maybe this is a teacher thing, but I am obsessed with a good pen. I love Papermate’s Ink Joy pens more than any others, but it has to be the click kind, not the kind with the cover. Get yourself a new pack of your favorites to make work a little more fun!

47. Embrace your creative side -Head over to your local craft store and pick up the supplies for that project you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t given yourself the time to actually do it. For me, this was painting and crocheting and both are therapeutic and fun activities I treat myself to regularly.

48. Pick up a cozy blanket or new throw pillows -For about $30, you can reinvent your living room and make your couch extra comfy! If you have one near you, check out Christmas Tree Shop, they have fantastic deals on things for your home and their inventory changes all the time.

49. Spend an afternoon at the arcade -This one is definitely more for non-Covid times! Arcades are the perfect place to spend a rainy or cold day. Tom and I used to go to Dave & Busters, spend $40 on tokens, play until we earned enough to get the prize of our choice, and race on Mario Kart. Arcades are such a perfect escape!

50. Treat someone else –Once you’ve spoiled yourself, share the fun! Send a surprise to a friend or family member who could use a little pick-me-up. Treating them will bring you both so much joy!

For some fun ways to treat yourself to some self-care with your child, check out these easy ways to Share Your Self-Care.

How do you treat yourself? Let me know in the comments!