#serious-thoughts #self-care #consumerism I think I've always had a penchant for celebrating or rewarding myself, almost excessively. For example, in college, every time I'd have a midterm or a final: * Get yourself a treat before studying, to motivate yourself! * Get yourself a treat *after* studying, because you've earned it. * Get yourself a treat right before the test, to destress! * Get yourself a treat *after the test*, because you've earned it. * Get yourself a treat despite how you did on the test, because you either need to destress or you've totally earned it. Usually the latter in my case really. So one entire process... warranted 5 treats. 🙂‍↕️ I'm not as excessive nowadays, but I still treat myself. Less now with consumables and fashion, but more now on things that contribute to my overall well-being. When it comes to relationships, I've started to get into the mindset that the person that I'll be with has to spoil me as much as or more than I spoil myself, because I'll inevitably spoil them. The important part of spoiling yourself is knowing that you deserve these things and do them out of the intention of loving yourself, not out of luxury or excessive spending, not out of showing off, not out of keeping up with the Joneses. I honestly think that doing these things with the intent to take care of myself has kept be pretty sane the past few years. You don't even have to feel bad if you don't think there is a reason. You just need to know that you're doing these things *for yourself*. Some things that you can do to spoil yourself are to: * Go to a new (or your favorite) restaurant by yourself. * Take yourself to the park and read a book or people watch. * Buy a little treat for yourself. * Consumerism. You deserve those cute new shoes you've been eyeing. * Play and sing your favorite song out loud. * Get a Waymo instead of an Uber or Lyft. * Go to a Korean spa, because Ajumma will scrub your filthy dirty soul clean. * Play a nostalgic video game. * Spice your beauty routine up. * Honestly lay in bed for longer than you usually do.