Reward Yourself

We all enjoy rewards, prizes, gifts, especially as recognition for a job well done. Your efforts are appreciated, by you and perhaps someone who recognizes your efforts. These little things boost our spirits and put a smile on our face and a song in our heart. Below please find a list of ways you can reward yourself or give someone a hint on what you would like. This is for your hard work to improve your health by making lifestyle changes.

CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITES AND USE THEM LIBERALLY
1. Compliment yourself. Write down what you would say to anyone else who accomplished what you did.
2. Create an actual plaque or trophy for yourself, or buy one.
3. Give yourself badges of honor for different levels of accomplishment.
4. Take a vacation or weekend getaway.
5. Take a day off from any goal activities.
6. Put $1 in a jar every time you meet a goal. When it gets to $50, treat yourself.
7. Create a Trophy Scrapbook, where you keep mementos from your accomplishments.
8. See a movie.
9. Make a grab bag of little prizes. When you reach a significant goal, reach in and get your reward!
10. Go for a spa treatment or massage.
11. Buy yourself a gift certificate.
12. Take a limo ride.
13. Subscribe to a magazine you always wanted.
14. Do something outdoors..
15. Watch your favorite TV show.
16. Buy something for your hobby.
17. Read a funny book.
18. Celebrate "100% Days". If you reach 100% of your goals that day, choose two rewards.
19. Find some time to be by yourself.
20. Pay someone to do the yardwork or house cleaning this week.
21. Fly a kite.
22. Be a kid for a day.

Don’t use food as a reward. Even good food. It’s just too much of a slippery slope. Don’t even mess with it.
From http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=86

Compliments:
· WOW, you look fabulous and must feel GREAT. Good for you.
· All your hard work paid off BIG TIME
· I am so proud of you.
· You must be so proud of yourself

Read a funny book.
Funny Authors who write funny books (from my personal reading list-please share yours)

· David Sedaris- for biting sarcasm and wit about his life, past and present, laugh out loud funny
· Jean Shepherd -(who hasn’t seen “A Christmas Story”?) His writing is funny and takes you back to a gentler time
· Janet Evanovich- her writing can be off color to say the least and I consistently laugh out loud
· Bill Bryson- combines his humor with the environment and the funny things that happen along the way, laugh out loud funny
· Go back to your childhood, remember Pippi Longstocking? Read Winnie the Pooh Meets a Heffelump, I remember reading that to my brother and not being able to get through the story I was laughing so hard.
· If you have a favorite book that makes you laugh out loud, please share with us, something to make us laugh is always welcome.

Now, I just want to share this with you, there is nothing more embarrassing than being on public transportation (like the NYC subway) and reading a book that tickles your funny bone and laughing so hard you are crying and having no control over yourself. I plead guilty.

Find some time to be by yourself
To me, this is the greatest reward. What do you love to do that you put off? Is it curling up with a good book, going for a peaceful, solitary hike? (If so, leave a note where you are going), going to a museum, a bike ride, taking a long drive in the car with good tunes to sing along with? The world is your oyster and you earned the pearl.

Make a grab bag of little prizes
When you reach a significant goal, reach in and get your reward! I read that one woman gave her friends $5 to pick out small items.
Take this a step further, give your friends money and have them pick little gifts out for you and wrap them, put them in a box and then select one as your reward.
Certainly, if you prefer to surprise yourself, buy little items and wrap them and put them in a box or basket and you probably will forget what you bought and it will be like your birthday each time you select a goodie.

Go for a spa treatment or massage.
Really, do I need to explain this one? Go and enjoy.

Fly a kite
Let me add to this, go be a kid for a few hours, do silly things, if you are doing them by yourself, no one will judge you. Finger paint, play in mud, buy some Play-Doh and make things, doncha love the smell of Play-Doh? Color in a coloring book with NEW CRAYONS. Blow bubbles, it’s really fun to do it in front of the dog or cat.

Buy something for your hobby
Have you been procrastinating on buying something for your hobby? Don’t have a hobby? Take some time to find something that sparks your interest. You know what else? You will be amazed at how fast the time goes and you won’t think about eating either. Take a class-art, dance, martial arts (great physical activity), what is your heart’s desire?

Take a day off from any goal activities.
Now, this can be an eye opener. I know that I am so used to walking my dogs that I don’t know what to do with myself when my husband has walked them (they are getting old so 2 walks in quick succession goes over like a lead balloon). See what your reaction is to a day without your goal activities. I am willing to bet that it won’t be as tantalizing as it sounds. Let me know.

Did you do something that was not on the list that really worked well for you and made you smile from ear to ear like the Cheshire Cat? Please let me know, I’d love to post it.

“You get credit for what you finish, not what you start.” Author unknown