Healthy Treats

In this Teach Happier space, we often clarify that when we say happy, it’s synonymous with words like content, aligned, balanced, steady, anchored. Oftentimes when we experience the opposite and feel stressed, unbalanced, or unsteady, we try to make ourselves feel better. We can approach this in healthy or unhealthy ways. Let’s consider a couple of those unhealthy ways we may try to cope with stress or unease. Think of the last time you felt stressed and tried to alleviate that stress through shopping, drinking, eating, or scrolling. No judgment here. I imagine most of us have been there and done that.  

As rational optimists, we recognize it’s unrealistic to have a life without stress. So how can we alleviate that stress in a healthy way? Gretchen Rubin invites us to consider alleviating those undesirable feelings with a “healthy treat.” She suggests making a long list of potential treats so that when we think, “I need a treat to feel better” we have ideas to access.  

Make a List!

I really liked this idea when Gretchen talked about it recently on her podcast, so I started incorporating the idea of a “healthy treat” in January to see if would help (spoiler alert: it did!). I simply opened up my Notes app, and titled it “Healthy Treats” to list the things I could go to when I need a bit of comfort when feeling stress or unsteadiness.  

Here are some examples: 

• Pet Winston (my adorable English bulldog) 
• Drink a cup of apple tea my friend brought back for me from Paris  
• Rewatch a favorite episode of Parks and Rec (ironically one of my favorite episodes is from season 7 and literally titled “Treat Yo Self”) 
• Wash my face and use the “good” face lotion 
• Breakout my playlist that has all the things from Foo Fighters to Billy Joel to Sugarland 
• Go for a walk and listen to a hilarious Bravo podcast 
• Reread emails from my “Yay Suzanne” folder or lovely notes I keep in my nightstand 
• Grab a blanket, sit in the Book Nook, and read a fiction book 
• Wear my mom’s Bomba slipper socks 

Gretchen says, “A healthy treat is not a reward for something that you have to earn or justify. It’s something that gives you energy or calm when you feel stressed out and can look forward to it with pleasure.” She goes on to say, “When we give ourselves treats, we feel energized, cared for, and contented, which boosts our self-command. Self-command helps us maintain healthy habits.” She says this practice is a “Secret of Adulthood”: If I can give more to myself, I can ask more from myself.” 

Our invitation for this short/long month is to create a short list of healthy treats that you could go to in times of stress, unbalance, or unsteadiness. How can you provide some comfort and peace in the healthiest way?  

Treat yourself. 

 Small Shifts, BIG Gifts!

Give it a try! Think about a list of “healthy treats” you could access during times of stress and unease.

About Suzanne Dailey

Suzanne Dailey is a proud member of the Teach Better Family! She is an instructional coach in the Central Bucks School District where she has the honor and joy of working with elementary teachers and students in 15 buildings. Suzanne is Nationally Board Certified, a Fellow of the National Writing Project, and has a master’s degree in Reading. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing the whole child and teacher. Suzanne lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Check out the Teach Happier Podcast here!