I have never been very good at the idea of "self care", by that I don't mean haircuts or massages or manicures.
What I am talking about are things which we do, or buy, which make us feel happy, just for ourselves. I often feel I should be "doing" all the time and feel guilty if I'm not. So for me, a cup of coffee and a sit down at home listening to the birds singing could be just as much a treat as buying and sitting down to read a much wanted book.
One of the things I decided to do more of this year was to give myself "rewards" - treating myself for achievements when I've done things I'm either proud of doing (because they were hard and I didn't necessarily want to do them) Or something I did do, that was hard and I did want to do it, and I succeeded. Reaching a particular milestone, or, just because I deserved it.
Some of these treats/rewards are free or very very cheap (A sit down, a hot bath, nice hand cream, 30 mins with a book in front of the fire)
Some, I've saved up for, and one or two were gifts for the Christmas just past.
So here is one of my "it cost money" treats, a gift subscription to Vintage Teatimes, there are different levels of subscription, this is mine.
Each month I will get a cup, saucer, tea plate and larger plate, some kind of sweet item such as biscuits, various teas, another couple of treats (this month a book and a teabag saucer with hens on!). There are different levels of subscription to receive each month, depending on what you pay for.
It cheered me up no end to get the parcel in the post, beautifully wrapped up using all recycled packaging, it was like an early birthday present! Certainly it cheered up another wet, dark January day.
