Even those who excel in their field, be that athletes of all shapes and sizes, those self-care hobbyists that treat their bodies like a temple, and people managing health conditions will agree that you cannot make perfect choices 100% of the time.
Sure, the overriding majority of the life choices you make should always consider how you can best be of service, how you can prioritize your well-being and the well-being of those around you, and figuring out what specific goals you will serve in the first place. But in order to be a functioning, textured human, it’s important to have a place to vent frustrations, to indulge a little, and to engage in habits that aren’t necessarily perfect.
For example, there’s no shame in enjoying some ice cream from time to time, even if you’re on a diet. As long as the broader trends of your decision-making are positive and disciplined, you can afford a little cheat meal here and there, and factor this into your overall planning.
This begs a question - in the interest of sustainability, what indulgences are not only allowed in a healthy and balanced life, but could be considered a vital element of it? In this post, we’ll discuss that and more:
Hobbies You Love
An engaging habit, hobby or practice you get genuine joy out of can be worthwhile for anyone, even if the actual measure of enjoying it isn’t considered “healthy” in the conventional sense. For example, perhaps every Sunday night, you and a few friends turn on your games consoles and play video games together for a few hours. Sure, you could spend that time cleaning or heading to the gym, but the genuine laughter you share and the co-operative planning you have to show is good for the spirit and quite nurturing to enjoy. As you can see, a habit can be relatively neutral in some respects, but health in others.
Focusing On Number One
It’s hard to suggest that you need to focus on yourself and only yourself, because most people have relatives, children, colleagues or friends they need to keep up with and have some kind of responsibility to support. But in order to be the best person you can be for those individuals, sometimes you need to focus on number one. This might involve dealing with a bad habit such as by using the Real Deal Outpatient Rehab, or managing a new health condition that’s been troubling you. You can’t be a good person to others unless you’re a good person to yourself.
A Creative Outlet
Not everyone is a creative genius, and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean you won’t have something valuable to contribute, or that you can’t enjoy a creative hobby, though. In fact, having this in your life can help you enjoy life that much more, as well as help you with managing your emotions. Many people play instruments in their spare time to express themselves, or write short stories, or paint watercolor images of the local landscape. Having a hobby like this can be nurturing and nourishing, and you may even share it with others. Sure, there might not be a “commercial” benefit to the approach, nor may it assist you health-wise, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an indulgence worth taking part in.
Treats & Purchases
It’s good to treat yourself from time to time, even if you might not usually feel comfortable with doing that. Purchasing a new set of memory foam pillows, a better toaster, a new pair of jeans, some of these things seem small but can help contribute to your self-worth, showing that yes, you deserve to spend some of your hard-earned money on yourself, not just everyone else in your life too. As long as the treats are sustainable and you’re still able to manage your budget and pay for your priority bills life food and the mortgage payments, then you don’t have to justify your purchase to anyone. In fact, doing so is a nice token of appreciation for yourself, which is always a healthy thing to focus on.
With this advice, you’ll see how indulgences are essential to a healthy and balanced life, and why taking some time to put yourself first isn’t that selfish at all. For many people, this approach can seem a little conceited, which is why training yourself to be kinder to everyone around you also helps you accommodate your own needs more readily. Why not practice some advice on this list to get started?