We are all familiar with food as a bribe. “Come to the Dark Side: we have cookies!” for example. But, when we are working to improve our health and eating habits, this can be a problem. Here are five non-edible bribes we can offer ourselves for good behavior.
1. Naps. Even if we just take 15 minutes, we can feel lots better after a tiny bit of sleep. Nearly all of us don’t get enough snoozing, so what better way to reward ourselves???
2. Screen time. We can earn that binge-watch with a tough workout. (Just be mindful about the popcorn…)
3. Friend time. In person contact might not be all right at the moment, but we can promise ourselves a Zoom or phone call with our buddies once we’re done with the workout. Or, if we’re doing cardio, we can even talk and work at the same time! (I do not recommend doing weights while chatting because we need to focus on form then…)
4. Outings. Again, the form the outing takes might have to be different than before plague times, but a visit to a garden or park can be a real treat. Or, if more walking seems like a chore, a scenic drive might be the right answer.
5. That thingie. The one we’ve been coveting for a while now. It might be a book or a new nail polish or a throw pillow or a boathook (don’t ask me—my brain just finds this stuff lying around). If it’s a little thingie, maybe we get it after a couple workouts. If it’s a big thingie, maybe when we reach a milestone of some kind, like a month of workouts or ten pounds lost or a record lift.
Our metaphorical carrot doesn’t have to be an actual carrot cake. We can choose the rewards that make us feel good while being good for us at the same time.