For sure, guys have heard at one time or another their moms, sisters, girlfriends, or wives raving about pampering themselves. You’ve probably even seen how relaxed or giddy they get after spending a day going on a shopping spree or getting their hair and nails done. But did it ever cross your mind that maybe the ladies are onto something with this pampering yourself thing?
The ladies most likely are because treating yourself well is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Of course, you probably already know that low stress levels mean a physically, mentally, and emotionally healthier you. So why not take a page from the ladies’ book and give pampering yourself a try?
Check out some ways you can do this.
Make time for play
As the old saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” So if you find yourself working almost 24/7, cut back on your working hours and make more time for, literally, play. Play the games you love. You can get yourself an Xbox Series X or a PlayStation 5 and spend hours glued to your controller and TV like you probably did when you were younger. Or maybe you’re into card games.
Talk to the guys about taking turns hosting poker night every last Friday of the month. You can also regularly play sports like basketball, baseball, and football. But what would make this even better is having a dedicated space in your house for playing games. You can, for instance, turn a spare room into a game room with, say, a pool table, a Foosball table, or even a duckpin bowling lane.
Have a lazy day
Remember that you’ll be cutting back on your working hours? Well, you can also spend the extra time you’ll have by doing nothing at all. You can call this ‘lazy day.’ On your lazy days, you can sleep in and get out of bed whenever you feel like it. You don’t have food in the fridge but don’t want to lift a finger to whip something up? Just have some pizza and Buffalo wings delivered.
Then, sit on the couch and binge-watch your favorite TV shows or sports programs as you munch on your food. Cap off your day with a long, hot soak in the tub while reading Tom Clancy or listening to Marvin Gaye. You can spend your lazy day doing nothing or just light activities that’ll help you relax. The key is to be in the moment and forget about everything else.
Go on a splurge
If there’s one thing that the ladies have down pat on treating themselves well, it has to be retail therapy. So you guys should follow their lead on this one and go on a shopping spree, which is a great mood booster, once in a while.
You can, for example, splurge on the classic-looking Nikon Df DSLR camera you’ve had your eye on for quite some time now. Maybe an Armani suit and a pair of Louis Vuitton leather shoes will make you feel and look good. Go ahead and spend your hard-earned money on these items. Or, if you’ve been saving up for a motorcycle, get yourself a Harley-Davidson 2021 Sporter S.
There’s nothing wrong with buying something fancy for yourself from time to time. You deserve it. However, always keep in mind your spending priorities and to only spend within your means.
Spruce yourself up
Here’s another useful pampering-yourself thing that you can learn from the ladies: sprucing yourself up. Obviously, going to your favorite barber regularly to keep your mane always in style is part of making yourself look good. But don’t think that facials, manicures, and pedicures are just for the ladies. Men also need these beauty procedures.
For one, “macials” or man facials, which include massages, not only help keep your skin young and healthy but also be a very relaxing experience. As for the manicure and pedicure, the procedures will keep your nails nice and tidy (even without colored polish), with the pedicure often including a foot spa treatment. So find the courage and treat yourself well by making an effort to look pretty as often as you can.
Pampering Oneself Isn’t Only for the Ladies
Guys, the ladies—your mom, sister, girlfriend, or wife—sure got it right about pampering oneself. It’s a great stress reliever that can make you feel and sometimes even look good. So be brave enough to follow the ladies’ example and start giving yourself some love now.
