150 Ways To Reward Yourself Without Food

We’ve all been there – we’ve had a good day or reached a milestone, so we want to reward ourselves. However, I bet the first thing you think of is food! Whether it’s going out for dinner or treating yourself to a big piece of chocolate cake.

So, I wanted to capture ways to reward yourself without food to give you more ways to celebrate.

Why Reward Yourself Without Food?

What’s the problem with food anyway? 

Inherently there is absolutely no problem celebrating with food, however, if you’re someone like me who has a bit of a hard time staying on track with your weight, rewards that aren’t food are a great thing. 

This is especially true if you are an all-or-nothing person. You know – all of the oreos, all of the liquorice or all of the pie! Ugh – I have been there too many times and honestly I’m writing this list not only for you, but for myself too.

Reasons to Reward Yourself

Quite simply you deserve this. End of story, but more specifically you should reward yourself for…

• Reaching a goal
• Adopting a healthy new habit
• Simple pleasure – to make yourself feel good
• Motivation when reaching smaller milestones – to help keep you working toward a larger goal
• Doing something hard
• Supporting yourself when it felt hard
• Getting through the week (we’ve all had many of those!)

150 Ways To Reward Yourself

We’re exploring ways to reward yourself within the following areas:

• Self Care
• Experiences
• Learning
• Free Rewards
• Rewards for small business owners

Self-Care Reward Ideas

Who doesn’t love to treat themselves with some self-care? Taking time for yourself can help you recharge, relax, and create a more balanced lifestyle.

Whether it’s a spa day, a cozy night in, or a small luxury, these self-care rewards will help you feel pampered and appreciated.

1. Have a long soak in the bath
2. Get a massage
3. Go on a date with yourself
4. Have a spa day
5. Get your hair done
6. Visit a therapeutic water spa
7. Get your nails done (mani, pedi or both)
8. Sign up for a self-care subscription box
9. Buy yourself some flowers
10. Treat yourself to some new makeup
11. Take a day off work
12. Book an energy healing session like Reiki
13. Buy a new outfit
14. Sign up to a dance class
15. Pick up a digital self-care planner on Etsy
16. Buy a new, colorful water bottle
17. Get someone in to clean your home
18. Have an outdoor nap
19. Buy a high-quality yoga mat or meditation cushion
20. Treat yourself to an essential oil recipe box – Use code PUTTHEKETTLEONFREE for a $40 off coupon 
21. Change up your morning routine with 15 to 30 minutes of dedicated alone time
22. Buy a new journal
23. Buy a weighted blanket or noise maker for better sleep
24. Pick up some cozy items for the home – throw pillows, candle, new duvet cover
25. Start a food delivery service or a produce delivery service
26. Sign up for a yoga or pilates class
27. Treat yourself to a relaxing foot massager
28. Get your makeup done by a professional
29. Have a Self Care Sunday
30. Try a new meditation or mindfulness app
31. Pick up a new hand cream or body lotion
32. Try acupuncture for stress relief
33. Buy new cozy pajamas
34. Take a 30 day self care challenge

Reward Yourself with Experiences

“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show. Write to express not to impress.” – Abhysheq Shukla

Creating memories, trying new activities, and spending time with loved ones can be incredibly fulfilling and a great way to celebrate your achievements.

35. Visit an art gallery
36. Go to a concert
37. Go away for the weekend
38. See a play
39. Wander around the city for the day
40. Go hiking with a good friend
41. Treat yourself to an Audible membership – Starts with a 30 day free trial
42. Visit a friend in a different city or country
43. Take a much-needed vacation
44. Host a game night with friends
45. Go to a sporting event
46. Visit the garden center and treat yourself to a new plant
47. Meet a friend for lunch
48. Go for a walk in the middle of your workday
49. Visit a winery and get a tour if possible
50. Be a tourist for the day
51. Buy a hammock for your backyard so you can have some relaxing summer days (This is the hammock I have) 
52. Binge-watch a popular TV series
53. Have a date night with your other half
54. Plan a girl’s brunch
55. Have a big night out with the girls
56. Get a cottage/cabin for the weekend
57. Go to an amusement park
58. Visit an animal sanctuary
59. Take a vacation to a country you’ve always wanted to go to
60. Host a party at your home
61. Cancel plans! That’s right – don’t do the thing that’s been stressing you out about doing.
62. Go to the opera or symphony
63. Take a scenic drive with no set destination
64. Go to a comedy show with a bunch of friends
65. Take a dance class with a friend
66. Visit a drive-in movie theater
67. Take a ferry or boat ride for a day trip
68. Visit a botanical garden
69. Rent a fun vehicle for the day – Vespa, classic car, or something out of the ordinary
70. Do a good deed or random act of kindness for someone else – nothing like paying it forward
71. Write a bucket list and do something off of it
72. Do an escape room challenge with friends
73. Rent a tiny house or treehouse for a night
74. Go to a ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ night or a movie night in the park
75. Go on a camping trip
76. Visit a national park and take in the scenery
77. Try something out of your comfort zone – zip lining, bungee jumping, hot air balloon, sky diving

Learning

Investing in your growth and education can be a great way to reward yourself. Whether it’s picking up a new hobby, taking a class, or enhancing your skills, learning something new can be truly fulfilling and make you feel empowered to try even more new things.

78. Take a pottery class
79. Sign up for sailing lessons
80. Buy tools for a hobby you already love
81. Learn how to start a blog
82. Buy an online course you’ve been wanting
83. Get a membership to a learning platform like Skillshare – start with a 1 month free trial
84. Sign up for a calligraphy class
85. Take a photography workshop
86. Learn a new language through an app or course
87. Join a book club or start one
88. Take a flower arrangement class
89. Try an improv or acting workshop
90. Take an art or painting class with friends
91. Learn to play an instrument
92. Enroll in a public speaking class
93. Watch a TED Talk or educational documentary
94. Download a learning podcast for your daily walk
95. Experiment with DIY home improvement or decorating
96. Attend a design your own signature perfume or candle class
97. Learn how to make handmade jewelry
98. Sign up for a coding or tech-related workshop
99. Take a creative writing class
100. Buy a new cookbook and try some new recipes

Free Ways To Reward Yourself

The good thing is not all rewards have to cost money. There are plenty of ways to treat yourself for free, from relaxing at home to enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

101. Take a night off – no cooking, cleaning, appointments, or answering to family members – just you doing whatever you like!
102. Sleep in
103. Watch your favorite movie – or a movie marathon with a few of your favorites
104. Spend a few hours in the park, with a good book
105. Rearrange your space to give it a fresh feel
106. Book a ‘no plans’ day in your calendar and then do whatever your heart desires
107. Check out the free nights at local art galleries and museums in your area
108. Watch the sunset with one of your favorite people
109. Have a spa afternoon at home – bath, candles, music, robe, magazines
110. Spend the day outside pottering around in your yard
111. Explore a new neighborhood or nearby town
112. Get free tickets to be in the audience of a TV show you love
113. Spend the day listening to an audiobook – use the Libby app to get free audiobooks or get a free trial from Audible
114. Get your partner to give you a massage
115. Write in your journal about things you’re grateful for
116. Take a nature walk and collect interesting finds
117. Attend a free online event or webinar 
118. Go for a long bike ride
119. Take a long scenic drive with your favorite playlist
120. Have a PJ day
121. Do a creative DIY project
122. Start a daily ritual just for yourself (morning pages, gratitude journaling, etc.)
123. Volunteer at a local animal shelter

Rewards for Small Business Owners

I’m sharing this as a small business owner, but if you too run your own business rewarding yourself with something that helps you grow or saves you time can help you stay organized so you can be more productive. 

124. Get a new stock photography subscription < this is the one I personally use
125. Outsource a time-consuming task to a VA to free up your schedule
126. Have someone manage your Pinterest account
127. Sign up for an easy SEO tool for your website content – I have a membership to RankIQ
128. Buy a planner designed for entrepreneurs
129. Take a business mastermind course
130. Get professional branding photos taken
131. Buy high-quality noise-canceling headphones for focused work sessions
132. Hire a coach for a strategy session
133. Treat yourself to a comfortable office chair
134. Invest in a new business book
135. Buy a stylish new laptop bag
136. Upgrade your website design – See my website design packages!
137. Order custom-branded merchandise for your business
138. Join a co-working space for a change of scenery
139. Purchase a high-quality microphone for recording content
140. Order business cards with a fresh design

More ways to reward yourself

141. Treat yourself to a new kitchen appliance (I can’t live without this) 
142. See a fireworks display or create your own
143. Visit the dog park with your pup or even if you don’t have a pup (there are still lots of dogs you can pet and play with!)
144. Do something you LOVED as a kid – skipping, swimming, dancing in the livingroom
145. Plan a future vacation – do the research and even book a few things
146. Buy a coffee maker that has a timer so you can reward yourself every morning with freshly brewed coffee you can wake up to
147. Redecorate a space in your home
148. Sign up to a magazine subscription (like we did in the old days)
149. Pick up a cute new mug (and get rid of a ratty one)

Final Thoughts

I hope you found a ton of value in this big list of ways to reward yourself without food.

Learning how to reward yourself and celebrate your wins (both big and small) can help keep you motivated, boost your mood, and make life a little more enjoyable. 

Whether it’s self-care, experiences, learning something new, or simply giving yourself a well-deserved break, there are endless ways to treat yourself in meaningful ways. The key is to choose rewards that truly make you feel good and align with your goals.

I’d Love To Know – How Do You Like To Treat Yourself?

This list of self-rewards is ever-growing, so leave some ideas in the comments section below and I’ll add them to the master list!