The Trick That Will Treat Yourself
“It was a valuable reminder that sometimes the best trick to treating yourself is knowing when to stop.”
Wednesday started innocently enough with lunch at The Foundry Food Court, where I decided to order a delicious mushroom pizza. Ever the bargain shopper, I justified buying the full size because it cost only a little more than the half. Four of six slices later, I realized stopping at three would have been the wiser choice. Back at the office, I noticed a leftover Panera chocolate chip cookie from the catered lunch boxes and helped myself to that too. Then dessert from a vendor’s tray appeared in the break room, followed by Reese’s pumpkins, my seasonal weakness (and yes, I told myself they had four grams of protein). By the time I got home, I was too queasy to enjoy the healthy vegan chili my husband had prepared, and I spent the evening with a horribly upset stomach.
It was a valuable reminder that sometimes the best trick to treating yourself is knowing when to stop and that even small indulgences can quickly accumulate. Enjoying a little is perfectly fine, but there’s a threshold where it stops feeling good. This is especially true for the leftover Halloween candy now scattered in bowls around homes and offices. Moderation is key to maintaining wellness while still savoring the treat.
Here’s my suggestion: save a few of your favorites, five to ten pieces. Maybe freeze them for another occasion or enjoy one piece a day this week. But I invite you to get the rest of the candy out of your house as soon as possible. Just because it’s free or already paid for doesn’t mean you have to eat it.
And if you have kids, you might consider a candy trade-in. When my boys were little, we would let them pick small prizes (think dollar store finds) in exchange for their candy. They loved getting to choose something new, and it kept the focus on fun instead of sugar.
If you’d like to make a bigger impact, consider donating candy to one of these great organizations:
Sweet Celebrations (St. Louis): This nonprofit collects candy to include in birthday party kits for children and families experiencing homelessness, helping to bring joy and normalcy during difficult times.
Ronald McDonald House Charities: Many local chapters accept unopened Halloween candy to stock their family rooms and treat stations, bringing comfort to families with children receiving medical care. Contact the local chapter to see if they are accepting candy donations.
Soldier's Angels: This organization supports deployed service members, veterans, and their families through care packages, letters, and treats like donated candy, which help bring comfort and a reminder of home.
If you need permission, consider this it: feel free to discard the candy. It might seem like wasting something valuable, but ask yourself if you truly appreciate the sugar highs, the inevitable crashes, or the upset stomach that temptation can bring. The key to treating yourself lies in making choices that nurture your well-being long after the candy is gone.
Choosing nutritious options is a powerful way to support your physical wellness, which is one of the Four Facets of Better Living forming the foundation of the Resilience for Progress framework. Alongside physical wellness, the other three pillars, personal relationships, professional purpose, and prosperity habits, work together to foster balance and resilience in daily life.
On this blog, each facet is featured in rotation, providing straightforward suggestions to help align your decisions with what matters most to you.
If you’re interested in learning more or joining the next Resilience for Progress retreat, visit the Contact form to express your interest.