Once in a while, when the going gets tough and the tough (that’s you) get going, it’s nice to take a step back, appreciate the work you’ve done and decide that you need to celebrate.

The problem is, most of us indulge in things that are, well, indulgent. We eat a massive quantity of rich, sickly sweet food. We drink more alcohol than we normally would. We go for the venti at Starbucks instead of the grande, even though we know we’ll struggle to finish it.

While it’s not a bad thing to go a little over the top once every now and then, ask yourself how you’ll feel after you treat yourself. If you’re like me and your indulgence routine typically consists of inhaling an entire box of Cheez-Its (which you don’t even particularly like) followed by a night in, snuggled up to a heating pad asking the universe why your stomach wasn’t made out of titanium, you probably won’t be feeling your best.

**Treat yourself after a workout.** People are actually more likely to eat an excess of food after a good workout than if they spent a day sitting on the couch. Not because they’ve burned off all of their energy and are replenishing it, but because their mind tells them that their stomachs must compensate for the work they just did. In reality, we typically don’t burn off as much as we think. Despite what we’ve been conditioned to think, exercise machines at the gym do not provide accurate “calories burned” numbers. Even if you’ve entered in your height and weight to the machine, it doesn’t know your body type, what you’ve eaten that day and a number of other factors that can affect the way your body uses energy. So instead of treating yourself with more food than normal after your workout, try treating yourself to a healthy meal out with some friends, or with something that isn’t food at all, such as a facial or a massage.

**Treat yourself after a test:** Tests suck. You’ve likely stayed up half the night trying to stuff your brain with things you frankly could not care less about, and then spent an hour regurgitating it all. Sometimes it’s nice to have an incentive waiting for us at the end of a stressful situation, so once your exam is over, take a nap. Get your nails done. Go for a hike. Bake a cake. Eat that cake. Go out for drinks with your friends (and then find a responsible ride home).

**Treat yourself with things that aren’t food:** The word “indulgence” generally brings up thoughts of rich, decadent foods. While it’s nice to reward yourself with a bowl of ice cream, it’s also good to keep in mind that food is nourishment for your body, not a prize. So try treating yourself with other things like a movie with friends or that sweater you’ve been dying to buy.

**Treat yourself with good food:** It’s easy to constitute binging on two bags of Goldfish crackers as rewarding yourself. But how do you feel after the binge? Probably not so hot. If you’re going to indulge with food, indulge with something amazing. Try a new gelato place, or a gourmet donut shop! Go out to a fancy dinner with your closest friends and pay $7 for raspberry lemonade that you definitely don’t need.

As always, don’t forget to treat yo’self.