10 Things That Are, Unfortunately, Worth It
I wish they didn't work. But they do.
I’m sure you’ve seen the trend all over social media where people are sharing their list of crazy-overpriced things that are “so worth it”. Listen - I’m cheap. I rarely splurge on anything, and when I do it’s a Disney vacation, not an expensive purse.
But, the more I see the trend the more I think about the little things in life that are worth it, despite my utter annoyance. The things that I wish I could ignore but I’ve learned actually make me feel better in a tangible way. A lot of the things on this list don’t cost a penny. They’re just dumb habits that I force myself to do even though I hate them. Some of them are products or things that do cost money, and they’re included because they fall into the category of “good lord I wish I didn’t love this so much but I do and now I’m stuck with it”.
Proceed with caution. You might find yourself forced to do all this dumb stuff that makes you feel better.
10 Things That Are (Unfortunately) Totally Worth It
Setting an alarm and waking up early. Starting off with a nice cliche! As we’re deep in the summer months where I find it harder and harder to wake up on time, I find this to be so true. The mornings where I set my alarm and get my workout in before anyone in the house wakes up set me up for a better day 100% of the time. I love sleeping in a little, and there’s no better feeling than lingering in bed on Saturday morning. But, the older I get the more I have to admit that an early wake-up time is key to a really great day for me. Even if the thought of doing it makes me want to cry.
Staying hydrated. Oh look, another cliche (I promise we’ll get more creative in a minute). I had to include this one because I am the actual worst at hydration. I hate it. Water is so dumb and I don’t want to drink it. I want to live like I did as a child and survive off occasional sips from the hose and an ice-cold Coke. I don’t want to drink stupid water from my stupid Stanley (also annoyingly worth it). But, last December I committed to starting every single day with a big ol’ 40 oz bottle of water and I hate to admit that it’s delightful. I feel better. I have more energy. I drink even more water because of it. Once I finish my first one I allow myself to swap to flavored water (this is my fave if I need caffeine, this is my favorite if I don’t), but some days I manage to get three entire refills on my bottle. And I love it! Ew!
Disposable face cloths. I have very, very sensitive skin. It’s acne-prone and allergic-reaction-prone and I have to be verrrrrry careful about how I treat my face. I used to keep a ton of wash cloths in under my sink and use a fresh one every day to dry my face. But, I suspected that the soap buildup or the laundry detergent was causing issues, so I decided to give disposable face cloths a try instead. Guess what? My skin LOVES THEM. They’re one of the top things I credit for my clear skin now, and if I ever travel and forget to bring them I always break out. I know they’re bad for the environment. I know they’re expensive. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. They’re amazing.
Waiting to make big decisions for your home. When I move into a new house I want to change everything right away. I want it to feel like MINE as soon as possible! And, to some extend, that’s great and fine! Paint some walls. Grab some new art. But, one thing this move has taught me is that you will make better decisions every single time if you wait and live in the space for a while. Case in point: our sofa. We desperately needed a new sofa when we moved so we grabbed one we loved. And it was great (I still love it!) but a few months in it became clear it just wasn’t the right fit for how we use the space. And, there was no way to know that without living in the space for a while! We upgraded to a new one last week and I can’t even begin to tell you how much better it is for us. I always recommend waiting at least a year or two before a big, expensive renovation, but apparently waiting for large furniture purchases is a good idea too, if you can!
A family game night, even when you aren’t in the mood. At the end of a long day (especially in the summer), all I want to do is crash on the couch and zone out to Young Sheldon (our family’s current obsession). But, when the kids ask for a game night instead I have a blanket policy of always saying yes. Even if I’m really not in the mood. And there has not been one single time that I have ever regretted it. Even if everyone is tired and cranky and annoyed, we always leave a family game night feeling a little happier. You can see all of our favorites right here. So far this summer, Skyjo and Racko have been the ones to hit our table the most frequently!
A Frame TV. Y’all. I hate that I’m so obsessed with my Frame TV. In fact, when we moved to this house I spent literal weeks researching other similar options that are cheaper. I was determined not to spend so much dang money on a stupid television. But, none of the other options on the market checked all the boxes that the Frame TV does and so, unfortunately, we had to buy another one. We only have one in the living room (I don’t necessarily think they’re worth it elsewhere) but I cannot fathom not having one at this point. I’m so spoiled and I love changing the art all the time and I have all the settings just how I like it and dammit, they’re totally worth it.
Getting dressed every day (okay, most days). My love language is an oversized tee (or sweatshirt) and athletic shorts. I would love nothing more than to wear some version of that every single day of my life. But, I’ve learned that actually getting dressed in real clothes can make me a more productive and happier person. When I stretch myself a little and try to put together a cute outfit most days, I feel better. I still lean into comfort when I’m feeling run down or if it’s just one of those days, but making an effort to look cute more often than not is one of those habits that sadly is completely worth the effort.
Putting yourself out there to find community. I know so many people who have really struggled to find friends in adulthood. I’ve been one of them. And as a major introvert with social anxiety, the thought of going out there and trying to make friends is a literal nightmare. But, there have been a couple of times in the last decade that I’ve really recognized my need for community and forced myself to get out there and do it. And you know what? It worked and was delightful and I have some of the best, most cherished friends now because of it. Maybe it means joining a book club where you know no one or trying a new church or just chatting it up with someone at school pickup. It’s hard and I hate it but I promise you won’t regret it.
Birkenstocks. I resisted them for years. I swore the dupes were just as good. But then I became an old lady who needs arch support and has foot paint and my podiatrist told me the Birks were good for my feet. So I broke down and splurged and OH BOY they’re worth it. Dammit. I only have one pair so far but I’m eyeing these. Ugh.
Therapy. Gotta save the best for last, friends! I’ve officially become one of those annoying people who says things like, “my therapist said…” and “the other day in therapy we talked about…”. EW! I hate it! But also, WOW I’m a totally different person who knows how to manage stress and is learning how to not be so hard on myself and I can literally see the growth in myself. Getting out there and trying it for the first time is so hard it feels impossible, but I think everyone could benefit from therapy. Everyone.
So, that’s my list. A bunch of stuff that I don’t want to be doing but I do anyways because it makes me feel like a better, happier, more productive human.
What would be on your list?!