It’s tough work battling a migraine. So, when that moment of relief arrives, treat yourself.
When you’ve got a painful migraine, it’s hard to think about anything but your throbbing head. So, after that moment of relief (finally!) arrives, a little pampering may be in order. Here are 10 easy ways to treat yourself when you’ve made it through the pain.
1. Laugh it up.
Try a mini binge of a TV comedy you’ve been dying to catch up on. If you’re in a nostalgic mood, try an ’80s or ’90s favorite on late-night basic cable, or turn to your streaming service of choice for a newer award-winner or buzzed-about reality show. No matter what you choose, take advantage of losing yourself a bit before you go back to the (now migraine-free) real world.
2. Head to the spa.
A massage probably sounds pretty great after a migraine clears, right? But there’s more to find at your local day spa — a flat fee will sometimes give you access to whirlpools, saunas and relaxation rooms, even if you don’t spring for a treatment. And with all the deal sites out there, you have a good chance of finding a discount. At the very least, there’s always a 10-minute chair massage at the nail salon. Read more about the health benefits of positive touch.
3. Try meditation.
Even a brief meditation session may leave you feeling great. Research indicates that for some, mindfulness meditation can help reduce anxiety and pain.1 Plus, the practice could have lasting effects on how our bodies manage stress.2 Need help getting started? There are smartphone apps that provide guided audio meditations to make it easy, even for beginners.
4. Visit a store you love.
You could celebrate your new pain-free, post-migraine self with a little retail therapy. Head to your favorite brick-and-mortar store and buy that hardback book, bright sweater or really fancy umbrella (hey, to each their own) that you’ve had your eye on.
5. Get your hands dirty.
Now that the pain is gone, get yourself outside and in the garden. A simple task like gardening can help reduce stress — one small study showed that a 30-minute gardening session was more stress-reducing than a half-hour reading session.3
