As I sit down to write this, I’m snacking on some of my favorite cheese, and I just got back from the gym, where I went solely to sit in the hot tub and sauna. Earlier today, I had a bowl of my favorite ice cream while going through my inbox. I’m no stranger to giving myself “little treats.” In fact, I love them. There’s something so rewarding and joy-inducing about letting myself indulge — especially when I feel overwhelmed or busy, having a little treat for a burst of goodness in my day just feels lovely. 

“Especially when I feel overwhelmed or busy, having a little treat for a burst of goodness in my day just feels lovely.”

Of course, I’m not the only one. It’s all over social media, videos about getting a little treat as a reward for getting stuff done, to survive the housing crisis, and to just enjoy the little luxuries in life. But this is nothing new. I can’t help but think of the generations before me and their little treats — my great-grandma’s love of watching her programs every evening; my other set of great-grandparents’ breath mint jar in the living room; my dad’s endless love of sweet treats. 

I was curious why we love little treats so much. Can too many little treats have a reverse effect? Is it a “toxic trait” like the trending audio says? Or is it just a normal part of the human experience? I spoke to a couple of experts to find out the psychology behind these little luxuries. 

What are little treats?

From getting an iced coffee to having a cookie (or two) to going on a hot girl walk in the sun, little treats are tiny indulgences that we give ourselves for motivation, reward, or even just simply to feel better. 

“A treat can provide punctuation to our days, so it can be a comma on a stressful day, or a period at the end of grief, or even an exclamation mark on celebration,” says Jordan Leverette M.S, LMFT. 

They might be little, but they can have a big impact on our day-to-day life, making us feel better, even if temporarily. 

  • Some little treats might include:
  • Spontaneously meeting up with a friend
  • Ordering your favorite coffee or tea
  • Buying yourself some flowers
  • Going for a walk
  • Taking a barre, Pilates, or yoga class
  • Getting a massage
  • Buying a new book
  • Eating a chocolate bar
  • Buying an extra little drink or snack when grocery shopping
  • Taking a nap

What is the psychology behind giving ourselves little treats?

Little treats give us a burst of dopamine. “A lot of folks think it’s a pleasure chemical, but actually it’s more accurately described as the motivation and anticipation chemical,” Leverette says. “It’s that sensation when we’re anticipating something pleasurable.” 

So the anticipation of giving ourselves a little treat literally makes us feel good. Think about how you feel when you’re on your way to get your favorite cookie from the kitchen, or how you feel in between deciding to get a little snack and actually eating it. 

“We are wired for pleasure,” says Chloe Bean, LMFT. “[Little treats] signal to your body: I’m taking care of myself, and then it’s that dopamine hit as well.” 

“[Little treats] signal to your body: I’m taking care of myself, and then it’s that dopamine hit as well.” 

– Chloe Bean, LMFT

Dopamine is a short-lived chemical, but sometimes these little moments of self-care can also have a longer-lasting effect. “We actually get a high from the dopamine itself,” says Leverette. “But it’s often a precursor for serotonin and oxytocin… serotonin will bring emotional steadiness… and oxytocin creates a sense of warmth and connection.” 

So when you take time to indulge in your favorite skincare or take a little walk around the block, the anticipation and motivation give you a bit of a high from the dopamine, but it can also lead to longer-lasting effects from the oxytocin and serotonin, signaling to your body that you’re taking care of yourself. 

Can you give yourself too many little treats?

Too much of anything can become a bad thing, of course. Even water, which is obviously good for you, can be harmful if you drink too much, Leverette explains. But what is the limit? Is it really “toxic” to give yourself a lot of little treats? What boundaries should we set?

“Even water, which is obviously good for you, can be harmful if you drink too much… But what is the limit?”

“When it becomes dissociative, or we’re escaping something, trying to avoid sort of an inevitable situation, sitting with the truth about something, or avoiding our feelings,” that’s when it can become a problem, Bean says. “That’s the concern with it, if it’s becoming kind of like an escape or avoidant behavior.” 

Leverette agrees. “If you’re noticing your little treats are creating imbalance within yourself, I think that’s a red flag or a cue to create some kind of change.” Taking a scroll break for an easy dopamine hit every hour, getting multiple sugary drinks in a day, online shopping instead of dealing with difficult emotions — doing things that aren’t benefiting your physical or mental health are where you might want to draw the line. 

“If without that treat, you’re feeling depressed or anxious, then that’s maybe a sign to get a little support or to talk to a therapist,” Bean says.

But a little treat here and there?

“I always encourage my clients to orient to pleasure,” Bean says, reminding us that we don’t need to feel guilty for seeking out pleasure. “It’s not something you should have to earn. It’s something that’s required for you to be sustained in your life.” 

“Little treats are reminders that we deserve good things, that we deserve to feel pleasure and joy in our day-to-day lives.”

Little treats are reminders that we deserve good things, that we deserve to feel pleasure and joy in our day-to-day lives. Let yourself enjoy them!

“I truly believe that giving ourselves little treats is like a micro act of reclaiming pleasure in a world that’s constantly demanding output,” Leverette says. “It’s a rebellion against productivity pressure. Ultimately, it’s a way of saying I’m human and not a machine.”

Brianna Schubert is a writer and editor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade, an editorial assistant at Motley Bloom, and a freelance writer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2023, Brianna has combined her expertise and investigative skills to deliver thoughtful reviews of sustainable products and home goods, helping readers make informed, eco-conscious choices. Brianna is also the writer behind The Mood Board, a Substack newsletter for creativity and inspiration. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, cuddling with her cat, or yapping with her friends at a café. Say hi on Instagram!