When you live in the country and spend most days juggling real life, work, parenting, cooking, cleaning, it’s easy to fall into the habit of constantly putting yourself last. I did it for years without even realizing it. I kept thinking I’d “treat myself” later, when I had more time or more money or more reasons.

But I’ve learned that the little things I let myself enjoy, the small luxuries, are what keep me grounded. They don’t have to be expensive or fancy. They just have to make life feel a little softer, a little slower, a little more mine.

Here are a few I keep coming back to:

1. Linen napkins at breakfast
Yes, even if it’s just eggs and toast. There’s something about using real fabric instead of a paper towel that makes me feel like I’m living slower, even if the morning’s rushed.

2. Fresh flowers, even if they’re from the yard
I don’t buy bouquets all the time, but I’ll clip whatever’s growing, clover, wildflowers, even a big leafy branch, and stick it in a mason jar. It makes the house feel cared for.

3. The good candle
I used to save my favorite candles for “occasions.” Now I light them whenever the mood hits, especially while I’m doing dishes or folding laundry. It makes those boring tasks feel cozier.

4. Pretty dishes for random meals
If I make a beautiful salad or a slice of homemade pie, I’ll put it on my floral plate instead of grabbing whatever’s clean. Little effort, big joy.

5. Fancy tea on a regular day
I have my go-to tea bags, but I also keep a tin of something floral or special, like rose or lavender blends, for afternoons when I need to pause and reset.

6. Real pajamas
Not old sweatpants. Not a stretched-out tee. Just an actual matching set that feels soft and intentional. It makes bedtime feel like something I get to enjoy, not just collapse into.

7. Five minutes of doing nothing
I literally sit with my coffee and look out the window. No scrolling, no thinking about what I need to do next. It sounds ridiculous, but it resets my whole day.

I used to feel guilty spending time or money on little things like this. But now I see them as tiny ways of telling myself: You matter too.

And honestly? Life’s hard. Especially when you’re holding up a household, raising a child, building a dream from scratch, and still trying to be a person. The least we can do is let ourselves have a few soft corners.

If you have little luxuries you swear by, I’d love to hear them. We deserve more of the good stuff, especially the kind we don’t have to wait for.