I HATE the term “guilty pleasures.” Almost as much as I hate the word “yummy” (don’t ask). It’s one of my biggest pet peeves.

People seem to love asking me what my “guilty pleasures” are, talking about their “guilty pleasures,” and how they systematically repent for these supposed sins.

Two hours on the treadmill after getting a burger and fries at dinner? No thanks.

Here’s the thing: Pleasure is inherently NOT guilty. Pleasure is innocent, pure, productive, and healing. TWEET IT

There’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure.

Huh? You mean watching junk TV and binging on truffle potato chips is good for me?

To an extent, yes. But I don’t consider activities that ultimately make you feel like crap to be pleasurable. That doesn’t mean you can never do them, but I wouldn’t categorize them as pleasurable.

Too much reality TV and potato chips ultimately fry your brain, numb your senses, and make you feel zoned out, grossed out, and downright depressed in some cases.

Not so pleasurable.

It’s a fine line: The difference between a burger and fries being truly pleasurable and being a “guilty pleasure” – aka, not pleasurable at all in my book – is engagement.

If you consciously choose your burger, are present as you eat it, and stop when you’re full, that’s pleasurable. If you mindlessly devour the whole thing without really tasting it, you’re actually punishing your body by ignoring its cues and burdening your digestive system with excessive food.

My definition of pleasure is fully engaging your senses.

Anything that turns on your parasympathetic nervous system – or “rest and digest” system – and makes you feel turned on (not just sexually, but that too), fully engaged with life, and as happy as a little kid going on the swings for the first time.

THAT, is pleasure.

And it’s crucial for your health. When your parasympathetic nervous system is engaged, so is your metabolism, and you naturally release excess weight and feel calm and light.

In my world, real pleasure includes but isn’t limited to…

• Laughing
• Hugging
• Eating exactly what you want and stopping when you’re satisfied
• Kissing
• Dancing
• A glass or two of amazing wine
• Cuddles
• Orgasms
• Deep conversation
• Massages
• Meditation
• Hot baths

DO THIS NOW: Choose ONE from the list above and schedule it into your calendar for this week.

It might seem silly to schedule a dance break, hot bath, or cuddles into your calendar, but that’s probably the only way it’s going to happen, and the benefits will be tenfold.

Pleasure is my fuel and drug of choice. When I’m regularly engaging in pleasurable activities, I have a constant flow of creative ideas and energy. 

I also feel light in my body and naturally stay at my ideal weight.

My relationships and work flow beautifully, and I actually want to exercise and eat well.

Because it feels good. No pushing or forcing.

Treat this like a science experiment and see if it works for you. Right now, schedule one genuinely fun and pleasing thing into your calendar and report back a week from now with any changes.

When you’ve done it, leave a comment below and tell me how it made you feel.

Photo: @keikolynn on Instagram