Why little luxuries are (scientifically proven) necessary nourishment

Sep 25

When talking about personal budgeting, I've often heard financial experts debate the question, do you allow yourself the latte (or in my case, matcha) or not?

Those arguing from a more logical left brain side of things say no. They do the math and see how much the savings add up to per month if you skip the latte. And then from a masculine energy perspective suggest the answer is to use your will power and deny "present you" the joy of the latte so that "future you" will get to your financial goals faster.

Those arguing from a more intuitive right brain side of things say yes. They consider the psychology and how it would feel to repeatedly deny yourself, believing that taking away that daily joy will negatively impact your mental wellbeing and, because will power isn't enough, most likely will result in impulsively splurging, a potentially even greater amount, on something else.

I've had a lot of experience trying both of these methods. Here's what I've come to learn:

They work best when used together AND only when you understand how they work on a somatic and neurological level.

In other words, how do these little luxuries impact your body and mind?

Neuroscience Perspective

Your brain is constantly scanning for cues of safety or threat, often below conscious awareness. When you’re in “survival mode”, the amygdala and stress pathways are more active, and the prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for long-term thinking, creativity, and regulation — is less accessible (hence less will power).

Little luxuries, like treating yourself to a latte, signal to your nervous system that you are not in deprivation. They provide a sense of reward and sufficiency.

Here’s how:

1. Anticipating and enjoying a small treat activates the brain’s mesolimbic reward pathway. This helps counteract the chronic drip of cortisol that comes with scarcity thinking, reminding the brain that there is access to pleasure and resources.

2. Repeatedly giving yourself small pleasures creates a new baseline — your brain begins to associate daily life with sufficiency rather than lack, literally rewiring pathways from scarcity → safety.

3. The brain is a prediction machine. When you consistently give yourself nourishing signals, it updates its model of reality: “I am safe, I have enough, I can relax.”

Somatic Perspective

From the body’s point of view, survival mode shows up as tension, shallow breathing, and contraction. Feelings of lack keep the body braced, as though it must conserve or defend.

Small luxuries act as somatic anchors of abundance.

For example:

1. Drinking a thoughtfully prepared matcha with warmth and aroma gives your body sensory cues of care, presence, and groundedness. It turns a simple cup of coffee into an embodiment practice that allows you to integrate these cues on a cellular level.

2. Positive sensory input (taste, smell, touch) activates the parasympathetic (relaxation) branch of the nervous system, which is linked to social engagement, connection, and feelings of safety. It tones your vagal nerve making your thriving pathway stronger.

3. When you let yourself enjoy something “extra,” your body gets the message: “I am not just surviving, I am allowed to thrive.” This felt sense of giving yourself permission to thrive interrupts the survival bracing and creates expansion in the system.

Allowing yourself little luxuries isn’t frivolous — it’s neurobiological and somatic nourishment.

These little acts of care soothe stress pathways, reinforce a sense of safety, and signal to your whole system that life is more than survival.

Keep in mind, little luxurious are just that. Small, simple, often free or inexpensive, and meant to be sprinkled in as special treats. Done too often they lose their benefit on your body and mind (and probably your bank account too).

Want to add more little luxuries into your life?

Here are 7 little luxuries I’m currently loving for under $7.

7 little luxuries for under$ 7

Spindrift: flavored water always makes water feel special and bubbles make it seem luxurious. My favorites are Grapefruit and Island Punch.
Acupressure Ear Seeds: These are tiny little acupressure superstars. They look like tiny little earrings, which gives me the luxury of feeling adorned, and they support my wellbeing. I often put them on the points for stress relief, digestion and detox (although I’m also a fan of the low back and neck points). While the initial cost is over $8, they amount of uses you get takes them well under $8 per use.
Maman Matcha: I love everything about the French style coffee shop Maman. Just walking in feels like my happy place. I love their atmosphere, the staff that knows me, the taste of their matcha and the pretty cup it comes in. This is not just a $7 beverage. This is a whole experience.
White nectarines: While they are mostly out of season now, I was enjoying their delicious flavor and what felt like a bit of an exotic fruit.
Fresh Flowers: I buy flowers once a week. Trader Joe’s has a great variety and I have fun each week picking the ones that speak to me and almost also stay between $4-$7.
Podcast walks: I am so late to the podcast party, and it’s FREE! I love my Thursday morning walks to go get matcha and run errands (including picking up my weekly flowers). It is literally one of my favorite times of the week because I’m nourishing my body with movement, my mind with intellectual stimulation and learning and my spirit with the laughter my favorite podcast hosts provide.
ChatGPT: Another free luxury! ChatGPT is like my assistant and allows me to quickly research topics that interest me. Usually these curiosities would get tabled because I have other more pressing things that need my time and attention. But with ChatGPT I can ask it a question about my latest curiosity and within 5 minutes I’ve been able to thoroughly research and enjoy exploring, allowing me to feel fulfilled and reaffirming that I have time not just for the things I NEED to do but also the things I WANT to do.