Lily asks
When did you last do something nice for yourself?
How to build your answer
Tell a story: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Set the sceneWhen and where. “A few months ago, I…”
- 2What happenedTwo or three moments, in order.
- 3How it feltYour reaction. “I was mortified.”
- 4How it endedThe ending, or what you'd do now.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Last Friday, actually. I'd had a really long week at work, so on the way home I treated myself to a takeaway from my favourite Thai place. Then I had a long hot bath, put on my pyjamas, and watched a really silly film on the sofa. I turned my phone off for the whole evening too. It wasn't anything special, but I felt so much better the next day. Sometimes you really just need a quiet night in, don't you?
Phrases to borrow
treat yourself
/triːt jɔːˈself/
buy or do something nice just for you
I treated myself to a new book after my exam.
feel so much better
/fiːl səʊ mʌtʃ ˈbetə/
feel a lot happier or healthier than before
After a good sleep I felt so much better.
a quiet night in
/ə ˈkwaɪət ˈnaɪt ɪn/
an evening at home, relaxing, not going out
I'm having a quiet night in with a film.
Natural
Lily's voice note
Last Friday. It'd been a long week at work, and I was worn out. So on the way home I picked up a takeaway from my favourite Thai place. Then I ran a long hot bath and put my pyjamas on. I switched my phone off for the whole evening and watched a really silly film on the sofa. It wasn't anything special, but I woke up the next day feeling like a new person. I should do it more often.
Phrases to borrow
worn out
/wɔːn ˈaʊt/
very tired
After moving house all day, we were completely worn out.
switch something off
/swɪtʃ ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɒf/
turn off a machine or device
Please switch your phones off before the film starts.
feel like a new person
/ˈfiːl ˈlaɪk ə ˈnjuː ˈpɜːsən/
feel much better, fresh and full of energy
After the holiday, I feel like a new person.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Last Friday, and I'd earned it. After a long, grinding week at work, I'd decided to set aside the whole evening for some proper me time. On the way home I grabbed a takeaway from my favourite Thai place, the one with the amazing green curry. Then I ran a long hot bath, got into my comfiest pyjamas, turned my phone off and sank into the sofa with a gloriously silly film. Nothing fancy, but it did me the world of good. I woke up the next day a different person.
Phrases to borrow
set aside time
/set əˈsaɪd ˈtaɪm/
keep time or money for a special purpose
I set aside an hour every evening for studying.
me time
/ˈmiː taɪm/
time you spend relaxing on your own, just for yourself
Sunday mornings are my me time.
do someone the world of good
/duː ˈsʌmwʌn ðə ˈwɜːld əv ˈɡʊd/
to make someone feel much better or healthier
A week by the sea would do you the world of good.
feel like a different person
/ˈfiːl ˈlaɪk ə ˈdɪfrənt ˈpɜːsən/
feel much better and changed, usually after rest
After a week by the sea I felt like a different person.
Your turn: answer Lily
When did you last do something nice for yourself?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Feelings & wellbeing
worn out
very tired
“After moving house all day, we were completely worn out.”
heytardy