Sometimes I like to do nice things for future me. I spend a few extra minutes shaving my legs in the shower so I won't have to do it later when I'm rushed. I clean all the junk off the kitchen table so I'll feel better the next morning when I see it. Or I get everything ready to deal with the baby in the morning...diapers, sippy cups, toys...so I can focus on getting to that first cup of coffee a little sooner when he wakes up at the crack of dawn.
I always imagine what I'll feel like...that future version of me, when I realize I don't have to wash dishes after I put the baby to bed and I'm too exhausted to stand at the sink. Its like holding the door open for someone or stopping to pick up something they dropped...just a little gesture that makes someone's day that much easier.
Only that person is me. I see it as a way treat myself kindly. It really seems to work. And future me really appreciates the little things I do.
Its funny but I used to have this internal negative voice that was always criticizing every little thing I did. Until one day someone told me that you have to break that cycle. As crazy as it sounds, you have to start telling yourself all the positive things you can think of. At first, you don't believe yourself. Its like going through the motions half-heartedly. Replacing all the variations of "You don't measure up" with "You rock!!" seems so cheese-ball. But then you start laughing at it. And then the really crazy thing begins to happen...you start believing yourself.
Its not easy. The negative voice tries to creep back in every chance it gets. The positive is definitely not permanent, but it comes back quicker each time you use it.
Doing nice things for your future self falls along that same path. First of all, you have to treat yourself the way you would want others to treat you. That way you won't be so grumpy when they don't exactly follow-through. Second of all, you will be much happier. Trust me...its much better to stop and think, "I'm glad I did that back when I had more energy because I just couldn't face it now" than, "what is wrong with me, why can't I just get my shit together?"
The best part is, hopefully future self will pay it forward. Just imagine.
Side note: my nerdy, sci-fi loving, time travel obsessed mind is having a field day with all the mentions of past and future me's.
