If your idea of self-care involves taking warm baths, meditating and soaking up the sun, you might already be on the right path to self-care on a budget.
1. Meditate
Meditation can help you de-stress, relax and refocus, so find a meditation app that suits you and meditate away all that stress without spending a penny. Mindfulness techniques like guided meditation and breathing practices can help you focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
2. Work out with your favorite music
Walking or running can, of course, help you stay fit, but you can complement it with your favorite music or podcast to make it more fun.
3. Walk with a friend
Make it a point to walk with a friend, as often as possible. This will give you time to catch up, get a few laughs and burn calories all at the same time.
4. Attend one exercise class
Gym memberships and group sessions can be heavy on the wallet, but you might be able to find a good deal at local community classes instead of big studios. Pick a slot that works best for you and stick to it.
5. Learn from online tutorials
Following some online tutorials can make it easier and cheaper to practice yoga or aerobics right in your living room, at your own pace.
6. Pick up the phone and talk
Text messages have become the norm for basic communication, but it might be more soothing to actually dial a number and talk to someone instead.
7. Brew some herbal teas
Herbal teas offer many benefits like improved sleep and enhanced immunity, so brew a big pot and stock up. All you would need to do is reheat a cup or pop a few ice cubes in for a quick refreshing drink.
8. Take a warm bath
Draw yourself a warm bath with your favorite essential oils, light up some fragrant candles and grab an interesting book for the perfect unwinding session.
9. Give yourself a mini mani-pedi
A mani-pedi at a salon can easily set you back a few dollars. Instead, become the queen of DIY and give yourself a mani-pedi at home. That way, you could splurge a little on a new nail color or two.
10. Try DIY Facials
DIY facials are not only extremely budget-friendly, but they also give you a chance to be creative when it comes to mixing up ingredients to make the perfect face pack for your skin.
11. Find a hobby
Hobbies like knitting and crocheting can have a soothing effect on the mind. So find one that fancies you and check-off some of the items from that long list of holiday gifts.
12. Tune off from social media
Social media takes up a lot of our free time but does not really enhance our social lives. It might be beneficial to tune off for a few days at a time to focus on face-to-face meetings instead of FaceTime.
13. Learn to cook
Cooking can be very therapeutic and cheaper than eating out. Whether you cook for one person or 10, you can still save some money for an occasional indulgence while feeling good about your cooking skills.
14. Spread some love
A simple hug can make the giver and receiver feel better, so share some hugs and spread the love.
References
Schuster, S. (n.d.). 40 Affordable Self-Care Ideas. Retrieved from https://themighty.com/2017/03/cheap-self-care-affordable/
10 Ways To Practice Self-Care When You’re On A Budget. (2018, July 25). Retrieved from https://www.healthyway.com/content/10-ways-to-practice-self-care-when-youre-on-a-budget/
