How to Practice Self-Care Without Breaking the Bank

By Yourwellness Last updated Feb 21, 2018 20

Self-care has become a fad, and a pricey one at that. But self-care isn’t about spending money on healing crystals, boutique beauty products, expensive vacations or lavish shopping sprees. Most real self-care is incredibly affordable and easily achievable.

Here are 18 self-care ideas, all of which can be done for free or under $20, that everyone can pop into their wellness toolkit…

Start meditating with a free app.

A lot of people think that meditation is not for them. But meditation is for everyone. As humans, we are meant to have quiet time where our brain jacuzzi shuts down for maintenance. Plenty of dogs are expert meditators, staring off into space, fully present in the moment, and look how happy they are! Even if you are skeptical, it is worth giving it a fair shot. You have absolutely nothing to lose. Headspace is a great resource if you’re new to mediation and on a strict budget.

Luxuriate in some self-massage.

Your body needs love on the regular. Go invest in some tennis balls and you’ve got yourself unlimited self-massage in a can. The tennis ball is incredibly effective at releasing myofascial trigger points, or knots. A regular self-massage practice can reduce risk of injury and keep your body loose and limber between visits to your massage therapist. Self-massage techniques are easy to learn on the internet, or have a trusted friend give you some tips.

Take a walk outside.

Ah, fresh air. Nothing is quite as relaxing and therapeutic as a meandering journey in nature. Absorb some stabilizing sunlight, oxygenate your body and feel re-energized. Nature reduces depression, improves immunity and quiets the mind. Get yourself out of your box and get outside.

Shut down social media.

Take a break. Social media can cause anxiety and takes you out of the moment. Experience your life without a technological lens for a change. It will feel so liberating.

Doodle or color.

Creating art in general is great for awakening creativity and lowering stress levels. Buy an adult coloring book or take up a new artistic hobby, like watercoloring or sketching No paper? Try free coloring apps like Recolor or Pigment. Whether you’re making silly stick figures or a massive mural, art feeds the soul.

Exercise.

It is important to move your body. If you don’t, your muscles and joints will become hard, stiff and inflexible. And that feels just horrible. But gym memberships can be expensive. Find a YouTube video to do some home yoga or a HIIT workout. You’ll soon feel great again.

Get dressed up.

If you’re feeling stressed or a little down, get dressed up. Working from home, I find that making myself presentable and even putting on a bit of lipstick can make me feel happier and more productive, even if I never leave the house.

Take a nap.

If you love naps, treat yourself. A lot of us have a significant sleep deficit, so get a few extra Zs is always a wonderful idea. Plus, it’s free and it’ll feel great!

Cook yourself a nourishing meal.

If you are always rushing in and out of the house, make space in your schedule to cook yourself a wholesome, healthy meal from scratch at least twice a week. The food will be healthier than eating out and be prepared exactly the way you like it. No need to get complicated. There are plenty of healthy homemade recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less. Lighter is a great resource for easy, healthy, diet-specific recipes to get you started.

Do whatever makes you happiest.

If you’re happiest on a long run, go for it. If you’re happiest snuggled up on the couch watching Netflix, that’s fine too. Make space in your schedule for something that makes you happy every single day. Self-care is that simple.

Self-care doesn’t have to be this expensive, posh endeavor reserved for hipsters and rich white women. We all need and deserve to love and care for ourselves in the best possible way. And that doesn’t require expensive facials, massages, crystals, beauty products or shopping sprees. Let’s redefine the meaning of self-care to cut out the consumerism and focus on the intention.

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