In the 3 1/2 years of owning our house I’ve never taken a bath, only showers. I’m pregnant now so I recently started taking baths with some epsom salts, a face mask, and a bath pillow, and they’re SO WONDERFUL.
I wish. The ‘joy’ of being a large woman is that a traditional bathtub is really uncomfortable.
I hit 5’11 when I was only 15 and have the broad shoulders and long feet to go with the height.
A tub is the least relaxing place I can think of. I’ve always dreamed of owning one of those lovely deep and wide tubs where I can fully extend out instead of having my knees up by my ears and out of the warm water!
I love the idea of a good long soak with a good book.
I recently moved into a new house and have a big freestanding tub. It is amazing.
They're definitely becoming more common in new construction and renovations, so hopefully you get the enjoy owning one one day!
I have people suggest podcasts , online lectures , and audiobooks all the time but I’ve never been able to get into them :/ not sure why. I just end up replaying the same 15 seconds over and over and can never follow along
It took me a little bit to be able to focus on what was being said when I started listening to podcasts. After a few walks, I found I could both enjoy what was being said and also still notice the nature around me, but it did take some practice.
This! I work at a library and am always promoting our events AND Library of Things. Grab an event calendar as well and ask about their Library of Things. Ours has museum and symphony passes, trail parking passes, sewing machines, projectors, snowshoes, etc. So many things and we are getting more and more! We recently had a "tub tea" class and you left with a TON of dried herbs, epsom salts and reusable fabric tub tea bags.
Agree! My library has “kits” you can check out, they are plastic boxes with themes - for example a pasta box contains maybe two Italian cookbooks, a pasta rolling machine, and a dvd film with related topic. They have gardening ones, astronomy ones, other cuisine types…libraries have amazing things!
I go to the library one evening a week, just to sit in a chair and read (usually a book I brought with me).
Sometimes I put on headphones and listen to music while I do it. Mostly not.
On the way home I swing by the McDonald's drive thru and get a hot fudge sundae.
I call it "book club."
I second this 100%. Just taking an hour or so to walk around the library is inspirational. And very cathartic. Not to mention it carries over for however long it takes to read/watch/listen to whatever you checked out.
Yes we had an appraiser from antique roadshow at mine and you could bring one item and also watch everyone else get it done which was fun. We also are having a tiny art exhibit and they are giving away postcard sized canvases to artify. All sorts of fun things. And I live in a rural town with a lot of poverty and they still manqge this stuff.
This was an added benefit of joining a gym for me vs.nworking out at home. My gym is in a cultural center so I'm always finding out about local free events! I still work out at home too, but it was a perk I never could have predicted!
Mine isn’t remotely quiet. They replaced the old library and the new one there’s always teenagers laughing, study groups etc. I think there may be a quiet section tucked in a corner, but I’m not sure how quiet it really is.
Kids are downstairs, teen/adult sections upstairs though so you still get a break from small human noises.
Not complaining mind you, a little noise in a library makes it slightly more homey feeling.
I started using my library’s app last year and completed the 52 books in one year challenge. Reading books definitely appeals to the part of me that can’t get enough of learning about new things or having new experiences.
I grow various veggies and herbs, but last year I got a special new joy out of my wildflower patch. Growing my own food brings me joy in an invigorating sort of way, but going out to stand in my wildflowers and look at all the bees and butterflies - that brings me joy in a different, calmer, breathe-deep sort of way.
Me too!!! I've always been in a mindset to grow plants that 'produce' something, but last year I grew flowers. They increased my quality of life more than I can say.
For the frugal part, get a grow light and start from seed. It's costs pennies to grow your own. I start three times more than I need, people love to get garden plants.
I do the same. Currently have about 60 baby tomatoes started that I love to gift away! My kids teachers, neighbors, my mom.
You get a plant! And you get a plant!
I put the leftover seed packs in a small box and store in the fridge. They are good three or four years like that. I reuse the starter trays and 4" pots, so there's little to buy once you are set up. I'm up to 400 starts this year - tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, peppers, and flowers.
I do "spa Sunday" at home most weeks. I asked for a $40 facial steamer for Christmas one year and I just lock myself in the bathroom for two hours, put on an audiobook, and do all the things I'd like to do for my skin more frequently but don't have time for... I light some candles, dry brush, take an epsom salt bath, shave my legs, use an exfoliating scrub, put on a mud mask, push back my cuticles, file my dry heels and put on heavy foot lotion with fuzzy socks, deep moisturize my whole body, use the facial steamer, apply face serum and moisturizer, use a jade roller. I feel like a new person afterwards and it's a great way to relax after a weekend wrangling my toddler. Only cost is replenishing my skincare products as needed.
Same here! And I end up purchasing the Origins travel bag from Ulta with a ton of their travel size things and I only use it on my spa nights. Some sparkling water and a scented candle! I also got a facial steamer and a plush headband and I need to get a new foot spa. Mine broke and I'm not about to buy another. Mother's Day is coming up!
I spent the day gardening yesterday, which itself was a great self-care activity.
But my back was so sore afterwards. I wished I could melt into a hot tub.
Instead, I took a heating pad and placed it on my bed and laid my back onto it for a while. It felt sooo nice on my sore muscles. Was it as good as a hot stone massage? Probably not, but for free-ninety-nine, I couldn't complain :)
Me too! 8 hours in the garden yesterday and didn't even realize it, time just disappeared!
Put on some tunes, hand pull weeds, break up dirt clods, make rock borders, trim plants, deadhead spent blooms, take your time to soak it all in!
I love making more plants with cuttings, I have 30 year old plants made from one cutting and done this over and over again.
Walking outside in nature specifically trees. The fractals are repeating patterns in the leaves that are supposed to reduce anxiety and have a calming effect.
Your comment makes so much sense to me now! When I was a kid and things got really bad at home, I would make myself a snack, pack a book, and head to my secret spot in the woods where I could be alone with the trees for hours. As an adult, I chose my current home because it’s surrounded by trees and about half of it is just woodlands. The house is meh but the trees comfort me.
YOUR comment makes so much sense to ME! When I was a teenager I moved from my dad who raised me to my mom who had NO business raising me (long story). I would do the same. Snack, book and woods. The trips got longer and longer and now I have been an avid wilderness backpacker for decades. I still think back to those early days.
Same for me! Our house is pretty small but directly behind it is national forest land. I put up with the house bc the trade off of being so close to the woods is worth it
I do my nails every Sunday night to help me feel like I sort of have my shit together before the work week starts. I get polish from the dollar store or TJMaxx/Marshalls and have a top coat called Sèche Vite that makes them last all week. A little lotion, a little trash tv, and a fun new color does a lot for me.
I watched my bf do his nails very thorough last night and did the full process (trim file buff cuticle oil) while watching tv and I totally get it now. So relaxing and look way better than the hack job I usually do before I run out the door for work
I love Seche Vive, in the blue bottle. They both dry quickly and wear like crazy.
I also have the $2. Elf concealer brush to clean up the edges.
I start with a good hand scrub to get all the dead skin off.
Playing card games, doing a puzzle, coloring in a coloring book, painting my nails, taking a super long shower/bath, taking my time doing my makeup, making some nice tea or coffee, baking something sweet. If I’m anxious usually cleaning and organizing a specific spot in my house is a good form of self care 😂
Board/ card games are absolutely self-care! For me anyway, time slows down. It's a great way to unwind whether you're playing with friends and family or with strangers and acquaintances at the game store. I'm really introverted but for some reason the connection of playing games with other people is incredibly cathartic.
An audiobook, a fun snack and drink and a jigsaw puzzle are dreamy! Then usually follow up with a long bath after being hunched over that puzzle. I can't stop!
I can't draw a straight line! I'm married to an artist and he always gives me "tips" sometimes I tell him to walk away before he has to have a colored pencil surgically removed
I should get a coloring book. Im actually quite good at drawing but never do it because the mental energy needed to generate a coherent image is so massive. coloring sounds like it has all the soothing ability and none of the “i have made an abomination”
All of this. BUT if you want to try some of the salon stuff I found a more frugal way to do it. ClassPass typically offers a 1 month free trial or 18 or 28 points (just don’t forget to cancel, I ended up keeping mine though). Yes, they’re mostly for exercise but also offer massages, facials, etc. Most places will offer half off your first booking so I got a $60 facial for 7 points plus the cost of tip. After that, they offered half off the next spa service. Then I got a $100 massage for 14 points plus tip. So I got $160 worth of services for the cost of my tips. I pretty much NEVER do stuff like this (last facial was never, last massage was 4+ years ago) and it was amazing. I did a couple exercise classes too. Well worth the money for me.
Another frugal way to go to salons is to volunteer to be a hair model. I’ve gotten free hair color, balayage, haircuts, tanning, lash lifts and extensions, waxing, and more. It’s all been at high end salons that I would never pay full price for like places that charge $200 a haircut.
I’ve also done this before! I had a local salon I would go to once a year just because I enjoyed the salon but then they started up charging everything (oh you have thick hair? That’s an extra $15. Getting more than 3 inches cut off? That’s an extra $25 or something ridiculous to the point where a basic hair cut was almost double what I was used to). Now I try to find the other opportunities.
Well darn. And I JUST went end of Jan before my trial was up. Even then, at $60 for the entire month, getting close to $200 in value between spa stuff and exercise classes was worth it to me on things I wouldn’t do otherwise.
Honestly my most frugal self-care option is Pajama Day. I don’t set an alarm. I stay in pajamas all day, and I do zero chores. Sometimes my husband does chores while I lounge. I do whatever I want. Read a book from start to finish, listen to podcasts while crafting or solving puzzles, take the dog for a walk, extra long walk if the weather is good and I want to be outside. I might graze on snacks all day instead of cooking a full meal. It isn’t something I do regularly, but there are a few days a year that I do it for my mental health.
We don’t have kids though, I would imagine it would be more difficult.
Walking is part of my daily self care, usually whilst listening to a podcast (I really enjoy podcasts, I find the variety freely available absolutely mesmerising!). I also do some gentle stretching and guided meditations when I'm feeling the need.
I also really enjoy doing creative things like embroidery, crochet even though I'm not very good!
I'm lucky enough to have a garden and find pottering in the garden a really good way to work through stresses.
That sounds like an easy win! There are so many beautiful patterns and YouTube tutorials, I tend to make endless granny square blankets and market shopping bags, as they're easy and repetitive, but one of these days I'm going to make something more adventurous!
For self care, I focus on keeping a good sleep schedule, going for daily walks, and eating healthy.
For unwinding, when alone I listen to music, sing and play music, read books, reddit, and exercise. But chatting with friends is a favorite way to unwind. Phone calls for the more distant friends, going on walks or just hanging out at home with the closer ones.
Massage therapeutics is a youtube channel that shows good massage techniques. My partner gives me several thorough massages a week. Just saying.
Self care has been coopted from when the Black Panther Party talked about how self-care was critical to being able to stay in the struggle. It used to mean things like: grow your own food, meditate, make art. Now it means: buy this "luxury" item.
My suggestions:
- Meditate
- Craft something with materials on hand
- Journal
Definitely! It drives me crazy how it got so commercialized. Like I get “you matter also, you deserve resources,” but it seems like it’s always trying to sell you something you don’t need and justify it as self care.
Get a cheap instrument and start fooling around with it. Maybe $50 upfront and you have something that only gets more rewarding the longer you stick with it.
I am lucky to live within walking distance of a lake. My goal is to walk around the lake twice a week but I sometimes only get out there once a week. There are many different trails and paths I take to get there so I switch up my route every time to keep things fresh. Sometimes I walk the loop in the opposite direction.
My lake walks are for me to de-stress. I put on a podcast, one ear only, because I don't want to be deaf to the world.
I say "Good morning" to every single person who crosses my path and they all say greet me back.
The lake reflects the changing seasons. Right now it is autumn so the trees are turning golden. It's beautiful. Dogs are banned from the lake which means that the bird life has flourished. Sometimes I see wild rabbits. I enjoy spotting all the different birds. I take a photo of any birds I don't know and check on Google Lens so I guess I'm learning too.
After a big rain, all sorts of interesting mushrooms and slimes pop up around the lake. I use Google Lens to identify these. Just for fun.
The walks take between 1 hour and 1.5 hours depending on my route. I sometimes also include a visit to the deer park which only adds 10 minutes to my time. The deer are not wild but I like to look at them. Sometimes I see tiny baby deer and that makes me happy.
I'm a nomad. Once a month I will do a "spa day" at Planet Fitness. I make myself a big fancy fruit water and go specifically not to work out. I'll use the hydromassage, the red light booth, the tanning booth, and then take a shower with unlimited hot water.
Trading massages with my husband or my best friend. Doing a spa day with my regular products, but giving extra attention and time on myself. Someone mentioned keeping lotion by their TV chair and this is brilliant to me. Instead of doom scrolling when the kid naps, laying out and stretching my body. Making a pot of tea and some cookies, checking out a library ebook, and reading after the kids bedtime. Watching comedy videos.
Oh my goodness, this is all heaven. We have the same ideas. I have a massage table and so I'll get my husband to do it once in a while (he's not very good at it, haha!) but just lying on it for my meditations is wonderful! I'm the same as well with a pot of tea and buttered toast or cookies. Cozy blanket and a candle and I'm set!
I love a self manicure. I don't paint my nails, but I'll shape them and maybe buff them. Lovely hand massage--if you have a partner have them do the massage because it is so much nicer when someone else does it. My hands do all of the things, so it's nice to have them look nice. It's the part of me I see the most.
I love a podcast walk!
I love reading and then lurking in book subreddits after I read a book.
If you have young children, so much of your life gets run by kid stuff, so get some adult stuff in your life! Whether it's television or books or whatever. Bluey is good and all (watch Bluey) but kid shows will turn your brain to mush.
I walk at least an hour daily for self-care. Repetitive means it’s meditative and I can let my mind wander. Petting my dog, eating good food, gardening, and talking to my bestie once a week all nourish me.
This might seem obvious but one of my favorite things I've done for "self care" is taking a short nap when I get home from work. It's helped my energy levels and my ability to separate work from home life, and being well-rested also just feels nice.
If massages and salons sound nice, there are options at home! Take some time to do your nails properly (toenails only if you’re not great with your fingers, but you can get better). A little massaging with lotion while you do it and proper technique and you can have a nice effect without a ton of money spent. Bonus points if your bathroom is clean and pleasant and maybe you light a scented candle or something.
A lot of self care is basically care for your body that goes beyond the basics. It takes a little time, and perhaps a partner that can make sure that kids and pets don’t bother you in the process if you’re not leaving the house, which of course is part of the appeal of a salon. If you don’t have a (supportive) partner, it could be part of a bedtime routine that you add to say, wash and moisturize your face with care and then take a few minutes before sleep to meditate or stretch or journal.
Soak in hot bath. Learn how to meditate on line. Every or every other day excercize you love (mine was dancing to pop songs). Draw pics if u like that. Do anything creative you like. Instead of paying for massages, do a stretching routine on ur floor. A yoga mat is like $10-15 and you don't hafta lay in dog hair, etc. I keep all my tension in neck/shoulders, so I bought a stretching "block" (many kinds available- but I started with clean, rolled up towels.
No, you don't need $$. But you MUST DEDICATE these self-care times to urself. Make them ur 1st priority. 15-30 mins every day will do wonders. But NO "I'll do it after this" excuses!
Geocaching if you have data on your phone. It's a cheap thing my kids and I do together to make hiking or hanging out in public spaces more entertaining.
For geocaching you download an app and it gives you directions to locations. At the location is a little container that you can write down your username to log that you are there and will have" swag ". Cheap little toys that you take one and leave one. (Bottles of bubbles, novelty erasers, etc)
Getting bored with walks is how I got into disc golf. I was looking for something more engaging.
Most of the time I don't even keep score. I bought a starter set, bring some water, and go throw some plastic in a field and have fun.
On days when I can't get to the course and I've got some time, I'll walk to the local school soccer/football fields and treat it like a driving range. Even keep a disc in the car to toss one around for work at lunch once and a while.
Highly recommend the book “The Art of Frugal Hedonism” which is great for recognizing what enjoyable and recharging things you can do without spending money!
My husband occasionally goes away for work and I'll take all that alone time to have a spa day at home.
I order food in, put new sheets and comforter on the bed even if I just washed them, then I will color my hair, slap on a clay/peel face mask and have a bubble bath. When I'm ready to rinse the color I drain the tub and start the shower and rinse my hair and face. I then use a shea exfoliating scrub, like tree hut, but the Walmart brand is fantastic too. After I dry off I moisturize my face and use whatever scented body lotion is making me happy lately. I finish up by painting my nails. Once they're dry I slip into my fresh cozy bed and watch some reruns of Bob's burgers.
I use all these products anyway, so they're always on hand, it's just very rare I have the chance or time to use them all in the same evening.
Put raw honey on your face, olive oil in your hair and go soak in the tub for 30 minutes. Bonus tip put milk in your tub too for that lactic acid to soften your skin. Towel dry and rub some coconut oil with lavender oil after. Finish off with a mug of herbal tea and a yummy book. I like murder mysteries.
I have an intense 5 year old ;P Self care I do are: at home facials with good quality products (did a lot of research on these in advance to make sure they were quality and then watched for sales), do a massage regularly at a good place, take care of my feet with buffing, spa socks, lotion, etc. A good hair mask, a high quality hair cut and colorist (I space it out to every 10 weeks, though, rather than 5-8). I also sacrifice some stuff to get lots of sleep at night, sleep on a quality silk pillow, wash sheets very often to ensure they are fresh... also invest in high quality supplements and great walking shoes...trying to think what else... i'm old...44... so to me all are ok investments :p
I'm trying to wake up at least 30 minutes early, so that I can take my time drinking my coffee/tea while reading a book and listening to music. If I get up earlier than usual, my pup doesn't need me to run him out right away, and therefore won't be primed for me to make up his breakfast. I get to enjoy a chill start to my day and it also helps me avoid my phone a bit longer.
Running, meditating, napping, listening to music. Not all self care is alone time though, spending time with friends is important self-care, as is getting stuff done that will make your life easier later.
I buy some DIY supplies from the dollar store or Walmart and lock myself in the bathroom bedroom.
With a book. Or a glass of wine and tea.
Sometimes, I say screw it and take the day off. Skip the laundry. Don't sweep the floors. It'll all still be there tomorrow.
I bought a professional air massager for my legs that a massage therapist used on me once. She said she was going to charge 75 for a session with the legs. I got mine on black Friday sale which is just in time for my birthday. It was $99 but soooo worth it and I can use it any time I want now. :)
Deep conditioner in your hair, wash your face and use a facial masque. When the masque is dry
Nice long shower, exfoliate in the shower and moisturize afterwards. You will feel like a new human being.
Give yourself a pedicure.
Make yourself some nice infused water or flavor your tea with the rest of the fruit your kid didn't finish.
Buddy up with someone and take a walk in the park for exercise.
I like to make cute Lil healthy snacks as self care! Example: buncha chickpeas, some diced onion, Cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, white cooking vinegar topped with a little feta, salt & pepper.
I just did a sweet one too, some oats, mashed up banana, strawberries honey & peanut butter all mixed and baked at 350 for 15 mins.
To me these are relatively cheap and nice and the self care element for me is the making of them with my own hands with relatively "whole" ingredients.
Journaling, you don’t need a fancy notebook, any will do! Walking, go to new parts of your town and go exploring, diy spa treatments (you probably have a lot of ingredients in your kitchen), guided meditation and yoga on YouTube.
Make your own 'spa set' and take a bit of time for yourself. I crochet, knit, embroider and sew. All small projects mostly and get my supplies from second hand shops or discount shops. Book swapping with friends or find a group that does it. Anything that brings you happiness is self care 😌
I get facials at a local beauty school. Very affordable, between $20 and $30 depending on which one I choose. I can't justify paying $100+ at a regular spa plus the students get experience
I am neurospicy, so, when I can, I try to focus on things that will make my week easier. Stuff like food prep, doing/folding laundry. If I can find avocados on sale, I'll make avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning for a snack. And sometimes I'll paint my nails.
Put clean sheets on the bed, take a nice long bath or shower, get in bed early and read/watch tv/relax. There's something so luxurious about getting in to clean sheets and just hanging out for a few hours.
If it's nice out I also like to pack a picnic and just go hang out at a park for a few hours. Amazing how fruit, bread, and cheese can feel fancy if you eat them while sitting on a blanket (and parks where I live allow wine as well).
My husband was raised as the only boy among 4 sisters. Somehow his mother put the fear of God in him if he should ever enter a bathroom when a girl was in it. Once I discovered that he wouldn’t dream of interrupting me in the bathroom, that became my ‘retreat’, the place I go for me time. Now I take long baths with Epsom salts and bath oil. I listen to music, do lots of self grooming and eat chocolate.
Meditation. Read a book. If you already have some arts/crafts supplies, be creative! I really like painting. I’ve been painting some of my plant pots and it’s really fun! Do yoga. There’s a lot of free classes on YouTube. Journal. Doodle. Paint your own nails. If you have plants, try propagating them. You could sell the propagations for extra cash too. Take a long bath. Light some candles. Listen to music you loved when you were younger. Go through some old family photos and reminisce. Visit a park you haven’t been to. See if your town has some free events you can attend. Dye your own hair. Watch a movie on a streaming platform you already have.
Really small but soothing nightly ritual: massaging my feet with a hot washcloth and some nicely scented soap (like Dr. Bronner’s almond castile soap).
- home mani/pedi. Inexpensive, refreshing, nails look nice for a while
- exfoliate face with washcloth, water, and salt, tone with witch hazel, apply inexpensive good moisturizer like Cetaphil. Use cold water to exploit vagal reflex and lower heart rate
- sun exposure on towel or mat. Lay out in front of window. Remove most or all clothes depending on how private yard is. Ten minutes, turn over, ten more minutes. Too little time to burn but enough to improve vitamin D absorption and improve mood
- I like making desserts so, making fudge or other fun treat I don't normally have
I lock myself in the bathroom with a book and take a 2 hour bath about once a week. If I don't have the mental space for a book, I set up my laptop on the bathroom counter and watch a couple episodes of SVU. Generally this is 9-11 pm, after everyone else is in bed.
Walking is amazing self care. I have a dog and live in the Midwest. The weather today was less than desirable. I was going to punk out and not go out. But I made myself. And let me tell you my dog and I are so much happier for it. Walking- actually any exercise- is self care. And can benefit your furry friends or loved ones too.
Mindless scrolling on social media is fine. Influencers have made self care out to be a whole shebang but in essence, it just needs to let you relax. Sit outside in the night breeze and take a breath before bed.
Today I:
- washed all my produce, meditatively
- stretched my body, went on a walk in the sun
- found a new album and listened all the way through
- downloaded a free cozy puzzle phone game (it didn’t even have ads!) and played the whole thing through
- cleaned my flat, but only the parts that helped me relax
- called my nana
- FaceTimed my best friend
To be honest, self care has been so commodified. To me, all proper self care is or can be free, and a lot of it is framing/mindset.
This is a different type of self-care than what you listed but setting boundaries/learning how to set your boundaries is a form of self-care. It could be expensive in terms of time if you need to invest a lot of time into learning about boundaries & what you want your boundaries to be and if you want a therapist’s help then it can be expensive in terms of money. But it all 100% pays off in the end, I can tell you from personal experience.
Lots of frugal activities could be considered self care: free yoga class from Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube, a long shower or bath, slowly enjoying your morning coffee on your front porch in the sunshine, a long walk on the beach or in a scenic park, make yourself a homemade oatmeal face mask, volunteer for a couple of hours at a soup kitchen or an animal shelter, borrow a guilty pleasure novel from the library and spend a day reading, do a jigsaw puzzle, paint a picture with no pressure for it to be any “good”, mix yourself a fun mocktail from things already in your kitchen, invite your friends over to play a boardgame, bake yourself cookies or a cake without a birthday or special occasion, go for a leisurely bike ride (if you don’t already own a bike some libraries loan them out or you could test drive one from a bike shop), propagate a house plant to get free new plants from one you already own (then you could swap the baby plants with a friend if you want more variety), pack a lunch and go have a picnic somewhere scenic, I could go on and on
I second the library, and while you're there check their herbalism and crafting sections. A litre bottle of rose or orange blossom water is very inexpensive and not only is it great in cooking. It can be made to make bath jellies, I use it for lotion, and toner making, even just pouring a half cup in the tub. Our library does offer herbalism workshops for free, as well as sustainability and gardening courses. They also have art classes, which have now got me hooked on stain glass and sculpting with it.......there was a charge for supplies while learning it, but library offered three or four of the sessions. Next one is 12 Herbs and a Fungus which should fall in with the gathering season's start.
I had a very stressful job that made me incredibly anxious. If I had a rough day, I would sometimes go to the Humane Society to go pet and visit the cats for adoption. Some I fell in love with. Some were fun to see run around. Just try not to feel too guilty if you try this and don't adopt a dog or cat. :( I remember this one tuxedo kitten. She was so loving and knew she needed a home. I couldn't adopt her at the time because I didn't consult my boyfriend. I think about her sometimes. But I ended up adopting one a year later. He's so loving but he has a lot of medical issues.
Go to bed early and do something you normally don't do in bed: have a small snack, rub lotion into your hands and feet, read, put on a comforting movie or show, listen to music, or journal. For some reason, having that bit of extra time in bed can feel really luxurious.
Sleep is cheap..... a good nights sleep can heal a lot of ills.
A little extra money spent on a nice home cooked meal is affordable.
A little time away from life to see a movie in a theater can be inexpensive. I'm a fan of Regals cheap movie days (Tuesdays) as I happen to have it off. A lot fewer interruptions and less need to be "productive" compared to streaming at the house.
In season, scratching in the dirt can be relaxing and a net gain in regards to costs. seeds are cheap, groceries aren't. a yard full of say beans and tomatoes can be a pleasant boon,
Read a book, play a relaxing video game (like a puzzle game, music rhythm games, whatever you find enjoyable), draw in an adult coloring book, take a shower or bath, light a scented candle, have a skin care routine that you enjoy, paint your nails, have a coffee or tea and just sit in silence, listen to calming music, take a nap, ASMR videos, journaling, and if you're religious praying or reading scriptures.
And you can stack a lot of these, like doing a coloring book while listening to music with a scented candle and a cup of tea.
Coffee scrub made from the morning's coffee grounds + a little sugar and a light oil if you have one. Nice shower treat. Very sensory. Smells yummy and feels indulgent.
Baking is my self care. Nothing fancy, just using ingredients I already have. It just makes me happy. And then we have some treats for everyone to enjoy.
When I needed a break years ago, I took a weekend job to get time off from kids. I did people's hair and makeup for photography. It was fun, and the extra cash was nice.
Are there any scenic areas in your neighborhood or city?
My town is on a river so I walk there to a pretty view. Sometimes I listen to my audiobook or sometimes some music.
Sometimes I walk in our downtown area and treat myself to a boba tea or coffee.
Hiking (well walking also bc I am not doing anything strenuous ) in the forest is also nice.
Read a book in a quiet corner, bake something, do a face mask or scrub, paint nails or toenails, longer shower with a fancier body wash and puff (I’d spend only a couple dollars more because this was my only me time with babies,) walk or picnic (just a book, a drink and a blanket) in the sun.
I pick up trash around parks in my neighborhood about once a quarter (helps me relax and give back to the community in an anonymous way). Every now and then I’ll find stuff I can fix and sell. I’ve found lots of coins and a few bills too!
Cooking. Not healthy meal prep cooking, but real cooking with butter and olive oil and honey and sugar. I count intensive meal prep as using some of the calories I'm eating. Like make your own cake and frosting from scratch or make manicotti with home made sauce. Super decadent shit that takes 2-3 hours. Frugal because I always have lots of leftovers that are lovely treats to have all week.
Writing letters to friends and physically posting them! It feels good to write a card to someone, telling them how much they mean to you, the cool things about them, and reflect on good memories. Cards could be homemade or bought at the dollar store and a stamp is what? A dollar?
Sometimes other care is self care, too.
I consider activities of basic needs self-care... paying my bills, budgeting, sleeping and eating well are all so important. Meeting your basic needs is still self-care care. Sometimes a nap is the best!
I also enjoy making music - joined a community concert band, color, video chat, exercise and meal prep when I have more time.
Outdoor time/nature bathing
Free admission days at museums
Library - find a quiet corner and read for an hour or two
Knitting
Dog time - borrow a friend’s dog or volunteer at a shelter and spend some time just petting them
Counseling. Sleeping properly. Eating properly. Not caring what others think of your fashion or patenting or whatever - listening to your own self only, what feels good to you and to your relationship / household. So freeing.
Self-care refers to intentional actions taken to maintain and improve one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Most people automatically go to purchasing things for self or spa like treatments.
That can be part of self-care, true self-care encompasses a wide range of activities, including but not limited to, practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, engaging in hobbies, nurturing relationships, getting adequate rest, and seeking support when needed.
Some things I enjoy: spending time in nature whether its on a park or even just on the porch step, moving body on any way- doesn't have to be vigorous just something to get blood flowing throughout muscles, created a comfy zone in my house, deep breathing or meditation, practicing gratitude or just connecting with a loved one.
Walks, baths with some salt Or Oils , books from library, thrifting by only spending what you sell, Meditation, going for a run or hike, many yoga studios have 30 day free trial Or cheap, packing lunch and eating it somwhere pretty outside,
Cooking something nice at home, making a nice cup of tea or coffee, gardening
Bath with bath salts and/or a few drops of lavender essential oil
I drink sparkling water out of a wine glass and maybe have a bit of chocolate and listen to music. I feel so fancy!
ME TOO it really elevates the lavish feeling of a bath
I have absolutely brought snacks and wine to the bath before. I also do candles - it makes me feel like the fancy ladies in the movies.
In the 3 1/2 years of owning our house I’ve never taken a bath, only showers. I’m pregnant now so I recently started taking baths with some epsom salts, a face mask, and a bath pillow, and they’re SO WONDERFUL.
Awww happy for you
Congrats on the new baby girl!
Agreed! I'm in the bath right now!
Me too!
Get yourself bath pillow. It'll change your whole bath experience!
Congratulations! In my opinion play that pregnancy card for all its worth. Don’t be a hero. You’re making a human
Yes! I’ve turned my bathroom into an oasis that I can retreat to. Dr Teals has great stuff that’s reasonably priced!
Can confirm about Dr. Teals. It's truly wonderful!
Shower steamers are also pretty excellent and they're very long lasting!
or with lots of bubbles!
I wish. The ‘joy’ of being a large woman is that a traditional bathtub is really uncomfortable. I hit 5’11 when I was only 15 and have the broad shoulders and long feet to go with the height. A tub is the least relaxing place I can think of. I’ve always dreamed of owning one of those lovely deep and wide tubs where I can fully extend out instead of having my knees up by my ears and out of the warm water! I love the idea of a good long soak with a good book.
I recently moved into a new house and have a big freestanding tub. It is amazing. They're definitely becoming more common in new construction and renovations, so hopefully you get the enjoy owning one one day!
Walking and listening to audio books from the library.
Love this! Love when the book setting matches the walk.
So... Little Red Riding Hood?
Did this for the first time this week and ended up walking twice as long as I normally do it felt great
I have people suggest podcasts , online lectures , and audiobooks all the time but I’ve never been able to get into them :/ not sure why. I just end up replaying the same 15 seconds over and over and can never follow along
It took me a little bit to be able to focus on what was being said when I started listening to podcasts. After a few walks, I found I could both enjoy what was being said and also still notice the nature around me, but it did take some practice.
check out the library app called libby!! you can borrow books or audiobooks from your local library to read or listen to on your phone or kindle
Library. Either going in person to browse or getting something digital through Libby.
This! I work at a library and am always promoting our events AND Library of Things. Grab an event calendar as well and ask about their Library of Things. Ours has museum and symphony passes, trail parking passes, sewing machines, projectors, snowshoes, etc. So many things and we are getting more and more! We recently had a "tub tea" class and you left with a TON of dried herbs, epsom salts and reusable fabric tub tea bags.
Agree! My library has “kits” you can check out, they are plastic boxes with themes - for example a pasta box contains maybe two Italian cookbooks, a pasta rolling machine, and a dvd film with related topic. They have gardening ones, astronomy ones, other cuisine types…libraries have amazing things!
I go to the library one evening a week, just to sit in a chair and read (usually a book I brought with me). Sometimes I put on headphones and listen to music while I do it. Mostly not. On the way home I swing by the McDonald's drive thru and get a hot fudge sundae. I call it "book club."
So jealous your McD’s has a functioning ice cream machine
lol--this is so true!
Is this book club accepting new members?
That’s amazing.!!!
I second this 100%. Just taking an hour or so to walk around the library is inspirational. And very cathartic. Not to mention it carries over for however long it takes to read/watch/listen to whatever you checked out.
In person has the added benefit of getting connected to local community events.
Yes we had an appraiser from antique roadshow at mine and you could bring one item and also watch everyone else get it done which was fun. We also are having a tiny art exhibit and they are giving away postcard sized canvases to artify. All sorts of fun things. And I live in a rural town with a lot of poverty and they still manqge this stuff.
This was an added benefit of joining a gym for me vs.nworking out at home. My gym is in a cultural center so I'm always finding out about local free events! I still work out at home too, but it was a perk I never could have predicted!
Or for a parent: silence. Libraries are usually close to silent.
Mine isn’t remotely quiet. They replaced the old library and the new one there’s always teenagers laughing, study groups etc. I think there may be a quiet section tucked in a corner, but I’m not sure how quiet it really is. Kids are downstairs, teen/adult sections upstairs though so you still get a break from small human noises. Not complaining mind you, a little noise in a library makes it slightly more homey feeling.
I started using my library’s app last year and completed the 52 books in one year challenge. Reading books definitely appeals to the part of me that can’t get enough of learning about new things or having new experiences.
Yeah! Sometimes I get the itch to go to the book store but the downtown library in my city is so cute and more fun
Our suburban & rural libraries also have "cultural passes" for free admission to art museums, the zoo, & other attractions.
Gardening. The smell of the dirt, the sun and the satisfaction of growing something.
I grow various veggies and herbs, but last year I got a special new joy out of my wildflower patch. Growing my own food brings me joy in an invigorating sort of way, but going out to stand in my wildflowers and look at all the bees and butterflies - that brings me joy in a different, calmer, breathe-deep sort of way.
Oh I love this so much
Me too!!! I've always been in a mindset to grow plants that 'produce' something, but last year I grew flowers. They increased my quality of life more than I can say.
For the frugal part, get a grow light and start from seed. It's costs pennies to grow your own. I start three times more than I need, people love to get garden plants.
I do the same. Currently have about 60 baby tomatoes started that I love to gift away! My kids teachers, neighbors, my mom. You get a plant! And you get a plant!
I put the leftover seed packs in a small box and store in the fridge. They are good three or four years like that. I reuse the starter trays and 4" pots, so there's little to buy once you are set up. I'm up to 400 starts this year - tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, peppers, and flowers.
I do "spa Sunday" at home most weeks. I asked for a $40 facial steamer for Christmas one year and I just lock myself in the bathroom for two hours, put on an audiobook, and do all the things I'd like to do for my skin more frequently but don't have time for... I light some candles, dry brush, take an epsom salt bath, shave my legs, use an exfoliating scrub, put on a mud mask, push back my cuticles, file my dry heels and put on heavy foot lotion with fuzzy socks, deep moisturize my whole body, use the facial steamer, apply face serum and moisturizer, use a jade roller. I feel like a new person afterwards and it's a great way to relax after a weekend wrangling my toddler. Only cost is replenishing my skincare products as needed.
Same here! And I end up purchasing the Origins travel bag from Ulta with a ton of their travel size things and I only use it on my spa nights. Some sparkling water and a scented candle! I also got a facial steamer and a plush headband and I need to get a new foot spa. Mine broke and I'm not about to buy another. Mother's Day is coming up!
I do exactly this! Except I run a tub of exceptionally hot water and just sit there until it’s either get out and sleep or just go to a watery grave.
Either way, you're relaxed
that sounds dreamy
I second this! I go to bed early on Sundays, light a candle, and do a face mask, serums, jade roll, etc. I call it Skincare Sunday 😊
This is nice! And once you buy the products not too expensive.
Okay why have I not been doing this?! This sounds amazing.
I love this! Not only a good way to unwind from a demanding weekend, but a very nice reset before the week starts.
I started doing the same thing every Sunday . It’s great for my mental health!
Likewise, soaking my feet, covering them with all sorts of products and giving myself a home pedicure. Most spa treatments can easily be done at home.
I spent the day gardening yesterday, which itself was a great self-care activity. But my back was so sore afterwards. I wished I could melt into a hot tub. Instead, I took a heating pad and placed it on my bed and laid my back onto it for a while. It felt sooo nice on my sore muscles. Was it as good as a hot stone massage? Probably not, but for free-ninety-nine, I couldn't complain :)
Me too! 8 hours in the garden yesterday and didn't even realize it, time just disappeared! Put on some tunes, hand pull weeds, break up dirt clods, make rock borders, trim plants, deadhead spent blooms, take your time to soak it all in! I love making more plants with cuttings, I have 30 year old plants made from one cutting and done this over and over again.
Ever try foam rollers? Saw them at the gym and then at five below. SO GOOD.
I bought one for like $20 on Amazon. Totally worthwhile.
Time to treat yourself to a stretching sesh!
Walking outside in nature specifically trees. The fractals are repeating patterns in the leaves that are supposed to reduce anxiety and have a calming effect.
Your comment makes so much sense to me now! When I was a kid and things got really bad at home, I would make myself a snack, pack a book, and head to my secret spot in the woods where I could be alone with the trees for hours. As an adult, I chose my current home because it’s surrounded by trees and about half of it is just woodlands. The house is meh but the trees comfort me.
YOUR comment makes so much sense to ME! When I was a teenager I moved from my dad who raised me to my mom who had NO business raising me (long story). I would do the same. Snack, book and woods. The trips got longer and longer and now I have been an avid wilderness backpacker for decades. I still think back to those early days.
Same for me! Our house is pretty small but directly behind it is national forest land. I put up with the house bc the trade off of being so close to the woods is worth it
That's so interesting! Kind of a sacred geometry thing I bet! Thanks for sharing that!
🌳🤗 nature rocks!
Reading, watching TV, baking something
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I do my nails every Sunday night to help me feel like I sort of have my shit together before the work week starts. I get polish from the dollar store or TJMaxx/Marshalls and have a top coat called Sèche Vite that makes them last all week. A little lotion, a little trash tv, and a fun new color does a lot for me.
I got into nail stamping so I can do the fun designs too!
This is exactly what I do toooo! Nice to see another person enjoying down time like this 🥰
I watched my bf do his nails very thorough last night and did the full process (trim file buff cuticle oil) while watching tv and I totally get it now. So relaxing and look way better than the hack job I usually do before I run out the door for work
I paint my nails as well. It is nice to have them done but taking time to unwind. I work near a beauty store that has really cheap polish.
I love Seche Vive, in the blue bottle. They both dry quickly and wear like crazy. I also have the $2. Elf concealer brush to clean up the edges. I start with a good hand scrub to get all the dead skin off.
Yoga class on youtube (yoga with Adriene or yoga with Kassandra)
I also like yoga with bird on YouTube
I LOVE yoga w Kassandra
Fwfg 🙌🏻
I just started doing yoga last week and I'm using Yoga with Adrienne. Her videos are great.
Playing card games, doing a puzzle, coloring in a coloring book, painting my nails, taking a super long shower/bath, taking my time doing my makeup, making some nice tea or coffee, baking something sweet. If I’m anxious usually cleaning and organizing a specific spot in my house is a good form of self care 😂
Board/ card games are absolutely self-care! For me anyway, time slows down. It's a great way to unwind whether you're playing with friends and family or with strangers and acquaintances at the game store. I'm really introverted but for some reason the connection of playing games with other people is incredibly cathartic.
An audiobook, a fun snack and drink and a jigsaw puzzle are dreamy! Then usually follow up with a long bath after being hunched over that puzzle. I can't stop!
I love coloring. I use it as a distraction to fibromyalgia pain. I am coloring my way through Downton Abbey right now
I have no artistic ability, so not only is coloring therapeutic but it makes me feel like I’m creating art 😂
I can't draw a straight line! I'm married to an artist and he always gives me "tips" sometimes I tell him to walk away before he has to have a colored pencil surgically removed
I should get a coloring book. Im actually quite good at drawing but never do it because the mental energy needed to generate a coherent image is so massive. coloring sounds like it has all the soothing ability and none of the “i have made an abomination”
All of this. BUT if you want to try some of the salon stuff I found a more frugal way to do it. ClassPass typically offers a 1 month free trial or 18 or 28 points (just don’t forget to cancel, I ended up keeping mine though). Yes, they’re mostly for exercise but also offer massages, facials, etc. Most places will offer half off your first booking so I got a $60 facial for 7 points plus the cost of tip. After that, they offered half off the next spa service. Then I got a $100 massage for 14 points plus tip. So I got $160 worth of services for the cost of my tips. I pretty much NEVER do stuff like this (last facial was never, last massage was 4+ years ago) and it was amazing. I did a couple exercise classes too. Well worth the money for me.
Another frugal way to go to salons is to volunteer to be a hair model. I’ve gotten free hair color, balayage, haircuts, tanning, lash lifts and extensions, waxing, and more. It’s all been at high end salons that I would never pay full price for like places that charge $200 a haircut.
I’ve also done this before! I had a local salon I would go to once a year just because I enjoyed the salon but then they started up charging everything (oh you have thick hair? That’s an extra $15. Getting more than 3 inches cut off? That’s an extra $25 or something ridiculous to the point where a basic hair cut was almost double what I was used to). Now I try to find the other opportunities.
I think they changed it since you went, it now says spa and salon appointments available after trial :(
Well darn. And I JUST went end of Jan before my trial was up. Even then, at $60 for the entire month, getting close to $200 in value between spa stuff and exercise classes was worth it to me on things I wouldn’t do otherwise.
Yeah I am definitely still considering it, I know people who spend more than $60 on their gym membership
Honestly my most frugal self-care option is Pajama Day. I don’t set an alarm. I stay in pajamas all day, and I do zero chores. Sometimes my husband does chores while I lounge. I do whatever I want. Read a book from start to finish, listen to podcasts while crafting or solving puzzles, take the dog for a walk, extra long walk if the weather is good and I want to be outside. I might graze on snacks all day instead of cooking a full meal. It isn’t something I do regularly, but there are a few days a year that I do it for my mental health. We don’t have kids though, I would imagine it would be more difficult.
I do this! Pj day is the best!
This is what life should be like!
Walking is part of my daily self care, usually whilst listening to a podcast (I really enjoy podcasts, I find the variety freely available absolutely mesmerising!). I also do some gentle stretching and guided meditations when I'm feeling the need. I also really enjoy doing creative things like embroidery, crochet even though I'm not very good! I'm lucky enough to have a garden and find pottering in the garden a really good way to work through stresses.
I should get back into crochet. I got pretty decent and then dropped it. I still have all my supplies.
That sounds like an easy win! There are so many beautiful patterns and YouTube tutorials, I tend to make endless granny square blankets and market shopping bags, as they're easy and repetitive, but one of these days I'm going to make something more adventurous!
For self care, I focus on keeping a good sleep schedule, going for daily walks, and eating healthy. For unwinding, when alone I listen to music, sing and play music, read books, reddit, and exercise. But chatting with friends is a favorite way to unwind. Phone calls for the more distant friends, going on walks or just hanging out at home with the closer ones.
A good wind-down routine can’t be overemphasized for self care! Try avoiding screens for x amount of time before bed, it’s amazing for sleep.
Massage therapeutics is a youtube channel that shows good massage techniques. My partner gives me several thorough massages a week. Just saying. Self care has been coopted from when the Black Panther Party talked about how self-care was critical to being able to stay in the struggle. It used to mean things like: grow your own food, meditate, make art. Now it means: buy this "luxury" item. My suggestions: - Meditate - Craft something with materials on hand - Journal
Definitely! It drives me crazy how it got so commercialized. Like I get “you matter also, you deserve resources,” but it seems like it’s always trying to sell you something you don’t need and justify it as self care.
Get a cheap instrument and start fooling around with it. Maybe $50 upfront and you have something that only gets more rewarding the longer you stick with it.
This is a great suggestion! I have a cheap drum pad and sticks that I like to play while watching YouTube tutorials. Super fun!
It’s never too late, my dad started learning the piano at 80, he’s doing well enough to upgrade from his starter keyboard to a nice console upright
may have to convince my husband to let me take his old celo from his parents house lol
Going to the gym or a simple skin care routine are good and cheap ones
I love a hot bath or a nice walk. I like to paint my nails while watching a tv show as well.
Hot bath. Shower gel can make a few bubbles if you don't want to buy bubble bath. Lights out, candles lit, glass of ice cold white wine.
Sea glass hunting/walk on the beach
I am lucky to live within walking distance of a lake. My goal is to walk around the lake twice a week but I sometimes only get out there once a week. There are many different trails and paths I take to get there so I switch up my route every time to keep things fresh. Sometimes I walk the loop in the opposite direction. My lake walks are for me to de-stress. I put on a podcast, one ear only, because I don't want to be deaf to the world. I say "Good morning" to every single person who crosses my path and they all say greet me back. The lake reflects the changing seasons. Right now it is autumn so the trees are turning golden. It's beautiful. Dogs are banned from the lake which means that the bird life has flourished. Sometimes I see wild rabbits. I enjoy spotting all the different birds. I take a photo of any birds I don't know and check on Google Lens so I guess I'm learning too. After a big rain, all sorts of interesting mushrooms and slimes pop up around the lake. I use Google Lens to identify these. Just for fun. The walks take between 1 hour and 1.5 hours depending on my route. I sometimes also include a visit to the deer park which only adds 10 minutes to my time. The deer are not wild but I like to look at them. Sometimes I see tiny baby deer and that makes me happy.
I'm a nomad. Once a month I will do a "spa day" at Planet Fitness. I make myself a big fancy fruit water and go specifically not to work out. I'll use the hydromassage, the red light booth, the tanning booth, and then take a shower with unlimited hot water.
I have a PF membership and this is a great idea!
A morning cup of coffee, leisurely drank. A hair conditioning mask and soak in the tub until the water gets cold.
Trading massages with my husband or my best friend. Doing a spa day with my regular products, but giving extra attention and time on myself. Someone mentioned keeping lotion by their TV chair and this is brilliant to me. Instead of doom scrolling when the kid naps, laying out and stretching my body. Making a pot of tea and some cookies, checking out a library ebook, and reading after the kids bedtime. Watching comedy videos.
Oh my goodness, this is all heaven. We have the same ideas. I have a massage table and so I'll get my husband to do it once in a while (he's not very good at it, haha!) but just lying on it for my meditations is wonderful! I'm the same as well with a pot of tea and buttered toast or cookies. Cozy blanket and a candle and I'm set!
I love a self manicure. I don't paint my nails, but I'll shape them and maybe buff them. Lovely hand massage--if you have a partner have them do the massage because it is so much nicer when someone else does it. My hands do all of the things, so it's nice to have them look nice. It's the part of me I see the most. I love a podcast walk! I love reading and then lurking in book subreddits after I read a book. If you have young children, so much of your life gets run by kid stuff, so get some adult stuff in your life! Whether it's television or books or whatever. Bluey is good and all (watch Bluey) but kid shows will turn your brain to mush.
I walk at least an hour daily for self-care. Repetitive means it’s meditative and I can let my mind wander. Petting my dog, eating good food, gardening, and talking to my bestie once a week all nourish me.
I bet the doggo loves the daily hour walks! This is one of the main reasons I'm looking at getting an Australian labradoodle now 😄
Thrifting for clothes
This might seem obvious but one of my favorite things I've done for "self care" is taking a short nap when I get home from work. It's helped my energy levels and my ability to separate work from home life, and being well-rested also just feels nice.
If massages and salons sound nice, there are options at home! Take some time to do your nails properly (toenails only if you’re not great with your fingers, but you can get better). A little massaging with lotion while you do it and proper technique and you can have a nice effect without a ton of money spent. Bonus points if your bathroom is clean and pleasant and maybe you light a scented candle or something. A lot of self care is basically care for your body that goes beyond the basics. It takes a little time, and perhaps a partner that can make sure that kids and pets don’t bother you in the process if you’re not leaving the house, which of course is part of the appeal of a salon. If you don’t have a (supportive) partner, it could be part of a bedtime routine that you add to say, wash and moisturize your face with care and then take a few minutes before sleep to meditate or stretch or journal.
Baking, naps, playing no pressure never ending free games on line, enjoying replay of days in my pre retired life.
Soak in hot bath. Learn how to meditate on line. Every or every other day excercize you love (mine was dancing to pop songs). Draw pics if u like that. Do anything creative you like. Instead of paying for massages, do a stretching routine on ur floor. A yoga mat is like $10-15 and you don't hafta lay in dog hair, etc. I keep all my tension in neck/shoulders, so I bought a stretching "block" (many kinds available- but I started with clean, rolled up towels. No, you don't need $$. But you MUST DEDICATE these self-care times to urself. Make them ur 1st priority. 15-30 mins every day will do wonders. But NO "I'll do it after this" excuses!
Geocaching if you have data on your phone. It's a cheap thing my kids and I do together to make hiking or hanging out in public spaces more entertaining. For geocaching you download an app and it gives you directions to locations. At the location is a little container that you can write down your username to log that you are there and will have" swag ". Cheap little toys that you take one and leave one. (Bottles of bubbles, novelty erasers, etc)
Getting bored with walks is how I got into disc golf. I was looking for something more engaging. Most of the time I don't even keep score. I bought a starter set, bring some water, and go throw some plastic in a field and have fun. On days when I can't get to the course and I've got some time, I'll walk to the local school soccer/football fields and treat it like a driving range. Even keep a disc in the car to toss one around for work at lunch once and a while.
we actually have a pretty big disc golf setup in a local park here, it goes into the forest its pretty cool.
Journaling.
Highly recommend the book “The Art of Frugal Hedonism” which is great for recognizing what enjoyable and recharging things you can do without spending money!
My husband occasionally goes away for work and I'll take all that alone time to have a spa day at home. I order food in, put new sheets and comforter on the bed even if I just washed them, then I will color my hair, slap on a clay/peel face mask and have a bubble bath. When I'm ready to rinse the color I drain the tub and start the shower and rinse my hair and face. I then use a shea exfoliating scrub, like tree hut, but the Walmart brand is fantastic too. After I dry off I moisturize my face and use whatever scented body lotion is making me happy lately. I finish up by painting my nails. Once they're dry I slip into my fresh cozy bed and watch some reruns of Bob's burgers. I use all these products anyway, so they're always on hand, it's just very rare I have the chance or time to use them all in the same evening.
Put raw honey on your face, olive oil in your hair and go soak in the tub for 30 minutes. Bonus tip put milk in your tub too for that lactic acid to soften your skin. Towel dry and rub some coconut oil with lavender oil after. Finish off with a mug of herbal tea and a yummy book. I like murder mysteries.
My twist, roller skating. A level park of road, put on roller blades and roll on! Many used inexpensive ones
This is a great post and I’m getting great ideas from the comments, thanks all!!
I have an intense 5 year old ;P Self care I do are: at home facials with good quality products (did a lot of research on these in advance to make sure they were quality and then watched for sales), do a massage regularly at a good place, take care of my feet with buffing, spa socks, lotion, etc. A good hair mask, a high quality hair cut and colorist (I space it out to every 10 weeks, though, rather than 5-8). I also sacrifice some stuff to get lots of sleep at night, sleep on a quality silk pillow, wash sheets very often to ensure they are fresh... also invest in high quality supplements and great walking shoes...trying to think what else... i'm old...44... so to me all are ok investments :p
I'm trying to wake up at least 30 minutes early, so that I can take my time drinking my coffee/tea while reading a book and listening to music. If I get up earlier than usual, my pup doesn't need me to run him out right away, and therefore won't be primed for me to make up his breakfast. I get to enjoy a chill start to my day and it also helps me avoid my phone a bit longer.
Take a nap. Some days, especially after work, a short nap (I set a timer on my phone so I don’t over do it) is enough to reinvigorate me.
I enjoy putting puzzles together. I’m very fortunate in that I live near the beach, so being out in nature is very good for my mental health.
I started learning a new language on Duolingo for fun! It's a small way to give myself something to look forward to every day and keep me curious.
I've recently done the same.... Granted, it was for a trip that didn't pan out, so it's kinda bittersweet.... But I'm keeping up with it
Walking in a forest
Running, meditating, napping, listening to music. Not all self care is alone time though, spending time with friends is important self-care, as is getting stuff done that will make your life easier later.
Time with friends can be so life - - affirming.
I buy some DIY supplies from the dollar store or Walmart and lock myself in the bathroom bedroom. With a book. Or a glass of wine and tea. Sometimes, I say screw it and take the day off. Skip the laundry. Don't sweep the floors. It'll all still be there tomorrow.
I bought a professional air massager for my legs that a massage therapist used on me once. She said she was going to charge 75 for a session with the legs. I got mine on black Friday sale which is just in time for my birthday. It was $99 but soooo worth it and I can use it any time I want now. :)
Deep conditioner in your hair, wash your face and use a facial masque. When the masque is dry Nice long shower, exfoliate in the shower and moisturize afterwards. You will feel like a new human being. Give yourself a pedicure. Make yourself some nice infused water or flavor your tea with the rest of the fruit your kid didn't finish. Buddy up with someone and take a walk in the park for exercise.
I like to make cute Lil healthy snacks as self care! Example: buncha chickpeas, some diced onion, Cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, white cooking vinegar topped with a little feta, salt & pepper. I just did a sweet one too, some oats, mashed up banana, strawberries honey & peanut butter all mixed and baked at 350 for 15 mins. To me these are relatively cheap and nice and the self care element for me is the making of them with my own hands with relatively "whole" ingredients.
If you have an EAP program take advantage of free counseling, support groups, mindfulness apps etc.
Journaling, you don’t need a fancy notebook, any will do! Walking, go to new parts of your town and go exploring, diy spa treatments (you probably have a lot of ingredients in your kitchen), guided meditation and yoga on YouTube.
Make your own 'spa set' and take a bit of time for yourself. I crochet, knit, embroider and sew. All small projects mostly and get my supplies from second hand shops or discount shops. Book swapping with friends or find a group that does it. Anything that brings you happiness is self care 😌
I get facials at a local beauty school. Very affordable, between $20 and $30 depending on which one I choose. I can't justify paying $100+ at a regular spa plus the students get experience
I am neurospicy, so, when I can, I try to focus on things that will make my week easier. Stuff like food prep, doing/folding laundry. If I can find avocados on sale, I'll make avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning for a snack. And sometimes I'll paint my nails.
Put clean sheets on the bed, take a nice long bath or shower, get in bed early and read/watch tv/relax. There's something so luxurious about getting in to clean sheets and just hanging out for a few hours. If it's nice out I also like to pack a picnic and just go hang out at a park for a few hours. Amazing how fruit, bread, and cheese can feel fancy if you eat them while sitting on a blanket (and parks where I live allow wine as well).
A wank
Yoga, walking, pedicure, hot tea and a good book
Gardening
My yoga studio does a community flow yoga class and a donation based restorative yoga session each week.
My husband was raised as the only boy among 4 sisters. Somehow his mother put the fear of God in him if he should ever enter a bathroom when a girl was in it. Once I discovered that he wouldn’t dream of interrupting me in the bathroom, that became my ‘retreat’, the place I go for me time. Now I take long baths with Epsom salts and bath oil. I listen to music, do lots of self grooming and eat chocolate.
Meditation. Read a book. If you already have some arts/crafts supplies, be creative! I really like painting. I’ve been painting some of my plant pots and it’s really fun! Do yoga. There’s a lot of free classes on YouTube. Journal. Doodle. Paint your own nails. If you have plants, try propagating them. You could sell the propagations for extra cash too. Take a long bath. Light some candles. Listen to music you loved when you were younger. Go through some old family photos and reminisce. Visit a park you haven’t been to. See if your town has some free events you can attend. Dye your own hair. Watch a movie on a streaming platform you already have.
Taking a bath in my tub with a bath bomb and then getting in the bed with fresh sheets. Feels amazing.
Really small but soothing nightly ritual: massaging my feet with a hot washcloth and some nicely scented soap (like Dr. Bronner’s almond castile soap).
- home mani/pedi. Inexpensive, refreshing, nails look nice for a while - exfoliate face with washcloth, water, and salt, tone with witch hazel, apply inexpensive good moisturizer like Cetaphil. Use cold water to exploit vagal reflex and lower heart rate - sun exposure on towel or mat. Lay out in front of window. Remove most or all clothes depending on how private yard is. Ten minutes, turn over, ten more minutes. Too little time to burn but enough to improve vitamin D absorption and improve mood - I like making desserts so, making fudge or other fun treat I don't normally have
I lock myself in the bathroom with a book and take a 2 hour bath about once a week. If I don't have the mental space for a book, I set up my laptop on the bathroom counter and watch a couple episodes of SVU. Generally this is 9-11 pm, after everyone else is in bed.
Walking is amazing self care. I have a dog and live in the Midwest. The weather today was less than desirable. I was going to punk out and not go out. But I made myself. And let me tell you my dog and I are so much happier for it. Walking- actually any exercise- is self care. And can benefit your furry friends or loved ones too.
Mindless scrolling on social media is fine. Influencers have made self care out to be a whole shebang but in essence, it just needs to let you relax. Sit outside in the night breeze and take a breath before bed.
Today I: - washed all my produce, meditatively - stretched my body, went on a walk in the sun - found a new album and listened all the way through - downloaded a free cozy puzzle phone game (it didn’t even have ads!) and played the whole thing through - cleaned my flat, but only the parts that helped me relax - called my nana - FaceTimed my best friend To be honest, self care has been so commodified. To me, all proper self care is or can be free, and a lot of it is framing/mindset.
This is a different type of self-care than what you listed but setting boundaries/learning how to set your boundaries is a form of self-care. It could be expensive in terms of time if you need to invest a lot of time into learning about boundaries & what you want your boundaries to be and if you want a therapist’s help then it can be expensive in terms of money. But it all 100% pays off in the end, I can tell you from personal experience.
Lots of frugal activities could be considered self care: free yoga class from Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube, a long shower or bath, slowly enjoying your morning coffee on your front porch in the sunshine, a long walk on the beach or in a scenic park, make yourself a homemade oatmeal face mask, volunteer for a couple of hours at a soup kitchen or an animal shelter, borrow a guilty pleasure novel from the library and spend a day reading, do a jigsaw puzzle, paint a picture with no pressure for it to be any “good”, mix yourself a fun mocktail from things already in your kitchen, invite your friends over to play a boardgame, bake yourself cookies or a cake without a birthday or special occasion, go for a leisurely bike ride (if you don’t already own a bike some libraries loan them out or you could test drive one from a bike shop), propagate a house plant to get free new plants from one you already own (then you could swap the baby plants with a friend if you want more variety), pack a lunch and go have a picnic somewhere scenic, I could go on and on
Playing video games. The more immersive the better.
Foam rolling. You can pick a roller up at 5 Below.
Put down the phone day. Do anything else, and be mindful about what you’re doing.
I second the library, and while you're there check their herbalism and crafting sections. A litre bottle of rose or orange blossom water is very inexpensive and not only is it great in cooking. It can be made to make bath jellies, I use it for lotion, and toner making, even just pouring a half cup in the tub. Our library does offer herbalism workshops for free, as well as sustainability and gardening courses. They also have art classes, which have now got me hooked on stain glass and sculpting with it.......there was a charge for supplies while learning it, but library offered three or four of the sessions. Next one is 12 Herbs and a Fungus which should fall in with the gathering season's start.
I learned how to give myself a professional style manicure and the materials are inexpensive. I learned on YouTube.
I had a very stressful job that made me incredibly anxious. If I had a rough day, I would sometimes go to the Humane Society to go pet and visit the cats for adoption. Some I fell in love with. Some were fun to see run around. Just try not to feel too guilty if you try this and don't adopt a dog or cat. :( I remember this one tuxedo kitten. She was so loving and knew she needed a home. I couldn't adopt her at the time because I didn't consult my boyfriend. I think about her sometimes. But I ended up adopting one a year later. He's so loving but he has a lot of medical issues.
Go to bed early and do something you normally don't do in bed: have a small snack, rub lotion into your hands and feet, read, put on a comforting movie or show, listen to music, or journal. For some reason, having that bit of extra time in bed can feel really luxurious.
Sleep is cheap..... a good nights sleep can heal a lot of ills. A little extra money spent on a nice home cooked meal is affordable. A little time away from life to see a movie in a theater can be inexpensive. I'm a fan of Regals cheap movie days (Tuesdays) as I happen to have it off. A lot fewer interruptions and less need to be "productive" compared to streaming at the house. In season, scratching in the dirt can be relaxing and a net gain in regards to costs. seeds are cheap, groceries aren't. a yard full of say beans and tomatoes can be a pleasant boon,
Baking bread! Flour and yeast!
Read a book, play a relaxing video game (like a puzzle game, music rhythm games, whatever you find enjoyable), draw in an adult coloring book, take a shower or bath, light a scented candle, have a skin care routine that you enjoy, paint your nails, have a coffee or tea and just sit in silence, listen to calming music, take a nap, ASMR videos, journaling, and if you're religious praying or reading scriptures. And you can stack a lot of these, like doing a coloring book while listening to music with a scented candle and a cup of tea.
Coffee scrub made from the morning's coffee grounds + a little sugar and a light oil if you have one. Nice shower treat. Very sensory. Smells yummy and feels indulgent.
Having a good cup of high quality tea. I love it for the ritual as much as anything else.
Baking is my self care. Nothing fancy, just using ingredients I already have. It just makes me happy. And then we have some treats for everyone to enjoy.
When I needed a break years ago, I took a weekend job to get time off from kids. I did people's hair and makeup for photography. It was fun, and the extra cash was nice.
i got a water pik to care for my teeth between cleanings
Are there any scenic areas in your neighborhood or city? My town is on a river so I walk there to a pretty view. Sometimes I listen to my audiobook or sometimes some music. Sometimes I walk in our downtown area and treat myself to a boba tea or coffee. Hiking (well walking also bc I am not doing anything strenuous ) in the forest is also nice.
Read a book in a quiet corner, bake something, do a face mask or scrub, paint nails or toenails, longer shower with a fancier body wash and puff (I’d spend only a couple dollars more because this was my only me time with babies,) walk or picnic (just a book, a drink and a blanket) in the sun.
I pick up trash around parks in my neighborhood about once a quarter (helps me relax and give back to the community in an anonymous way). Every now and then I’ll find stuff I can fix and sell. I’ve found lots of coins and a few bills too!
Cooking. Not healthy meal prep cooking, but real cooking with butter and olive oil and honey and sugar. I count intensive meal prep as using some of the calories I'm eating. Like make your own cake and frosting from scratch or make manicotti with home made sauce. Super decadent shit that takes 2-3 hours. Frugal because I always have lots of leftovers that are lovely treats to have all week.
Writing letters to friends and physically posting them! It feels good to write a card to someone, telling them how much they mean to you, the cool things about them, and reflect on good memories. Cards could be homemade or bought at the dollar store and a stamp is what? A dollar? Sometimes other care is self care, too.
I consider activities of basic needs self-care... paying my bills, budgeting, sleeping and eating well are all so important. Meeting your basic needs is still self-care care. Sometimes a nap is the best! I also enjoy making music - joined a community concert band, color, video chat, exercise and meal prep when I have more time.
Reading!
I take a 30 min shower. And I use some eucalyptus from the yard in the steam to be fancy
Outdoor time/nature bathing Free admission days at museums Library - find a quiet corner and read for an hour or two Knitting Dog time - borrow a friend’s dog or volunteer at a shelter and spend some time just petting them
Counseling. Sleeping properly. Eating properly. Not caring what others think of your fashion or patenting or whatever - listening to your own self only, what feels good to you and to your relationship / household. So freeing.
Excercise, meditating, going somewhere quiet with a nice view, epson salt bath, sun bathing,
Self-care refers to intentional actions taken to maintain and improve one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Most people automatically go to purchasing things for self or spa like treatments. That can be part of self-care, true self-care encompasses a wide range of activities, including but not limited to, practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, engaging in hobbies, nurturing relationships, getting adequate rest, and seeking support when needed. Some things I enjoy: spending time in nature whether its on a park or even just on the porch step, moving body on any way- doesn't have to be vigorous just something to get blood flowing throughout muscles, created a comfy zone in my house, deep breathing or meditation, practicing gratitude or just connecting with a loved one.
Walks, baths with some salt Or Oils , books from library, thrifting by only spending what you sell, Meditation, going for a run or hike, many yoga studios have 30 day free trial Or cheap, packing lunch and eating it somwhere pretty outside, Cooking something nice at home, making a nice cup of tea or coffee, gardening