How many times have you felt like your life is spinning out of control? Maybe you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, or perhaps you’re struggling to make ends meet. Thankfully there’s a lot of self-care you can do that doesn’t cost money.
It can be hard to maintain your mental health when everything else in life feels so overwhelming. When this happens, self-care becomes even more crucial than ever before – but how do we find that time and energy for self-care if we don’t have any money?
Never fear because these are some self-care ideas explicitly designed for those on a tight budget!
Self-care that doesn’t cost money
Cook a meal for someone else
Invite a friend over for dinner. Even if you don’t know how to cook, there are plenty of easy recipes out there. Your friend will be over the moon and thankful for your kindness.
You can bake them dinner from scratch or try your hand at spaghetti bolognese – it doesn’t have to be excellent. It just has to be thoughtful.
Clean up
Clean something small in the house (or clean an entire room if you’re ambitious!) Decluttering can be so therapeutic, and it will make your home feel more like a sanctuary.
Donate any clothes that don’t fit anymore and take out the garbage when it’s full. Even something as simple as these can have a significant impact on your mental health.
Be still
Take the time to sit down and do nothing for at least five minutes each day. Then, if you can manage it – meditate or rest with your eyes closed!
You can find free meditation sessions online and apps that help you train your brain to relax. It may seem like an odd thing to do, but it will improve your productivity during the day.
Do something different
Buy some flowers to put in your room, or pick up a book that you’ve meant to read for ages! These are great little distractions for when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and they don’t cost much money at all.
Even if it’s not something you usually enjoy, try to find ways of rewarding yourself occasionally so that self-care doesn’t feel like an obligation.
Start with the bed
Make your bed every day, even if you’re staying in it until the following day! It doesn’t take long. It not only makes the room look neater, but it’ll also help you feel more organised.
It will make your room feel much tidier, and you’ll be more inclined to keep it clean. Then, you can simply your bed and clean it. Don’t worry about the rest of the room. Just focus on those two things.
Nature is good
Take a walk outside, even if you’re going for a five-minute stroll. Fresh air can have excellent mental health benefits – it’s free, too! The fresh air will clear your head and put things into perspective.
Not only is walking great exercise, but studies have shown that spending time in nature can actually rewire the brain and reduce stress levels significantly.
Make a warm drink
Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee – even if it’s instant! It can be nice to settle down and relax for a while after making yourself something warm.
The warmth of the drink and the ritual involved is soothing. You’ll feel better about yourself, and it tastes so much nicer than the stuff you get in a Styrofoam cup.
Start a gratitude journal
Make a list of things that you’re grateful for. It can be anything from a beautiful sunrise to your friend who always makes you feel good about yourself.
It can be anything, from your family to the air in your lungs and everything else between. Even just writing down three good things every day will impact your mental health by making you feel more positive overall!
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Get excited with goals
Write a list of things you’d like to achieve in the coming week, month or year. Keep this to yourself, but make sure you don’t get too caught up in perfectionism!
Set yourself small goals and reward yourself when you complete them! Goal setting is a great way to feel better about yourself – even if you don’t always meet all of your goals, there’s no reason to feel bad.
Write a letter
Write a letter to yourself in the future. It can be a year, five years or even ten years down the line.
Write about everything you hope to achieve between now and then, what kind of person you wish to be and what kind of life you have dreamed about for yourself.
This is especially useful if you’re having problems at work or school, as it will remind you that you never have to be in a bad situation forever.
Give yourself a foot massage
This is a simple and relaxing self-care that doesn’t cost money or require much effort
It’s easy to do if you grab some lotion or body butter! First, rub the soles of your feet in circular motions using massage oil, and then rub your calves the same way.
Try kneading your muscles with your hands to work out any stress or tension if you’re up for it.
Eat something delicious
Treat yourself to a nice meal, even if it’s only now and then. It can be anything from some pancakes for breakfast or an ice cream sundae for dessert.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it can be nice to take a break from cooking now and then. It can be an excellent way to relax and enjoy some time off from the kitchen!
Listen to some music and dance around!
Turn your favourite song up really loud, and dance around the room alone. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – have fun with it!
It doesn’t matter if you don’t look graceful, the most important thing is that you’re having fun. This can be a great way to express yourself and feel less inhibited. Of course, you can also put on some makeup or do your hair while listening to music if it makes you happy!
If you’re feeling brave, share your dance with the world by putting it on YouTube!
Have a soothing bath
Take a long bath, or just a shower if you don’t have time! Light some candles, put on your favourite album and relax for at least twenty minutes.
Try to make it all about you – don’t let anyone else come in unless they are invited! You can make a quick DIY body scrub and give your skin some extra love and attention.
Here’s a simple body scrub recipe you can try at home. Get some sugar and add to a blender, add some coconut oil or any other body oil and blend for a few seconds.
Do some manicure
Take care of your nails – even if they’ve chipped or broken! It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or girl – it’s essential to take care of your nails.
You can make a quick and easy DIY nail-strengthening mask by adding olive oil to some honey and cinnamon. Just mix it up into a thick paste, apply it to your nails and leave it for at least half an hour.
Apply some nail polish if you have it, or even clear nail polish if you don’t. It’ll make your nails look more polished and will help them grow faster! You can even make an ombre effect and get super creative with it.
Watch something fun
Watch a movie or TV show that you’ve meant to catch up on. It can be a show that you’ve been watching for years or something new. So make sure to take some time out and enjoy yourself!
This is especially helpful if it’s something light and comical, as it will help you to switch off briefly. In addition, comedy can help to reduce stress.
Go down memory lane
Make a gratitude jar and stick some pictures on it of things you’re grateful for, like your family or friends!
Every time you’re feeling down, take a look at the pictures and remember how much you have to be thankful for.
You can make a gratitude jar with any materials you find at home, and it’s a great way to make yourself feel better even when things are tough.
Conclusion
Overall, self-care is about making yourself feel good and helping you to take care of your mental health. Even if it feels like there’s no money in your bank account, there are so many ways you can take care of yourself at home.
There are many more options for self-care that doesn’t cost money, so look around you to find some inspiration.
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