10 Cheap or Free Ways To Practice Self-Care

Self-care is a trending topic these days. Sometimes it means getting a massage at a fancy spa or maxing out your credit card at Nordstroms. Just kidding, please don’t do that! Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on pricey spa treatments or expensive lunch with your main squad.

As a budget-conscious mom, I love to pamper and spoil myself. The only difference is that I don’t spend hundreds of dollars to take care of myself. It can be as simple as hiding setting at timer for 30 minutes to catch up on my magazines or getting my mom to watch my daughter, so I can sleep in and catch up on my YouTube videos. Self-care can also be taking the night off of “momming” and having a girls night in with a bottle of good ol’ Malbec.

In the spirit of being a budget-friendly blog, I wanted to share my favorite free/cheap ways that you can get a little you-time and reconnect with the fabulous woman inside!

1. Meditation App – Wake up 30 minutes early (I know, I know – it’s tough!). Download a meditation app (Headspace is one of my favorites). Follow the guided meditation and try to let everything go and reconnect with some inner peace. Don’t let the clutter in your mind prevent your happiness!
2. Schedule 30-60 minutes alone to indulge in guilty pleasure – Okay this one can be difficult, especially if you are a single parent or student! Grab your fave magazine (I am currently loving Health Magazine and Good Housekeeping) or indulge in your favorite trash TV (ummm, Vanderpump Rules anyone!?) and just veg the heck out for a little stretch. Trust me, your body and mind will thank you.
3. Read a great book – OverDrive App – I love to read. Gimme a nice juicy biography or a spiritual awakening guide, or even a medieval fantasy. I will devour that sucker. One of my favorite cheapie ways to have fun is to find a book on my OverDrive library app and spend an hour or two reading. The OverDrive App connects with your local library and you can check out books for 21 days per book! I read every weekday while bussing to work and I cherish that alone time SO MUCH. It really recharges my soul.
4. Sheet mask and glass of wine – Never underestimate the power of a sheet mask y’all! Clean your room and apply that sheet mask, then pretend like your life is together. It works, I tell ya. Top it off with a glass of wine and you have a perfect night in.
5. Binge Watch Some YT or Trash Television – Never ever underestimate the power of a good Real Housewives of Atlanta binge with a side of cheese puffs organic kale chips. While I don’t suggest completely numbing your mind for a whole day, sometimes an hour of a guilty pleasure can really be exactly what you need.
6. Take a walk or do a 20 minute HIIT workout – I am addicted to the Pop Sugar Fitness app and I love the way they make it easy to find simple and energizing HIIT workouts.
7. Stop complaining for a week – On the real tip, I did this for a week and it changed the way I look at both negative self-talk and my outlook on life. I found myself monitor some super negative comments that really were not healthy. It made me so much more self-aware of the toxic thoughts that can sometimes put you in a nasty place and to be more positive and grateful.
8. Gratitude Log – Well since was are talking about being grateful, it can be refreshing to start writing down the things you are thankful for – especially if you are feeling warn down or overwhelmed with life.
9. Paint your nails – I mean if you got some coins, then you can even have someone else them for you. You get the best of both worlds, some time away from your kids and pretty new nails. But if you are a peasant budget-gal like me, you use a fancy UV gel lamp so you can save that money!
10. Schedule a massage (with a groupon) – So my ULTIMATE indulgence for self-care is a deep-swedish-thai-strong-hands massage. Aka I pay someone and they attack the knots in my back for 90 minutes. A professional massage will change your LIFE. TRUST.

I hope these 10 free/low cost ways to practice self-care help you recharge and feel just a tiny bit happier.

Stay golden, mamas!

xo,

Simone