20 Great Inexpensive Self-Care Ideas That Cost No Money
Great self-care ideas and activities don’t have to cost money, or be expensive, to be truly effective and help us take good care of ourselves. Inexpensive self-care ideas and activities can be just as powerful, if not more.
Self-care is not a luxury – it is a necessity. And as such, it should not require for us to break the bank to afford it.
Fortunately, the simplest and most effective self-care practices are usually low-cost and inexpensive. Many self-care activities don’t require for you to even open your wallet, really. So here are 20 simple effective and inexpensive self-care ideas and activities that will help you take good care of you, relax and enjoy yourself without having to spend any money or break your budget.
So here are my favourite inexpensive self-care ideas:
20 SELF-CARE IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES THAT COST NO MONEY
1. Practice Deep Breathing: Spend a few minutes practicing some deep breathing exercises, and focus your attention on your breath to calm both your mind and body. Here’s a great breathwork guide if you’re interested in all the benefits and how to practice.
2. Go for a Walk: Go for a nature walk in your neighborhood, or any other place that you love, whenever you have some time for it. Going for a walk has a myriad of great benefits so don’t hesitate to indulge.
3. Meditate: Set aside at least 10 or 15 minutes to practice some meditation to help clear your mind, reduce stress, and reconnect to yourself and your body. Even a short meditation session, as short as 5–10 minutes, is already enough to make a difference.
4. Journal: Pick up your journal and write down your thoughts and feelings to process your emotions, or go ahead and simply follow your inspiration and put down what naturally comes to you.
5. Stretch Your Body: Stretching your body offers a great range of benefits. So why not take some time to stretch your body with soft and gentle movements to release pent-up tension and resistance from your muscles, while also slowing down your mind and increasing your flexibility.
6. Read a Book: Instead of purchasing a new book, pick one that you already have at home, or go visit and support your local library. Here are some great physical and mental health benefits of reading books.
7. Listen to Music: Enjoy your favorite songs or explore new genres to uplift your mood.
8. Practice Mindfulness: Take some time to slow down and focus on the present moment. Pay attention to your surroundings as well as how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness benefits your health and direclty affects your body and genes.
9. Disconnect: Take a break and disconnect from any screen for at least one hour. Unplug and use this time to come back and connect to yourself instead.
10. Have a Dance Party: Put on your favorite and uplifting music and have a dance party in your living room to enjoy yourself and have some good fun.
11. Try a Home Workout: There are so many resources online to help you be active while at home that are free and require no equipment. You only have to find a workout to your liking and have fun with it. Either pilates, yoga, or maybe even HIIT or jump rope if you’re up for something more intense. Regular exercise comes with many benefits so next time you need to reduce stress and relax, opt for some movements.
12. Practice Mindful Eating: When it is time to eat, take a moment to enjoy your food. Be mindful as you chew more slowly and focus on how good it tastes, on all the flavors and textures. Here’s a great guide for mindful eating, if this is something you might be interested in.
13. Declutter a Space: Decluttering doesn’t have to be a whole thing, just organize a small area of your home and maybe even create a serene and peaceful corner for you to relax.
14. Do Nothing: Yes, do nothing, but on purpose. Just take a moment where you give yourself permission to simply be still and relax and enjoy the serenity of the present moment.
15. Practice an Old Hobby: Reconnect or revisit an old hobby that you really enjoy, like drawing, knitting, or writing even, and that you haven’t practiced in some time.
16. Watch either the Sunrise or Sunset: Sunrises and sunsets are daily little gifts from nature, so why not take a little moment to appreciate their beauty.
17. Take a Cold Shower: Cold showers comes with many great benefits. So why not try to take a quick and invigorating cold shower(or mildly cold, if you’re not used to it) to help boost your spirits, soften your skin and hair, as well as energize your whole body. (Though maybe avoid it before bed, as it can have an energizing effect.)
18. Cuddle with a Pet: Spend quality time with a lovely pet, and enjoy their company and affection as you cuddle and or play with them.
19. Practice Yoga: Again, there are a huge amount of online resources for yoga, so opt for one that resonates with you. Or just let yourself be inspired by the moment and create your own sequence and flow, focusing on moves and positions that feel good to you and your body.
20. Daydream: Take a moment to indulge in daydreaming. It is the perfect way to explore your imagination and let it run as wild as it can.
See also: 20 Self-Care Activities To Enjoy at Home
So that’s it for inexpensive self-care ideas.
What are your favorite free or inexpensive self-care activities and rituals? If they’re not listed above, please go ahead and share them in the comments below.
I hope you have a most joyful day. Also, remember to take care of yourself, treat yourself with a small joy, give yourself a big hug, and be kind and patient with yourself <3