How to have a Self Care Day Without Spending a Fortune

For many of us, self care is hard to come by. Between work and family obligations, we often forget that it’s important for our mental wellness to take some time out for ourselves every now and then.

One great way to do this without breaking the bank is to plan a self care day at home! We all know how expensive going out can be so planning a day in your own home is the best way to save your pennies.

It can be really nice (and necessary) to take time out for yourself. Today I’m going to share with you 25 self care ideas that cost next to nothing! If you don’t have a full day to spend on self-care, here are 25 5 minute self care ideas.

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What is self care and why is it so important

Self care is all about looking after yourself day to day. For something that’s so important, it’s amazing how many of us ignore doing anything for ourselves on a regular basis.

It can be hard to find the time and money to look after ourselves when we have such busy schedules but taking some time out for yourself is essential.

Read also: Don’t Take Life For Granted: 15 Ways To Enjoy The Simple Things In Life

When should you have a self care day

As often as you can! That’s the obvious answer isn’t it? But it’s not always possible. If you only have a few days a month when you can look after yourself then take it! Whenever you can find the time for yourself, book in a self care day.

Try, if possible to have a self care day at least once a month, but more if time allows you to.

Read also: How To Be Happy With What You Have: 7 Secret Steps

How to prepare for your self care day

Before we get into all the things that will make up your epic self care day at home, there are just a few things that need to be covered first.

• clear your schedule
• prepare a playlist on Spotify
• get rid of the kids (if you can, just for the day!)
• and your other half too (you need a day to yourself)
• make sure you have your favourite foods in

25 ideas on how to have a self care day without spending a fortune

1) Wake up early

The best way to start your day is by waking up early but not having to get out of bed. Stay in bed as long as you like, reading, having your morning coffee or just being in the moment.

2) Have breakfast in bed

Treat yourself to breakfast in bed. Whether it’s your favourite cereal or something more indulgent, eating alone gives you an opportunity to relax and focus on yourself before getting on with the rest of your day. Today is your day!

3) Do some yoga

Exercise is important to us all, but you don’t have to go out and spend money on expensive gym memberships or exercise equipment. Instead, take the opportunity to do some yoga at home.

4) Have a dance party in the shower

Showers are awesome. Let’s face it, unless you’re feeling particularly dirty there’s no need to spend long in the shower but by adding some awesome tunes and just having a little dance you can have a mini dance party all on your own. Don’t forget to belt out those lyrics!

5) Put on a face mask

Face masks are the perfect self care day accessory and if you don’t want to spend any money, you can make your own using one of these recipes. Not only do they make your skin feel lovely and soft after you’ve removed them but they only take up a few minutes of your time too.

6) Do some colouring

If you have an adult colouring book, it can be a great way to destress and lose yourself in a project for a while. You can get them in all styles and themes, from animals to famous people to nature. I find them so therapeutic!

7) Give yourself a manicure and pedicure

If you’re anything like me, your feet get a battering during everyday life. Having your nails painted is one of life’s simple pleasures! If you’re feeling crafty, look up some Youtube videos on how to make designs and give yourself a foot scrub if you’re really wanting to be pampered.

8) Meditate

Meditation is a great way to focus your mind and learn to relax. You can do it anywhere, but if you’re looking for an even more special experience try lighting incense or candles first.

9) Watch your favourite TV show

Even if you’ve watched it 100 times before, you never get sick of that favourite TV show (for me it’s Friends). There’s something comforting about it always being on in the background, even if you’re not really watching it.

10) Go for a walk

Go for a walk and enjoy the scenery. If you live in a quiet area where you don’t see many people it’s even better and you can focus on your own thoughts and feelings rather than things going on around you. This time of year is especially lovely for heading out for an hour or two and clearing the mind.

11) Watch a funny movie

The funnier and stupider, the better! A good belly laugh does amazing things for the soul.

Sometimes life can get too serious, so why not try laughing at things for a change instead of crying about them? The world would be such a better place if we could just learn to laugh more and take less things seriously.

12) Watch the sunrise or sunset (or both!)

This is perfect for the weekend. There’s something so special about witnessing a sunrise or sunset. Watching it alone makes you feel like you’ve discovered this beautiful moment all by yourself.

13) Listen to your favourite podcast

I absolutely LOVE listening to podcasts. Whether you listen to them for education purposes or just for entertainment, you can’t go wrong. Everyone needs a good ol’ podcast listen every now and again. Some of my favourite are The Minimalists and The Art of Decluttering.

14) Call a friend or loved one

We all have people out there who just do it for us, whether they’re friends, family members, significant others, pets (ok you can’t exactly call a pet). Sometimes just hearing their voice and knowing that they’re thinking about you can make you feel so much better than whatever was stressing you out in the first place.

15) Draw or write something

Drawing and writing can really help get the negative thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Some people find it helpful to scribble away their worries on small pieces of paper and then just bin them afterwards; there’s no point in holding onto negativity so don’t be afraid to let it go!

16) Do a hair mask

Coming into the winter months is really harsh on our hair! Spend a little while doing a hair mask or conditioning treatment to nourish it back to health.

18) Take a nap

This sounds super simple but sometimes we just forget that we need rest. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in whatever it is that we’re doing, especially if we’re feeling a bit stressed out. Taking a quick power nap for 10-20 minutes can really help give you the energy and focus you need to recharge your batteries.

19) Watch old home movies

This might sound silly but having fun can mean so many different things for so many different people. For me personally, when I’m feeling down it means finding all my favourite songs on YouTube and watching all my favourite old family videos. Sometimes it can feel good to look back at old times – especially if the memories are ones that make you smile.

20) Make a bucket list

There’s nothing better than making plans for the future. Bucket lists remind us of things that we want to achieve, goals that we might have and having a list makes it easier to accomplish these things. Making a bucket list of places you want to travel to, for example, always puts me in a excited and happy mood.

21) Make your favourite dinner

Food is such an essential part of life and sometimes we just how essential. What makes it even better is when you make your favourite dinner for yourself, turn the lights down low and watch a movie while eating it! It’s pure bliss.

22) Have something tasty for desert

It’s your self care day, you get to eat what you like and treat yourself! Maybe go all out and bake something from scratch – something you love and indulge in.

23) Read a book

Reading is one of the cheapest ways to relax but if you don’t have any books that interest you then take the opportunity to go out and pick up some at the local library (remember what a library is?).

24) Listen to an audiobook

Not everyone’s idea of a self care day includes reading a book. Personally, I love listening to an audiobook while doing something else, like sitting out in the garden, in the bath or even in bed.

25) Have a bubble bath

For the perfect way to end a self care day, why not try having a nice warm bath? I’ve been known to fill my bath up with some bubble bath, light some candles, pour myself a glass of wine and just chill out for about an hour before bed. It’s so relaxing and it helps me feel like I’m treating myself after working hard all week etc. Plus who doesn’t love sitting in their jim jams sipping on some wine after a good soak in the bath?!

Read also: How to set your priorities in life and what should be at the top of the list

And there we have it, 25 self care day ideas without having to spend a fortune! I really hope this article has helped anyone who is struggling with their mental health or just needs some ideas on how to spend a self care day.

Read also: 25 Ways To Make Life Easier For You & Your Family

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