Inexpensive Self Care
By: Shaila Anjum
Here at Conscious Counselling, we are big advocates of self care. However, it’s not always easy to understand what that may look like or how much it may cost our wallets. Often, when we think of self care, we think of expensive spa days or hobbies that cost a lot. BUT, it does not have to be that way!
Self care doesn’t look the same for everyone. Though some tactics may work for you, they may not for someone else. You may also need to change your self care routine to keep you happy. Keep this in mind while reading the options below:
1. Meditation
After a long day meditation can help to calm you. It’s like a long breathing exercise focusing on the present moment. There are different types of meditation that are geared toward helping you in different ways. You can find details on these types of meditations here.
They include:
· Loving Kindness Meditation
· Body Scan or Progressive Relaxation
· Mindfulness Meditation
· Breath Awareness Meditation
· Kundalini Yoga
· Zen Meditation
· Transcendental Meditation
In order for meditation to be a relaxing experience that works, one must remember it is a slow process and will only be as helpful as you let it. Therefore, you should aim to show high acceptance of the process. Regular meditation is a good idea for optimal results (1-2x per day). However, acknowledge your process and consider that your regular meditation may look different.
2. Gardening
Watching something come to life can be such a fulfilling activity. Gardening involves sowing and nurturing your plants, fruits, vegetables and trees. Green can help to alleviate stress, helping to enrich your environment. You can even decorate the pot they are in--talk about customization to your personality. Maybe try paint or ribbons. There are tons of cute little knick knacks you can get for inside your pot also. Broken glass, or little pebbles and feathers are great for decorating and can either be free or be a couple bucks from the dollar store! Gardening has so many layers to it and does not have to expensive or time consuming at all. You choose how much time you want to spend on it and there is always more to do. You can also find 22 fun gardening hacks here.
3. Dancing
Dancing is a great way to express yourself. It can be really fun and as a bonus is a great way to lower your cortisol (stress) levels. Dancing as a hobby can be achieved at home watching YouTube tutorials or just putting some music on and letting the groove take over. Here are some ideas to get you started: Ballet, Tap Dancing, Hip Hop, Contemporary (My favorite, great for self-expression), Irish, Jazz, Bachata, Salsa, Belly Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, Square Dancing and many more! Remember, if you are doing dancing as a self-care hobby, it does not need to be stressful or overly challenging.
4. At Home Spa
Ah relaxation in your space! Consider an epic spa routine or maybe just a few elements. Online can be a self care heaven for searching great new recipes to try. Set the stage: to spa water or not to spa water. Some spa water recipes we like are adding sliced lemons and cucumbers or different coloured orange slices. You can also try lemon and mint sprigs for a pick me up. Different spa treatments: There are several recipes that can be accessed for free that teach you to make great face masks. Making face masks alone can be a self care activity. Consider running a bath with bath salts or just regular table salt and other additives from your home. Simply giving yourself a foot soak and scrub can feel nice and relaxing. Steam treatments are also achievable at home. Boil some water over the stove, transfer it to a bowl somewhere you can sit, grab a towel to cover your face and position your face (still covered) over the hot water. You can even add some essential oils to the boiling water before inhaling the steam. Hair masks recipes from at home stuff is also available online. Are you ready to pamper yourself yet? Click here to get started!
5. DIYs
‘Do it Yourself’ activities may seem to straining to get started with. Scheduling in some DIYs during self care time can help you get something done and get crafty aka a recipe for success. There are so many DIYs you can try to help your daily life and assist in home décor and accessibility. Check some out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects
6. Exercise
Exercising has demonstrated time and time again to have so many benefits for both your physical and mental health. Though daunting, finding an exercise you enjoy can be very soothing. Some examples include swimming, yoga, hot yoga, sports, boxing, kickboxing, jujitsu, outdoor walks, jogs, sprints, biking, or even stretching. For anxiety relief, moderate to intense aerobic exercise has demonstrated most effective.
Remember, self care doesn’t have to be repetitive. The main goal is to nurture yourself and give yourself much needed time for you. Enjoy your self care!
References
Jillie. (2016). How to have a spa day at home. Retrieved from https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/how-to-have-a-spa-day-at-home/
Villines, Z. (2017). What is the best type of meditation?. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320392.php
Balcony Garden Web. (n.d.). 22 gardening hacks that’ll change the way you garden forever. Retrieved from https://balconygardenweb.com/gardening-hacks-to-change-the-way-you-garden/
Wang, P. (n.d.). 31 insanely easy and clever DIY projects. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects