Affordable Self-Care for Busy People

I work with college students who often come to me stressed out. I tell them, it’s important for them to look out for their self-care, because no one else is going to do it for them. Stress is always going to be there, so it’s important to start building a bank of things you like to do to promote self-care in your life. I like my list to be affordable (because you can’t treat yo-self every day). And I also like the activities on my list to take under 30 minutes. These are all affordable, quick, activities that you can do on your own.

Read

Currently, I’m really enjoying Nikita Gill’s Wild Embers, a book of poetry, beautifully written and empowering. It runs for about $8-12, so it’s easy on the budget. Allow yourself time to read just one poem. It only takes a minute or less. Then take time to really marinate on it and think about how the poem relates to your life. Re-read it a couple more times. Put bookmarks or fold the pages of the ones that really resonate with you and come back to them from time to time.

Hot Tea (or cocoa)

Brew a hot cup of tea, and give yourself time to sit and really savor it.

Workout

Roll out a yoga mat, put on your shoes, and do a quick, low impact workout. My favorites are low impact standing workouts from Lumowell, Blogilates, or Fit Blender and are free and available on youtube. Most videos are under 30 minutes.

Coconut Oil

Pick up a jar at the grocery store. Warm it by putting a tablespoon (or two) in a bowl/cup and placing it in another bowl/cup that has boiling water in it (don’t let it fall in). This will melt the coconut oil. Wet and ring out your hair and smooth the coconut oil into your hair (especially the ends) and your scalp. Put on a shower cap and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Then wash it all out. Coconut oil leaves your hair nourished.

If you enjoy this post, check out a similar post I wrote earlier this year.