The term self-care is being used more today than ever before. In fact, according to Google Trends, the searches for “self-care” have doubled since 2015. This rise in the term self-care can be attributed to the increase in the popularity of mental health education. People are coming up with ways to deal with conditions like anxiety and depression; one thing that has been championed is self-care.
Self-care means different things to different people. It could be getting a good dose of sleep or buying yourself luxurious stuff as a treat. However, since social media has been one of the main tools for showcasing self-care, it has been made to appear that without money, you can’t achieve personal wellness.
This article seeks to demystify this belief. By the end of the article, you’ll discover sustainable ways to practice self-care. Also, the article will provide tips to do it on a budget if you have to spend.
Let’s get started
What Is Self-care?
Self-care refers to the different ways of intentionally and purposefully engaging in activities that promote your well-being and healthy functioning.
When self-care is based on money only, it appears as a one-time thing. For example, if self-care refers to someone having their nails done, depending on their budget, the person may have to save up. However, self-care should be more of a lifestyle than a one-time event. And when self-care is a lifestyle, it shouldn’t be a stretch on your finances. Besides, financial stress can be one of the causes of stress that may lead to mental health struggles.
Here are some of the things you can do as self-care without necessarily drilling a hole into your pockets:
1. Protect Your Time
If there’s ever a currency to measure self-care, it should be time more than money. We often miss out on our wellness because we haven’t allocated time for ourselves, especially in this age where you can be reached just by a call. It makes it easy for offices to call you past office hours and friends to drag you out of the house for a party even when your plan was to stay indoors.
Therefore, the first thing you want to do for your wellness is to protect your time. That will mean setting aside your alone time. It would be best if you don’t answer your phone or even emails during this time. You can take this time to review how you spend your day regularly. If there’s something that doesn’t contribute to your life goals or eats away at your mental, physical or social life, now would be an excellent time to get rid of it.
Schedule your time so that you give yourself more time than others. The schedule should also stipulate some alone time away from the daily mundane activities. If you’re a new mom, this alone time means staying away even from your caregiving responsibilities.
Protecting your time also means being comfortable with saying no. For instance, saying no to your friends is okay if you aren’t in the mood for a turn-up. It will help with not having to please people at the expense of your mental and social health.
2. Take Care Of The Basics First
Before you can stress about paying for a vacation as self-care, you first need to take care of the basics. Sometimes self-care is ensuring that you’ve had a goodnight’s rest, drunk enough water, preferably at least eight glasses a day, eat a fruit a day, or ensuring that your space is tidy.
These basics are essential for the healthy functioning of your body. You will likely be in a good mental state when your body is healthy. One of the ways you can ensure you achieve these basics is by creating a list of the basic self-care tasks. Place the list where you can see it and strive to tick off the activities every day.
3. Replace The Expensive Activities With Affordable Ones
Another way to achieve self-care without compromising finances is by replacing expensive self-care activities with affordable ones. There are always cheaper alternatives. For example:
- Consider taking nature walks or hikes in your neighborhood. Take time to admire nature and explore it. Tour your town and country first before you can plan a vacation out of the country.
- Another thing you can do is avoid buying labels. If purchasing new shoes or a handbag is part of your self-care goals, you don’t have to buy luxurious ones. Go for an affordable, beautiful handbag that still makes you feel good.
- Work out from home if you can’t afford a gym membership. There are several tutorials on youtube that can help you achieve your fitness goals.
4. Have A Self-care Budget
Last but not least, if you have to spend on your self-care, and there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s best to create a self-care budget. The budget should list what you want to achieve as your self-care goal and what it will cost.
Self-care mustn’t come at the expense of other financial goals. That’s why you should consider budgeting for it.
Wrapping It Up!
If you have been limiting your self-care to overspending only, hopingly, this article opens you up to new experiences. Take care of yourself first before you can take care of others.
When I’m not holding my pen, I’m telling stories. I’m the girl that eavesdrops on conversations, and plot fights to find that sparkle of humour, pain, sadness, sarcasm and all that makes a story. My name is Njeri Kenyada, I am a content writer and strategist. I also write creative stories on my blog njerikenyada.co.ke and once in a while, I contribute for other creative blogs.
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