#057 | How to practice self-care for free

August 17, 2020

Episode Summary:

  • We discuss how to practice self-care for free or on a budget.  Self-care is so incredibly important, especially these days, but many people think it needs to cost a lot of money.  The truth is that some of the best and most effective self-care costs nothing at all.  And if you are spending a bunch of money to get your “self-care,” it might be worth revisiting if it’s truly helping you.  Check out these ideas and tips to improve your self-care.  You deserve it!

 

Episode Notes:

 

After a bit of discussion on what Mike and Maggie both think about self-care, we dig into how self-care doesn’t need to cost any money.  Self-care that costs tons of money is often not actually beneficial, but instead a distraction from what’s really happening and an avoidance of what you really need.

 

Ideas for ways to practice self-care for free or on a budget:

  • Exercise or get outside.  
    • Go for a walk outside
    • Go for a hike – explore a new nearby spot to hike
  • Eat Healthy(ier).
    • Eat some vegetables
    • Put good real food into your body
    • Drink lots of water 
  • Be a kid with your kids, or someone else’s kids, or some adults!
    • Run through a sprinklr when it’s hot outside
    • Chase your kids around with water guns or water balloons
    • Play in the pool with your kids.  Like really play with them!
  • Take a hot bath.  Or a cold shower.  Whatever you’re into.
  • Write down things you’re grateful for.
  • Read a book, alone, somewhere quiet.  
  • Turn off social media and/or your phone altogether.
  • Meditate. 
  • Sit alone quietly enjoying a cup of tea and reading your favorite blog, or listening to your favorite podcast. 
  • Massage – Get your partner to give you a massage, and return the favor.  
  • Intimate time with your partner – from cuddling to anything else!
  • Curl up on the couch and watch a good romcom movie, or scifi movie, or whatever you’re into.The entire LOTR trilogy. For those like Maggie, LOTR stands for Lord of the Rings. 
  • Dance like nobody’s watching.  Or watch tik-tok for 10 minutes, but set a timer!  Too long on social-media and it’s not self-care.
  • Sleep in.  Plan ahead to make it happen. Leave a note and activity for your kids.  Tell them the night before what the expectations are and that they get XYZ if they entertain themselves until 10AM.  

 

Top 3 Takeaways:

  1. Prioritize self-care.  Figure out what matters to you, and make time for it!
  2. Realize good self-care doesn’t need to cost money. 
  3. Commit to spend more time on self-care right now.  Block some time on your calendar, make plans with your partner to watch the kids, or whatever it takes to make sure you have some self-care time coming up soon.  

Show References

My Self Reliance YouTube Channel

Netflix and Chill definition @ urban dictionary

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