Self-care could be just about anything that nourishes us personally: the things that we do that give us comfort, calm us down, and make us feel good inside out.
We started talking about the importance of self-care more and more these days. And I am convinced it’s all for good reason because in the busy life we often forget to fill our cup first. It’s also easy to forget that self-care doesn’t necessarily have to be a luxury, and it’s not only for the wealthy. That fancy yoga retreat on an exotic island in the Pacific and that 60$-a-pop massage treatment –– of course are beneficial for our wellbeing, sure, but for our bank balance? Not that much.
The good news is that we can practice self-care even when we are on a budget; here are eight ways to try out without breaking the bank that will help you nourish your body, mind, and soul.
1. Start a Gratitude Journal and Feel Thankful Everyday
“You can’t be grateful and angry simultaneously.” – Tony Robbins
Start a gratitude journal, make a list of all the great things that you are genuinely grateful to have in your life. Allow yourself to be flooded by the feelings of gratitude and joy; allow that warm feeling to permeate your body and mind.
You can do this while peacefully sipping on your morning coffee or tea, and it will not take too much time out of your day.
Keep these four things in mind when you are filling in your gratitude journal:
- Focus on relationships
- Focus on opportunities
- Focus on great events
- Focus on simple things – Tim Ferriss
2. Listen to Relaxing Music and Meditate
While listening to relaxing music, find a good position to sit comfortably focusing on your breathing.
Pay attention to the thoughts that come and go just like clouds would in the perfect blue sky.
Pay attention to your body sensations.
Give a go to a body scan meditation; you might be surprised just how little time you allow to asking various parts how they feel.
3. What’s Your Favourite Self-Help Book? Open it
Take a glance at your bookshelf. Are there any books that’s been sitting there for ages waiting for your laser-focused attention?
Look closely. Which book is ‘under the spotlight’ and peaks your interest at this point?
Go ahead, open your favorite inspiring, or motivational self-help book at hand and turn to a random page, any page; pick a paragraph or a quote by pure chance.
Read it out loud. How does it make you feel?
Read it out loud once again, really letting the meaning sink in.
4. Goal-Setting and Visualisation
Think of your goals for a moment. Think of your goals and dreams and write them out; then take your time to visualize them. Eyes closed and focused on your future –– not where you’ve been, but where you are heading next. That is something that will take only five minutes to do, but try to do it every day –– eyes closed, and focused on what you’re going to achieve in the short, medium, and long-term.
Focus on how you would feel as if you were already living out your dreams, and similarly to gratitude practice, let this excitement drive you, feel it in your body.
5. Watch a Video, or Listen to a Podcast on a Topic of Interest
It’s always fun to take your time to learn about new things, isn’t it?
Think about your interests. Which topic would you like to learn more about?
What people and their work in the world are the most inspiring to you? Go ahead, watch a video, listen to a podcast; nourish your mind filling it up with wonder.
Any recommendations?
Sure thing 🙂 My to-go-to podcast when I need to recharge and find some inspiration is by the one and only Tim Ferriss –– he is a self-experimenter and bestselling author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been translated into 40+ languages. Newsweek calls him “the world’s best human guinea pig,” and The New York Times calls him “a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk.”
In this show, he deconstructs world-class performers from various areas (investing, chess, pro sports, etc.), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use and apply in their lives.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think @havingtime on Twitter.
6. Create a Cozy Space in Your Home Where You Can
…where you can light up some candles made with essential oils
“The flicker of candlelight produces a lovely ambiance that simply cannot be replicated. Lighting a few well-placed candles in your home can add effect and create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Adding a candle here-and-there will create softness in your room and instantly make it feel warm and welcoming. Do as the Danes do, light a bunch of candles for a hygge home.
Candles are known for their soothing, healing properties and are often used by therapists, such as massage therapists, to create a peaceful ambiance in their therapy rooms. The sheer act of lighting a candle, its lovely flicker and the gentle glow it creates, helps ease and soothe the mind. Give it a try the next time you have a stressful day: light a candle, watch the flame and breathe for a few minutes –– even 60 seconds can make a big difference.” –– by litupcandle.co
7. Get Your DIY Hat On
The importance of hobbies for stress relief is evident – when we struggle to find time for ourselves and recharge, our stress levels are off the charts, that’s when it’s crucial to slow down and consider developing new interests and finding relaxing hobbies for stress release.
Once you have found an activity that you are genuinely passionate about, it will be easier for you to take a step back from the stresses and strains of daily life. It might take a while, but eventually, you are sure to find something suitable and focus on that. So get your DIY hat on.
8. Unplug and Recharge
For me, one of the most crucial factors to remember when I first embarked on a self-care train was to turn off all my devices and let myself truly unplug and recharge. The incredible power you will find yourself with from just having your phone switched off and not constantly beeping and buzzing in your pocket is essential to a restful experience. In other words, embrace the JOMO – the joy of missing out at least for a while 🙂
In Conclusion
Self-care comes in many-many-many different forms, including the food we eat. And so nourishing yourself with healthy food and positive, loving thoughts is part of self-care practice too. Why not praise yourself and your body for the things you do and genuinely trying to be kinder to yourself when you glance in the mirror each day?
We often mistakingly think of self-care practice as just this overall outside appearance, yet mastering your loving and supportive inner voice is crucial to this as well, so make it your daily practice to train it to be kind and feel the shift happen soon.
Having a good self-care practice is the act of showing up for yourself, giving yourself time to recharge, reboot and then being ready and filled with energy to show up for others in your life.
📌PIN IT!
