Self care is the practice of caring for the mind, body, and soul.
This type of self care is so important because it is an act that provides care for all parts of what makes you…YOU. Self care is a magical act of love and it should be a non-negotiable part of your life.
Because when you learn how to practice self care often, you can show up to the world as your most authentic and happiest self! You can face the day with confidence and feel good while doing it. Practicing self care will also make you feel good in your own skin and your energy will be absolutely contagious!
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Why is self care so important?
Self-care gives us time to recharge our batteries and rebuild our strength to face another day. Self care gives us a fresh perspective on anything that may come up in our day because we are calm, cool, and collected when it does.
Life is just better all around when we give ourselves the love and care that we need. And a self care practice is the best type of love and care because it comes from within. There are no external sources involved in self care. This means we don’t have to look outward for love and care because we have the ability to find it inside of ourselves.
Looking outward for love and care is what our limiting beliefs would like us to believe. Our limiting beliefs would have us look outward for love and care but that’s just a backward way of thinking. This way of thinking is also unsustainable. Seeking love and care from people and things outside of ourselves will always leave us disappointed.
We have everything we need within and creating a daily or weekly spiritual self care routine unlocks all the inner magic for you!
RELATED: How To Overcome Limiting Beliefs
A few more self care benefits according to Botanicahealth.com:
- Self care boosts your immune system.
- Self care improves your self-compassion.
- Self care helps you get to know yourself better.
- Self care will provide more time for you to give others.
Is self care selfish?
SELF CARE IS NOT SELFISH, IT’S SURVIVAL. Self care is putting yourself first for the greater good of those around you. It’s not selfish because when you are well cared for you are even better at caring for others. When you’re not, to be completely honest, you are most likely half-assing it.
It’s impossible to fully care for others if you don’t care for yourself first. You gotta fill up your cup so then that cup can overflow into others.
It’s like being in an airplane, they always tell you to put your mask on first before helping others. There’s a reason for that! I know that’s hard to imagine especially if you are a mother, I myself freak out just thinking about it and we won’t go deeper into that example. But let me tell you this, you will be much better at life if you make self care a priority. POINT. BLANK. PERIOD.
RELATED SELF CARE ARTICLES: How to Find Time For Self Care
Caring for the mind, body, and soul
Some people think self care is just face masks and bubble baths but when it comes to self care, you shouldn’t be just focused on your body. You should also focus on your mind and your soul and that’s where self care activities come in.
Because not caring for all the parts that you are made of is like a puzzle that’s missing pieces. It’s not complete. We can not expect the mind to stay healthy if we don’t tend to it and we can’t expect our soul to thrive if we don’t feed it. It’s not just about the body babes!
21 Budget Friendly Self Care Ideas
In the following list, you’ll find ways to 21 self care ideas for your mind, body, and soul. You will also find that these practices will cost you little to no money and don’t take up much of your time. Even a little bit of self care will go a very long way. Let’s get started!
Make time for you
First and foremost, set a time in your day that is completely for you, with no distractions, and make this non-negotiable!!
Declutter your space
When your home is a mess and cluttered it can feel overwhelming and make you crazy. Clearing out your space will power up new ideas and intentions and help you create room to call new things into your life, physically and mentally. Watch this video for decluttering tips then take some time to tidy up a bit!
Take a bubble bath
A bubble bath can nurture you on many levels. Add some Epsom Salt to your bath to ease stress, relieve pain and muscle cramps, and eliminate toxins from your body. Dr. Teals Epsom Salt is one of my favorites!
You can also add some coconut milk bath soak to your o your bath water and it will nourish and moisturize your skin. This All Natural Coconut Bath Soak is my go-to brand but if it’s outside of your budget just add a 1/2 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of honey to your bubble bath.
Dr. Teals makes this lavender bubble bath that I love but if you are a bath bomb kinda gal, give this all natural vegan bath bomb set a try. If you don’t want to spend the money just add a 1/2 cup of shampoo and a 1/2 cup of body wash to your bath water.
Shut off your phone for a few hours
You’ll be surprised how liberating it is. Plus, without the distraction of your phone, you’ll have so much more time to love and care for yourself!
Do some yoga or stretches
Yoga or stretching will get the blood pumping and help your body release stagnant energy…the type of energy that causes anxiety and such. Yoga also shows you how to breathe more effectively which can be beneficial in all parts of your life.
I like this yoga mat for its affordability and its quality. It’s the best yoga mat you’ll find at such a low price. But if you’d rather not spend the money, use a towel instead!
RELATED: How To Start a Daily Yoga Practice
Watch a feel good movie
There’s nothing like a feel good movie that will lift your spirits! So cozy up and watch your favorite movie with your favorite person. It’s a win win!
Talk a walk
Connecting with nature grounds you and brings you to the present moment, where future and past thoughts that haunt you cannot exist. Take things up a notch and add a walking meditation to this practice. Here’s a 15-minute walking meditation you can try out.
Meditation
This is one of my favorite ways to practice self care. A meditation practice specifically cares for the mind which is so important because the mindset we carry around controls everything about how we experience life.
RELATED MEDITATION ARTICLES: Beginners Meditation: The Ultimate How To Guide
A mind that is messy, out of control, and mostly negative, will express itself in a life that is the exact same. A mind that is calm, at peace, and mostly positive is what you should aim for and meditation is how to make that happen.
Dance
Free movement like dancing gets the blood pumping and energy flowing. So dance like no one is watching because they probably aren’t!
Give yourself a manicure or pedicure.
Because who doesn’t have nail polish lying around! And if you don’t check out this 10 piece set from Sinful Colors.
Listen to some feel good music
Music soothes the soul and brightens the mood. Put some headphones in and blast that shit! Here’s a two pack set of earphones under $16 if you are in need!
Read a book
Reading is like an escape from reality. If you don’t want to read try an audiobook! They are easy and convenient. I like to listen to my audiobooks while I’m driving or cleaning my house. It makes the time go by so much faster! If you’re game, here’s a 30 day FREE trial to Audible PLUS 2 FREE Audiobooks!
Create an affirmation or vision board
Affirmations are so powerful and speaking things into existence is a very real thing! Visions boards are also fun and get the creative juices flowing. Grab some old magazines, a pair of scissors, a poster board, and get busy! I thought these vision board kits were such a great idea if you feel like spending a little bit of cash!
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RELATED: How To Use Positive Affirmations To Heal Your Life
Try a face mask
Face masks are easy, convenient, and affordable. This pure clay face mask set from L’Oreal Paris is super affordable and it includes 3 different face masks made with charcoal, red algae, and eucalyptus.
For an at home remedy, I mix 1/2 a cup of hot water with 1/3 cup of oatmeal. Once it cools, I add 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of honey. Then I slap it on my face for 10-15 minutes. I use this mixing set for easier cleanup.
Talk to your grandmother or any other elder in your life
Ask her about her childhood and her life story. When that generation of women is gone so are all the good stories and nostalgia. The world is so different now, we gotta hang on to those memories as long as we can.
Sleep in or take a nap
Because you need rest!
Journal
Keeping a private journal can be very therapeutic. There is just something about getting all your thoughts and feelings out on paper that can really help you along in your spiritual healing journey.
Journaling is a private process and a time when you don’t need to worry about grammar or making mistakes. This journal is a cute place to start but if you’re feeling spicy you should totally go with this one!
Don’t want to spend the dough? Just grab a pen, paper, and let it flow!
Purposely avoid the things that trigger you
This doesn’t cost a thing. Basically, just stop doing things you don’t want to do and that don’t serve you in any way. If you don’t want to do something, don’t do it. If you have a habit or repeating pattern of doing things that leave you with regret or makes you feel bad, stop it!
Have your partner or kid give you a massage
Because this is free and you totally deserve it!
Breathe
Try some breathing exercises. Brownie points if you can get outdoors and do it. Fresh air feels so good! Calm, a meditation app, has a section with guided breathing exercises if you want to check it out!
Cuddle
Cuddle with your kids, with your pets, with your partner, with your mom…whoever..just do it because you need to be loved on every once and while.
Now pick one, or two, or three from the list and get to it! Once you’ve done something specifically for yourself, drop a comment below!
