We all know the importance of practicing self-care for our bodies and minds. Looking after one’s health is an essential foundation of happiness, yet sometimes doesn’t it just feel a bit expensive? What with gym memberships and often high priced health foods! If you can relate, let’s take a look at a few low-cost ways that you can take care of your body and mind too!
Yoga
When many of us think of practicing yoga, we think of the studio (and the class fees)! However, if you’re on a budget, you absolutely can learn the yoga ropes all by yourself! First invest in a low-cost yoga mat, next find a few free video tutorials on Youtube. Keep on practicing, and before long, you will get the basics and be able to build from there. There are also plenty of yoga books out there, and you could get these from the library if you didn’t want to purchase them. You can practice in your living room or take your mat to the park or beach on a nice day! After a few sessions, you’ll feel your mind begin to relax too.
Keep a journal
Keeping a journal can be an excellent self-care exercise for the mind. By doing so, you can allow yourself to healthily express your thoughts and feelings. You can also set goals and ambitions. If you are feeling anxious about something, it really helps to write your feelings down to express them. In addition to this, writing down good memories to preserve them can be another excellent act of kindness to yourself.
Good quality sleep
There are a number of ways that you can easily get a better night’s sleep without spending a penny. Firstly, ditch the frequent amounts of caffeine; secondly, establish a sleeping schedule that you stick to; and thirdly, practice meditation to help you relax. You should also ensure that you have the right Mattress to support your back and allow you to feel comfortable enough. This one-off investment will be worth it in the long run and should not set you back too much if you prioritize your health!
Running
Going for a run doesn’t have to be at the gym, you can just as easily do this on the road or in the park. While many seem to lack motivation, if you get yourself into a routine, the whole thing will become second nature! Cardio exercise is so important to keep our hearts healthy as well as to pump those endorphins around to give us happy minds. You can always drag some friends along with you if you get bored going running alone!
Some people think that healthy food has to be more expensive, yet this isn’t the case. If you want to save money, and eat well, avoid buying branded health foods and stick to purchasing simple fruits and vegetables from the grocers. You would be surprised at the money you can save if you simplify your shopping to lots of raw ingredients.
