Self Care on a Budget
By Ashley Mitchell
This piece is a part of the Harry Potter Alliance’s series for our #SelfCareMagic, a week exploring what self care is and what it means to different people. To find out more about the Harry Potter Alliance, visit thehpalliance.org.
What comes to mind when you think about self care? The term usually evokes images of spa days and shopping sprees. While these are certainly forms of self care, it can run up the big bucks pretty quickly. Practically speaking, I can’t see myself participating in these specific self care practices on a consistent basis. So, I set out to search for self care practices that are budget friendly, simple, and/or can be done everyday (if need be) to enhance my life. In no particular order, here are a few:
Wash your face:
This may seem like a “duh” moment for most, but as someone who battles depression and anxiety, a small task like washing your face can be herculean — but immensely gratifying when done. If you’re a morning face washer, consider adding a cleanser with citrus extracts like grapefruit or lemon to help wake you up. If you prefer a night time wash, consider a moisturizer with soothing oils like lavender and chamomile, which will help relieve the stresses of the day and prepare you for a more soothing sleep.
Get moving:
Exercise really does release endorphins, but that doesn’t mean everyday needs to be an hour long run or a heavy hit of the weights. I’ve found that simply getting moving can help with mood. 8 hour desk job? Take a walk to pick up your lunch instead of ordering it in. Have a gap between classes? Take a stroll around campus to get the blood flowing to your legs.
Engage your brain:
One of my favorite ways to practice self care requires only me and google — research! I never feel more at ease than when I feel like I’m learning something that will better assist me in my day to day. For me, that has a lot to do with social justice and human rights — reading articles from intersectional writers and visiting my favorite blogs and sites to learn more about marginalized groups and experiences that I’m still unfamiliar with. For one of my close friends, museums are how she engages her brain; hitting up the MOMA or Whitney in NYC during their free entry days for a no cost way to spend her afternoons.
What’s your favorite thing to learn about and what’s your favorite way to do it? Looking at self care as not only something that just relaxes, but engages, is a great way to practice it daily and still feel as if you’re making a meaningful contribution to your own growth.
Do the work:
Self care isn’t always easy. Sometimes it requires us to be uncomfortable and step out of our comfort zones so we can have better long-term life experiences. I’ve found that the best way to combat these tasks is to create a to-do list. Breaking the tasks down by type (like phone calls, outdoor errands, chores, etc.) or by amount of effort (5 minutes, 1 hour, etc) will help you to exert the appropriate amount of energy (and be prepared for) for each task. If you’re like me and have some social anxiety, being able to lump together some of the more uncomfortable tasks can better help you get through them. If you tend to procrastinate or get daunted by larger tasks, breaking them down further into smaller to-do’s may also assist. Marking one ‘to-do’ off your list every day can ease anxiety and increase your feelings of accomplishment.
Wind down:
Hobbies are self care. We live in a society that doesn’t always place high premium or value on taking time to indulge in hobbies, but hey, even Harry took time to play Quidditch! Whether it’s reading, writing, video games, knitting, needlepoint, baking, or watching an episode of your favorite tv show, taking thirty minutes to an hour to just let yourself relax will make a world of difference.
The 5 minute rule:
This is one of my favorite rules I’ve implemented. For many (myself included), having task based activities during high stress times makes them feel accomplished. This rule allows for a big boost of that feeling with small bursts of effort. The five minute rule simply states that if a task can be done in 5 minutes or less, do it immediately instead of putting it off for later. This is especially good for chores and other small items, which can get increasingly bigger until the task seems too much to tackle. Self care is sometimes about doing more before the problem arises so that you don’t have to panic and be overwhelmed at a later time. For me, the five minute rule is especially helpful after a long day at work, when it’s almost too easy to make a habit of not hanging my coat up, not washing the one dish I made from dinner, or pulling out my clothes for the next day. When I’m conscientious about following the 5 minute rule, I feel much more prepared for the next day, less stressed, and more likely to not feel guilty for indulging in a wind down activity.
Listen to your body:
Self care is about being aware of your bodies needs, and doing yourself a service by meeting them. It’s about taking pleasure in the day to day activities your body indulges in, and when able fully immersing yourself in that experience. Getting three meals a day and 6–8 hours of sleep is just as much self care as treating yourself to a succulent desert or spa day. While it can be hard to always adhere to these standards, doing a better job of listening when your body is telling you something is important. This is especially true for people who are physically handicapped, deal with mental illness, or experience psychosomatic symptoms due to systemic oppression and daily microaggressions from external sources. When your body tells you it needs something, don’t ignore it.
So, when it comes to self care, it doesn’t always have to be extravagant day-long (or more) vacations or expensive spa days. All it takes is a couple of minutes to wash your face, get a simple task out of the way before it builds up, or just breathe. Do you have any other ways of practicing self care on a budget? Let us know!
Ashley is an Analytics Specialist for the Harry Potter Alliance.
