15 Easy and Cheap Self-Care Activities

My whole reason for writing a self-care post came about because it’s summer camp registration time. Don’t see the connection? Stay with me here- there’s a method to my madness.

If you have ever had the pleasure of signing up for in-demand summer camps, you may have felt, as I do, that it can be pretty stressful, especially if you’re trying to save money or get your kids into the same camps as other kids. It also means planning out your whole summer– like in March.

As moms, we take care of so much, and a lot of it involves some serious mental work. We are usually the ones to plan meals for the week, calendar vacations, schedule doctor and dental appointments, remember to submit paperwork to school, and more. We’re always thinking, thinking, thinking.

Have you heard of “Emotional Labor”?

The term I recently learned for what moms do for their families is “emotional labor.” A good friend sent me this 2017 Harper’s Bizarre article from 2017 (ignore the featured image) that goes into just why women are so frustrated. Although there’s lots of literature about the term these days, some of it negative, it basically boils down the constant mental and emotional energy we put into being the family planners, managers, and all around gurus.

More importantly, moms are usually the ones who tend to pick up after family members, remind them about appointments, and figure out childcare options. So, I’m not just talking about housework here. It’s more the worrying and stress and constant list-making that occupies our daily thoughts.

When I first heard the term “emotional labor,” it completely resonated with me. It perfectly captures the feelings and mental energy we exert to take care of our families. And, let’s be honest, even with awesome partners, so much of this type of work falls to the moms because we just seem to juggle things better. In fact, we may be in charge of all the household planning because we want to. But, that doesn’t make it any less stressful.

Self-care is the antidote for emotional labor

There’s another term that’s been thrown around lately, and that’s “self-care.” If you look it up online, you’ll actually find some psychology articles talking about self-care, and that’s because mental health professionals are encouraging people to take care of themselves.

So, in the same way that taking care of yourself means eating healthy foods and getting exercise, psychologists are now promoting the need to care for yourself emotionally and mentally. This can go a long way toward easing the stress that comes from our emotional labor. And, the best part is that, unlike exercise and healthy eating, which can sometimes feel tough or depriving, self-care requires that you do things that are enjoyable!

We are not doing as much as we can when it comes to self-care

Plenty of women will say that they understand the value of self-care. They know they should take care of and do things for themselves, but many do not, or at least not regularly. The most common reason we ignore our self-care is lack of time. We are all so busy these days that even with the best of intentions, it can be difficult to fit in a regular self-care routine.

For other women, they simply feel overwhelmed with all they have to juggle. We often feel like time and attention we devote to one area of our lives deprives the others. As I mentioned in last week’s post, we give so much to all we do but never feel like we are being truly good at any of it.

It’s self-care, not selfish.

To carve out time for ourselves seems either burdensome or selfish. But, it’s not. Self-care has been linked to better overall health and energy levels. And, if we want to be better at anything- parenting, at work, as friends, etc., that means being our best selves. Self-care can do that for us!

The basics of self-care:

• Do what you truly enjoy. I mentioned this in a prior post on hobbies. If it feels like a chore or like work, it’s not a self-care activity. That means you need to let go of feeling like you have to be doing something productive or virtuous every minute of the day. If you’re only journaling because you know it’s “good for you,” don’t journal. Or, don’t journal as part of your self-care routine. Whatever you do for self-care should be something so pleasurable, you lose track of time while you’re doing it. Need ideas? I’ve listed a few below.
• Plan it into your schedule. Don’t just assume that because you know self-care is important that you’ll actually make time for it. Most people who don’t have a self-care routine feel they don’t have time for it. But, as with any priority or goal, if it’s important enough to do it, we should schedule time during the week and add it to our planners. If your schedule is truly grueling, doing a big self-care activity every day may actually cause more stress than it cures. So, while I encourage you to find a small pocket of time for you every day, cut yourself some slack if you need to and start by planning something for yourself at least once a week. Figure out when it will work best for you to do this and write it in bold or highlight it in your planner.
• Don’t judge yourself or others. We moms are the worst about guilting ourselves and shaming other moms when it comes to engaging in self-care activities. For us American moms, perhaps it’s our Puritan roots that makes us feel guilty about doing things that are not seen as productive. And, as women, we can be so judgmental when it comes to how other moms parent and care for themselves. (“She gets a mani/pedi once a week? Must be nice to have that kind of time, money, etc.”). Let go of the judgment, both about yourself and others. In fact, it’s time to not only love ourselves but encourage our friends to take care of themselves through self-care.

Hopefully, you are now on board with this concept (if you weren’t before) and are ready to try some self-care activities. Below are a few self-care ideas to get you started. You’ve heard many of them before, but I want to encourage you to take it one step further and just be you. So, don’t try to hide what you really enjoy. Dig in and own that silly, freaky, weird thing you enjoy if you find it truly fun or relaxing.

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15 Easy and (Mostly) Cheap Self-Care Activities:

1. Read something fun. Grab a warm drink, sit in a comfy space, and get lost in a good, fun book. If your something fun is “War and Peace,” then enjoy. But, if you have more fun reading a trashy novel like “50 Shades of Grey,” I say go for it! No judgment here. (Your inner goddess will do three flips). (# Ad)

2. Adult coloring books and apps. I love that these have become so popular. There’s literally a coloring book for every interest, and I have several books myself. Some are just pretty and easy to do as I veg out in front of the TV. And, one in particular, is quite therapeutic. If I’ve had a bad day, I admit I’ll pull out the one I received as a gift one year. It’s got rude and foul words, and sometimes it’s fun to color those, especially if I’ve censored myself from saying them. Here is a link to a beautiful book with mandalas. If you want the name of the off-color words, send me a DM 🙂 (#Ad)

3. Journaling. This isn’t for everyone, but for a lot of people it can be relaxing and fun to write about s something. I also highly recommend venting in a journal. You can always tear out the page and get rid of it. But, if you need a cathartic way of getting some unhappy feelings out, try this out. You can even color, paint, and scrapbook in your journal. My favorite pretty journal is small one from Papaya Arts (# Ad)

4. Binge-watching TV shows. Here is where I encourage you to not just watch what’s popular, but go to what you know you’ll enjoy. If that means re-watching a series you know you love, but have already seen, do it! When “Friends” was on Netflix, I was so happy.The familiar characters and situations had me laughing as much if not more than when I first saw them. (#Ad)

5. Go to a movie. Yes, this one may cost money. But, if you like the experience of going into a theater, buying popcorn and Junior Mints, and watching something on huge screen with a crowd of people who gasp and laugh at the same scenes that you do, then spring for the $15 and go to a movie. Invite a friend. Go with your partner. And see something that you know you’ll love even if it’s a gross-out comedy or gory horror flick. Not much for going out? Stay at home and watch something fun, instead. This girl-power movie always makes my day: (#Ad)

6. Do some yoga. If you’re not into yoga, that’s fine. It’s not for everyone. But, for folks who want to introduce some mind-body awareness, yoga is a great fit. All you need is a mat of some sort (totally inexpensive) and an internet connection. There are so many yoga videos on YouTube, it’s insane. Just type in what you want to get out of it- relaxation, relieving tension, whatever. Then just listen to the swoopy music, close your eyes, and Namaste. Or, try one of the beginner videos from my favorite yoga video company, Gaiam. (#Ad)

7. Try a meditation app. This also falls within the mind-body connection genre. Meditating has been shown to relieve stress and improve overall health. A lot of people are intimidated by it and picture rag-clad people sitting crisscross-applesauce and humming a guttural chant. While meditation can take many forms, guided meditation is often a great way to get into this relaxing practice. You can find apps for your phone or, if you have an Amazon Echo device, just activate one of the free guided mediation apps. Most are only a few minutes long and can really help to settle your mind. (#Ad)

8. Listen to a podcast. I just recently discovered the podcast app on my iPhone. I had no idea I could listen to so many interesting shows. I imagine it must have been like that for my grandparents when they first listened to radio programs. There is literally a podcast on any subject that interests you. Social justice, planners, knitting, spirituality, if there’s a topic, there’s a podcast about it. You can also use an Echo device for this.

9. Listen to an audiobook. Do you like reading but find yourself exhausted at the end of the day and unable read more than a couple of pages before your eyes start to close? Audiobooks are the perfect solution for those of us who feel like we don’t have time to sit down and read a book. And, it can transform anything from a daily commute to a laundry routine into instant “me time.” Check out your library for audiobooks that you can listen using the free Overdrive app, or if you want to splurge, get an Audible account! There is always a trial membership where you can get a book for free, such as here: (#Ad)

Or, if you want to share the gift of audible with a friend who could use some self-care, try this promotion: (#Ad)

10. Do some virtual window-shopping. You don’t have to spend money or drag the kids to the mall to do some window shopping. Hop online and just play around. Some apps such as Zulily or Rue La La have nothing but fun things to look at. At times, I play on Amazon just to see what crazy products they have. Or, for us planner junkies, many planner sites will let you custom-build a planner without purchasing it, which may help when you’re ready to buy later. Bottom line, browsing online stores can be a relaxing and fun diversion.

11. Sleep. Yup, I said sleep, which doesn’t feel like an activity, but is one of the most important ones you can do. Sleep is probably the one thing we cut down on as we fill our days with obligations that fulfill everyone’s needs but our own. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try a white noise app, drink a calming tea before bed, and perhaps wear a diva-looking eye mask like this one (#Ad)

12. Flip through a magazine. Remember when you used to take the time to pick up a magazine and lazily browse through the pages, pausing to read articles, or parts of articles, at your leisure? Maybe you just enjoyed certain monthly features or questionnaires? You can still do this, and as with the books you might read, there’s no judgment about which kind of magazine you should read. So, if Real Simple seems virtuous, or not much fun, read People for the celebrity gossip or pick up Cosmo and have fun reading about the 60 things you can try in the bedroom. No one’s watching. 😉

13. Soak in a hot tub. I had an older family friend who even in her 80’s said she considered her daily bath a necessary luxury. Sinking into a bath of fragrant water and relaxing there for a few minutes can completely change your outlook on life, or at least end your day on a more positive note. Use bubble bath, bath salts, and even a light a candle to round out the experience. I’m obsessed with Dr. Teal’s lavender bath products. They are so fragrant and relaxing! (# Ad)

14. Enjoy a foot soak. So, if drawing a bath seems like too much work, why not just draw a smaller basin of hot water and relax those tired puppies? I used to do this once a week and know I need to get back into it. Want a truly relaxing experience? Try a foot spa. It has massage and heat features that will rejuvenate your tired feet. This one is an updated version of the one I’ve had for years. They’re only $20 and last forever (#Ad)

15. Go for a mani/pedi, facial, or massage. This suggestion can get expensive, but you can offset the cost by finding deals in your area through Groupon or Living Social. There’s a nail place by me that will do a pedicure with a hot stone massage for less than $25. You can also go for a less-expensive 30-minute massage or one that’s just for the neck and upper back. If you’re more of a DIY kinda girl and enjoy saving cash more than spending it, there are inexpensive products you can use to do your own mani/pedi or facial. And, I highly recommend a Body Back Buddy for working out the knots in your back muscles (#Ad).

Or, a foam roller for your back and leg muscles, like this one: (#Ad)

Bonus: Ask yourself (and be honest), what is your guilty pleasure? Is it legal? Not horribly unhealthy? Can you maintain your self-respect after it’s over? Then, do it!

These were just a few suggestions that I hope will get you started thinking of your own self-care ideas. Now, go out there and take care of yourself. You deserve it! Feeling brave? Leave a comment and share your guilty pleasures and self-care activities.

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**Image credits- magazine, massage, journal, book, and bath images found on Pixabay.