Budget-Friendly Self-Care Ideas to Keep Your Mental Health in Check
Self-care plays a huge role in the state of your mental health, providing rewarding benefits such as stress relief, relaxation, alone time to sort out problems or reflect, self-confidence, and a mood boost, all of which improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Self-care is often synonymous with expensive pampering, but there are many budget-friendly ways to give yourself some TLC — here’s how you can get started.
Switch Healthcare Plans
The best way to take care of your mental health is by sticking to your medical appointments and treatment plan. If medical costs are worrying you, there are ways to mitigate them. For one, it will cost you nothing to research new health insurance plans if you find that you’re no longer getting sufficient coverage from your current plan. Taking the time to research what’s out there can help you save and get the right treatment for your needs. Seniors should look into Medicare Advantage if they’re looking for extended coverage that provides you with more of the preventative care you need. You’ll find this coverage and more by researching plans provided by Humana and other applicable providers.
Color a Picture
As a child, you’d sit and color a picture in your coloring book, completely lost in thought and relaxed. You can do the same thing now with an adult coloring book. The intricate designs and photos will keep you busy and focused, giving you some time alone to shut off the world; plus, you can carry them with you. Target has a great selection of coloring books, many of them under $15, and if you order online, you can stock up on a few and qualify for free shipping.
Take a Moment to Meditate
If you find that closing your eyes and taking deep, focused breaths helps to relax you, you’ll probably enjoy meditating. You can do it from the comforts of home, at your desk at work, or a quiet local spot such as a park or grassy hill. The best part is that it doesn’t require pricey equipment or classes either, as there are several free apps you can download, or you could find a video tutorial online to follow along with.
Become Friends with the Sandman
Sleep is the simplest form of relaxation, giving your mind and body time to rest, rejuvenate, and reset. A good night’s sleep can help melt the previous day’s stress away or, at the very least, leave you feeling energized enough to tackle the day ahead. Make sure your bedroom is a haven for sleep by adding some comfortable touches. Improve your sleep experience with affordable and comfy bedding, soft pillows, or even a new mattress by shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond. Look for online promo codes and coupons when you shop.
Snuggle with a Furry Friend
Getting a dog is super expensive, but volunteering at the local animal shelter isn’t. Studies show that just simply being around animals is enough to lower your blood pressure and decrease your stress reactions. Plus, dogs increase the amount of exercise you get, which, in turn, lowers your stress levels due to the production of feel-good brain chemicals such as serotonin. Animal shelters are always welcoming volunteers, but you could also become a dog walker to combine dog therapy with earning a little extra cash.
Read a Good Book
What better way is there to escape into a whole new world than with a good book? Filling your bookshelf can be expensive, not to mention you’ll probably only read it once (maybe twice if it’s really good). If you can forego the feeling of holding a book, get Amazon Kindles. With sales, coupons, and a price match guarantee, you can read anytime, anywhere. Amazon offers unlimited access to millions of books for a small monthly fee, but your local library likely offers Kindle books for you to check out free of charge.
Get It Out on Paper
Sometimes, it can feel like everything you have bottled up inside is about to explode. You might feel better after you vent to someone, but perhaps you’d prefer to keep your thoughts and feelings a little more private. Keeping a journal is not only a good way to de-stress, but it can also help you track your changing moods and feelings to pinpoint underlying issues or stressors. Walmart has a great selection of journals to choose from at low prices. If you find one online that you like, you can even have it shipped to the store for free.
Self-care is important, and there’s no reason to put it off when it’s so budget-friendly. The best part is you’ll feel better when you give your mental health some attention. These are just a few of the ways to get self-care on a budget, so what are you waiting for?
Guest post by Brad Krause
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