Self-care has been trending in recent years, and it’s for good reasons only; to take care of your physical, mental and emotional well-being. However, when people hear or read about self-care, self-love or treating oneself, the immediate thoughts are costly endeavors — for example, going for an entire spa session, heading out to a fancy dinner, enjoying a bubble bath in a hotel, etc.
Let’s be honest; if we were to spend a hefty amount for every self-treat, I think that would add to our financial stress. So, here’s a list of 7 budget-friendly ways that you can choose from to treat yourself on your off days!
1. Cook yourself a special meal or a dessert
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Rather than going out and spending money to buy something that you love to eat, why not cook it yourself? Not only do you save money since you can reuse the grocery items, but you can also go all out. Feel free to change the tablecloth, put up some candles and use your fancy cutleries and plates.
While you’re prepping your meal or dessert and then, enjoying your food, play your favourite music in the background to complete the ambience. If you prefer having desserts as your comfort food, get ready to bake large batches of cookies and pastries that you can enjoy any other time of the day and week.
2. Curate a “self-treat” playlist
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Did you know that curating any playlist does require effort, especially if you want it to be personal to you? You can go for generic titles like English, Party, Malay, Tamil and more to cater to your wide range of music tastes but having playlists dedicated to your emotions hit differently.
In addition, listening to music can be soothing as you are unwinding from the day or week. You can play it loudly on your speakers or privately through your headphones while curating your music playlist for your future self-care days.
3. Join a (virtual) Zumba or dancing class
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For those who love a good dance or workout to treat themselves, this is a great way to get your groove on! If you feel uncomfortable attending a physical class — whether because of shyness or staying safe from Covid-19 — you can always put on a YouTube video on Zumba or any preferred dance and do it from the comfort of your home.
Another option is to sign up for online dance classes or Zumba and enjoy moving about with others while staying safe and in your comfort zone.
4. Pursue a hobby
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A hobby is a past-time activity that we enjoy because we enjoy it, and I understand that as working adults, sometimes, it can be challenging to do something as simple as reading. However, you can continuously pursue your current hobby or find a new one to self-treat on your off days.
You can pick up a book, learn knitting, do yoga, sing songs, paint scenery, sign up for archery lessons and many more! Choose something that piques your interest so you don’t feel bored quickly and will enjoy doing it.
5. Have a get-together potluck with family and friends
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This is an excellent idea for self-treat if you’re all about spending time with loved ones. This is economical, and you’ll also get to meet your family and friends to catch up and enjoy fantastic food! Even if you’re considering inviting just three people, you now have three excellent meals to look forward to and hours of fun and endless conversation.
Meals can range from sandwiches and salads to elaborate ones like curries and roasted lamb, depending on your budget and the ingredients at home.
6. Start on a new show
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Instead of watching a movie that will end in just two or three hours, invest your self-care time by starting a new show on Netflix, iFlix, Amazon Prime, or any other platforms you choose. These shows can be light, with ten seasons or over 200 episodes. It can be as simple as a cooking show, baking show, crime documentary, nature documentary, game show, etc.
If you enjoy watching something or looking for an opportunity to try a new genre of shows, this cost-efficient activity is the best fit for you!
7. Go for a walk or hike
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This is cheap and often a free way to treat yourself on your off days. The bare necessities you would need are appropriate clothes and footwear. From there, you need to decide on your trail or pathway, then go on your walk or hike.
This activity allows you to enjoy the fresh air along the way and get your blood pumping, keeping you healthy. Don’t forget to bring your water bottle and phone along to stay hydrated and keep count of your steps respectively!
You should be able to treat yourself any time, any day, without having to worry about the cost that it carries. So, with these seven unique budget-friendly activities lined up, feel free to pick one or more for your next self-love session and share them around. Always take care of yourselves — remember, you’re irreplaceable!
Vinothini is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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