Over recent years, “self-care” has boomed so much that it’s become its own industry. We’re not complaining. Self-care is an important part of our lives after all.
However, you don’t always need to spend cash to treat yourself! These 7 self-care rituals are so basic and doable that you can do them right now, as in…Â well, at least after you’ve read this article.
7. Clean your room
I’m begging you, please, clean your room. You might think your room is clean, but it isn’t. It doesn’t matter if you Marie Kondo it or organize your things your own way, but cleaning your room could do wonders not just for you but for the energy of your space. Or, at the very least, change your sheets.
Clean sheets are so underrated.
6. Take a long-ass hot shower
Our showers are usually quick and rushed, and there’s hardly enough time to complete a set for your own solo concert! So go ahead and take that long-ass shower and put your playlist on. Not only will you feel better after singing your favorite songs, but you’ll also come out of it refreshed and smelling good!
5. Water your plants
If you’re a plant parent, please take care of your babies and remember to water them. The act of taking care of a living thing is so satisfying and when your plants are happy, you’re happy. Talk to them, tell them about your day. They’ll definitely listen.
4. Sleep
Believe it or not, a lot of us don’t sleep enough. Now that you’re freshly showered and have clean sheets, you’ll surely sleep like a baby. Take it to the next level by lighting a scented candle if you have one. Block out any and all light and just knock yourself out.
ALSO READ: No, self-care is not about expensive soaps and treating yourself
3. Go for a walk
If sleep refuses to come, taking a walk would be the next best thing. Prime walking times are late in the afternoon or early in the morning when it isn’t too hot and the sun isn’t burning your skin. Plug in some earbuds and let the playlist you’ve created for the movie about your life play in the background. (I know you have that playlist!)
2. Write your heart out
If you’re feeling particularly self-reflective, why not try to write? It doesn’t have to be good writing, it doesn’t even have to grammatically correct since you won’t show it to anyone anyway (unless you want to), you just need to let your emotions out somehow so that they’re out there in the universe. Bottling up feelings isn’t healthy, no matter what those feelings are!
1. Meditate
You don’t have to sit with your legs crossed underneath you with pristine posture to meditate. You can just lay in (your freshly made) bed and let your mind go. Practice breathing and let go of the things you’ve been keeping within yourself.
Follow through with a list of things you’re grateful for and finish strong with personal affirmations. You most definitely might end up snoring at the end of this exercise, but isn’t the whole point of self-care to slow down and unwind?
Sometimes, self-care just means being by yourself and doing these little things to take care of you. We spend a majority of our lives worrying about other people that we sometimes forget that if we don’t take care of ourselves, no one else will.
What about you? What are your favorite free self-care rituals?
