3 Fun & Affordable Self-Care Ideas

|Having fun and enjoyable ways of taking care of our mind, body and soul can be an incredibly important part of growth and a sense of grounding in our lives. Consider your own interest or passions for a moment... are these hobbies or pastimes also bringing you rest, relaxation or joy to your life?

If so, you may already have ideal self-care activities built into your life. However, if you are seeking to add more options to your self-care list, including a few budget-friendly self-care activities to add into your daily life, keep reading to learn about three fun and affordable options.
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Please note: This collaborative article does not contain healthcare or therapeutic advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. The links in this article may be affiliate links that I will be compensated for at no additional cost to  you. 

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3 Fun & Affordable Self-Care Ideas

Some of the best things in life are free! This sentiment can be so true, often the best memories we have are the ones that involve moments spent with others or by oneself in harmony with nature, without having to spend a lot (or any) money. If you are looking for ways of taking care of yourself without worrying about the cost, these ideas might be the ones for you.

1. Take a Mindful Walk

Recently there has no doubt been a lot of time spent indoors, either due to weather or safety concerns from the reality of living in a pandemic, so one of the best, most cost-effective ways of promoting self-care in your life can be to set the intention of getting outdoors. A mindful walk (or run) can be the perfect way to introduce time spent outdoors while taking care of yourself.

Check out the video below for a step-by-step (pun intended) walkthrough (yet another pun) to help guide you on your mindful walk. You can achieve mindfulness while walking to work, on your way to get groceries, or without a set destination, at all. For best results, you want to try to find a quiet neighbourhood or even a park that has the sounds of nature in the background. As you achieve a state of mindfulness, even a noisy street can fade into the background as you remain present and grounded within yourself.

Related: ​Set the Intention to Exercise in 3 Gentle Steps

2. Listen to a New Podcast

Listening to podcasts can be helpful to incorporate into your daily routine as part of self-care or enlightenment strategies, or they can just be super interesting. Podcasts are also a great way of learning something new. You can simply browse and search for options such as personal development or positive mindset for self-care themed podcasts.

In case you're completely new to the podcast scene and are currently scratching your head wondering what this word even means, a podcast "is a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer". You can literally find podcasts on any topic, and it can be as easy as downloading a free app on your phone or using free versions, such as Spotify, in order to start listening.

From stories told by comedians to true crime and murder mysteries, there is surely a podcast out there that will have you roaring with laughter or gripped with suspense. Podcasts can be informative while also wildly entertaining, and since it's audio only, you can listen while you're going about your daily tasks, or relaxing in the sunshine.

Related: ​Mental Health Podcasts Focusing on Mindfulness

​3. Play Fun Games

Whether you are a serious and competitive board game player, or you enjoy spending time playing games online, there can be a lot of benefit to getting lost in the thrill of gaming. It can be helpful to not take life so seriously, especially during your downtime. If you're looking for an expensive pastime consider the benefits that gaming can bring to your life.

Some of the potential benefits of playing games include:

• casual play can help to reduce stress
• creates a new way to socialize and connect with others
• allows for positive feelings from being able to achieve progress
• provides for opportunities for learning and increased decision-making skills 

When considering what type of game to play, check to see if you already have any games around the house like Monopoly or Clue (one of my childhood favourites) and ask your friends and family if they would be interested in joining you. When it comes to online games, an easy and free way to play games is to head to a website like play.org which allows you to play games right from your browser - no downloads required!
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Check out some fun games to get started with below:

I hope this list of fun and affordable self-care ideas has been helpful for you to consider some new or unique ways of spending your time. Often times it can the addition of a new habit or activity that can make an immense difference in our lives and help us feel lighter and more at ease. At times life can be tough, so let's find ways to make it a bit easier with laughter and play.

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Related:

• Self-Care Bullet Journal Spreads
  
• 4 Reasons Why Self-Care Is A Must
• How to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Self-Care Haven

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