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Life can often be stressful, so it is important to find ways to take care of both your mental and physical health. Self-care has an unfair stigma of being a luxury, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to treat yourself. Here are five ways you can take care of yourself while sticking to a budget, courtesy of Medical Missionary.
- Reduce Financial Stress
The state of your finances has a huge impact on your mental health. If you are spending more money than you bring in each month, you may find yourself stressed about how you will afford food and rent each month. Taking steps to reduce your financial stress is a great way to care for your mental health. Look for a smaller house or apartment with a cheaper monthly payment to help your budget. You can look up online listings in your price range and filter the results by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you want to find the perfect house for you.
- Exercise
Daily exercise is important for maintaining good physical health, but it is also a great way to reduce stress and boost your mental health. If you don’t have time to work out at a gym every day, try to get outside for at least 30 minutes a day and reap the benefits of fresh air. If you are sore after exercise for any reason, self-care treatment such as massages and acupuncture can often help relieve sore muscles.
- Improve Sleep Quality
One study found that more than 50% of adults around the globe get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep each night. People often also have issues with the quality of sleep in addition to the amount of sleep they get each night. Taking measures to improve sleep quality by avoiding electronics before bed and creating a good sleep environment can help.
- Set Boundaries
When people ask you to do numerous activities, you may not feel as if you can say “no,” but this is actually a healthy habit to have. Setting boundaries is a good way to preserve your mental health so that you have the capacity to do the task you have to do for daily living. Learn to say “no” to people when your plate is full, and you do not have time to take on a new project or assignment. It takes time to get used to setting boundaries, but it is essential for maintaining poor mental health.
- Find a New Hobby
Some hobbies, such as restoring old cars or crocheting, can get expensive when you think about all of the materials you need to buy. Other hobbies can be done on a budget, so look for an affordable hobby that does not require you to have many supplies.
Dancing is a good hobby that also provides you with physical exercise, or you can get started drawing with just a pencil and paper. Not only is gardening a rewarding and enjoyable activity, but it has myriad physical, mental, and environmental benefits. If this is your first garden, visit Home Garden Hero for actionable tips on getting started. You don’t have to pick up a hobby that costs a lot of money to get started but find something you are interested in so you can practice self-care on a budget.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money each month to practice self-care. Whether you’re finding cheaper living accommodations, improving your sleep, or starting a new hobby like gardening, you can care for your body and soul without blowing your budget.