50 Free Ideas You Can Add to Your Self Care Routine

When people think of self care, their first thought may be to automatically assume that means spending money. Face masks and bath bombs have become popular self-care items, however, they don’t need to be the only way we practice self-care! What if I told you I had a list of free self care ideas you could add to your self care routine.

Related Post: 7 Ways to Incorporate Gratitude into Your Daily Routine

What Is Self Care

Self care is the act of preserving and recharging ourselves. Self care means different things to different people, and will not always look the same for each individual. How you practice self-care may look very different from how I practice self care.

One thing I think we can agree on is that self care does not have to break the bank! Nor does it actually have to cost us anything. When we’re practicing self-care on the regular, it can become pricey to continuously spend money on these items. If you’re like me, budget friendly options to anything are always a sensible solution!

Below you will find a list of 50 free self-care ideas that can be incorporated into every schedule and lifestyle! (Because lets be real, self-care needs to happen whether we want to spend money or not!)

50 Free Self-Care Ideas

1. Go for a walk (bonus if you can bring your dog or a friend!)

2. Tidy a corner of your house

3. Call a friend or family member

4. Sit down and plan your week (planner optional but definitely recommended!)

5. Read an old, favourite book

6. Take a nap (how can you resist?)

7. Do some research: find a new recipe to try out or a DIY project

8. Pick a day and spend it hiking (check out parks and trails nearest to you!)

9. Create a new playlist (for the gym, of your favourite songs, whatever!)

10. Meditate or practice deep breathing

11. Stretch your whole body

12. Go through your closet and get rid of anything you no longer wear (bonus points if you donate to a friend or shelter!)

13. Play with a pet

14. Home spa day! Take a long bath or shower, shave, soak in the tub, etc. Pamper yourself from the comfort of your own home!

15. Volunteer/give back to your community (find a local animal shelter or soup kitchen)

16. Make a bucket list

17. Start a journal! Make a list of journal prompts! (Or if you can’t think of any, check out this list of prompts here!)

18. Wash your sheets (there is no better feeling than going to bed on clean sheets *drool*)

19. Start a new show on Netflix/streaming site

20. Make a budget! (Not only will this not cost you anything, you’ll end up saving money! Click here for easy money saving tricks!)

21. Make a cup of tea and cozy up on the couch

22. Just do nothing (sometimes you just need to lie down on the floor for a while no?)

23. Draw/use a colouring book!

24. Go out and explore your city (window shopping is free)

25. Tend to your garden/pull weeds

26. Sit in a lounge chair with a good book and enjoy the sunshine (nap is optional)

27. Visit your local library and find new books to read

30. Have a glass of wine

31. Make a list of 5 affirmations for yourself

32. Take a long hot shower

33. Clean your makeup brushes (this makes me feel like I have my life together)

34. Write down five things you’re grateful for

35. Make a master to do list (check out how to make the best to-do lists here!

36. Take a break from social media (turn off your phone for a few hours and get a much needed break!)

37. Go for a drive (of course crank the tunes)

38. Watch a sunset

39. Start a blog! (You can start a free blog using WordPress or other platforms!)

40. Learn something new (scour the internet or check out a Youtube tutorial!)

41. Get up and dance. Shake it out in your bedroom (bonus points for bringing out the hairbrush microphone!)

42. Have a friend over for a low-key afternoon

43. Re-organize your make-up/beauty products

44. Look through old pictures and savour the memories

45. Go on Pinterest and get inspired! (Lets be friends… click here!)

46. Go for a run or workout

47. Go to bed early (truly nothing better than this)

48. Make a pile of things you don’t like/don’t work anymore and get them out of your house

49. Check something you’ve been meaning to do off your to do list!

50. Scour the newspaper and do one of the puzzles inside!

Takeaways

Self-care is important for our own self-preservation and well-being. We don’t always have to spend money to achieve self-preservation! I am not a licensed therapist, I merely believe in the importance of self preservation and personal well-being.

Although I am not licensed to help with mental health concerns, if you find you are struggling with your mental health, click here for access to helpful resources. Remember you and your mental health come first!

Let me know if you found these tips helpful/if you have any awesome FREE self-care ideas you use on the regular in the comments!