In the age of Instagram and Youtube and influencers, self-care probably sounds like fancy facials, expensive impromptu vacations, and a dresser littered with tiny beautiful bottles of skincare. 

Let's get real, who really has the money for all that?

Self-care isn't supposed to break your bank. It's not supposed to cause you more distress. In fact, self-care is all about taking care of your mental and emotional well-being.

Here are a few inexpensive self-care options that won't break your bank:

1. Stay Hydrated

Drink up, ladies. Did you know that dehydration causes the skin to look dull, and makes wrinkles, fine lines, and pores more prominent? Keeping your body hydrated will allow your skin to maintain its elasticity, making it less prone to irritation and blemishes. It will also help you maintain a healthy gut!

2. Switch to a Silk Pillowcase

Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture not just out of your hair, but also your skin. Silk pillowcases, on the other hand, are gentler on the skin, especially for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin types. Make sure to check your pillowcases at least once every week.

3. Sanitize Your Cell Phone Daily

Think about it- you're always on your phone. You take it everywhere. The kitchen, the bathroom, restaurants, grocery shops...literally anywhere you go. Most of the time, you don't even know if your fingers are clean. To avoid getting germs on your face when you make calls, make sure to disinfect your phone safely every day.

4. Take a Bubble Bath

Sometimes work gets so systematic and monotonous that self-care seems like a luxury rather than a necessity. Your body might be feeling stiff from sitting on a chair all day long or in a confined space but you come home to more work. In these times, treat yourself to a bubble bath. The National Institute of Health has actually proven that submerging the body in warm water increases blood flow and calms the nerves. Who knew?!

5. Meditate

If you're looking for a game-changer, this is it. Meditation is the key to feeling calm and practicing mindfulness. Just a couple of minutes of meditation can calm your racing thoughts down, eliminating negative energy and worries. Meditating regularly will also strengthen your immune system, reduce blood pressure, and help you get a good night's sleep. All this will reflect back to healthy, glowing skin. Remember, sometimes you don't need to "do", you just need to "be". 

6. Maintain a Gratitude Journal

You don't need a fancy, expensive journal to do this. Just grab any small copy and a pencil and get started. Think of the notebook as your safe space and write down all your thoughts and feelings. Journaling can be super therapeutic as it helps you work through difficult emotions, reflect on certain events, and be more mindful of all the good in your life. Not only will this reduce anxiety in the long-run, but it will also cultivate traits like patience and anger management.

7. Go for a Walk

We spend so much time cooped up indoors on a desk or in front of a screen that the outdoor starts to feel alien. Make it a practice to take a stroll in your garden or around your block to calm your nerves down. Leave your phone at home and just pay attention to your surroundings. 

8. Reduce Screen Time

We understand that this is close to impossible. Our lives seem to be co-dependent on our screens, be it our laptops or cellphones or televisions. However, it is important to disconnect. Mindless scrolling through social media is scientifically linked to lower self-esteem and disturbed sleep. It can also make you lose focus from the things that really matter in life. Did you know that the blue light emitted from screens is harmful to the skin? All the more reason to limit screen time!

9. Find a Hobby

It is easy to be so overworked that you don't get time to do anything else. Work becomes life and life becomes work. You see people doing things like learning a new language or cooking or painting and you just can't fathom how they have the energy to indulge in these random things. However, finding a hobby that makes you happy is essential. Not only will it invoke feelings of productivity, but it will also give you something to genuinely enjoy without the burden of proving yourself to anyone. Play an instrument, whip up a new recipe, recycle some old bottles, join a spin class- do whatever makes you happy.

10. Set a Bed Time

We cannot stress this enough. Adding discipline and structure into your life is the biggest favor you can do to yourself. Go to bed early and wake up early each day. Even if you have nothing significant planned for the day, wake up early, complete all your little pending tasks, and take some time to do something you love. Nighttime is when your body repairs your muscles and improves your immune system. To ensure healthy skin and a healthy body, make sure to give yourself a good night's rest.