How to Care for Yourself in This Economy

When we hear the term “self-care,” many of us think of spa days, resorts, and beach houses. And for many of us in this economy, those options are out of the question. However, there are several effective free or low-cost alternatives to help you care for yourself when you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

Daily Habits to Care for Yourself

You want to be healthy, physically, mentally, and spiritually. But how do you care for yourself during a downturn in the economy and busy days trying to make ends meet? The answer: you build daily habits into your life that are either free or low-cost.

The following are several tips you can try to care for yourself in this economy.

Make Movement a Part of Your Day

Movement does not have to mean grueling workouts at the gym for hours six days a week. Movement can be a few days of walking for 10 to 30 minutes and strength training every other day, three days a week. It can mean stretching before bed or Saturday morning Pilates. It can look like playing catch with the kids or walking the dog. Make it a part of your daily routine like brushing your teeth.

Stay Hydrated

Most people do not drink enough water to stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, rapid heart rate, and a drop in blood pressure. In extreme cases, dehydration can cause confusion, dizziness, fainting, kidney stones, and seizures. Depending on your climate, you may need to drink more than 64 ounces of water daily to stay properly hydrated. Consult with your physician.

Choose Your Meals Wisely

Ultra-processed foods can worsen anxiety and depression symptoms and trigger physical responses, like chronic inflammation. Caring for yourself includes eating nutritious foods to care for the body God gave you. Create a menu of healthy meals before grocery shopping to ensure you have what you need on hand.

Enjoy Green Spaces

There is something about standing in God’s green spaces, listening to nature, and inhaling fresh air. Green spaces have been shown to calm the nervous system. By sitting or strolling in nature, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the fight-or-flight response. Try to get outdoors more, whether it is to enjoy your morning coffee, during your lunch break, or for an after-dinner stroll.

Make a “Six Most Important Things” To-Do List

Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, had it right. She encouraged her consultants and directors to create a list of the six most important things to do the next day. This list narrowed focus and made it easier to get more done because people didn’t feel pulled in different directions while also keeping the list short. Create your list the night before, and move any tasks you do not complete to the top of the next day’s list.

Calm Your Nervous System

Triggering the parasympathetic nervous system is easier than we give it credit for. Most of us notice when we trigger anxiety, but pursuing calming hobbies and interests can be the catalyst for relaxing our bodies and minds. Consider pursuits like reading, listening to music, fishing, crocheting, or praying.

Serve the Community and Be Social

Serving the community may seem counterintuitive to caring for yourself, but volunteering to meet another’s needs can leave you feeling purposeful. Socializing with others at events, like church, the library, or local gatherings, keeps you from feeling isolated and provides opportunities for connection.

Create a Morning or Evening Basket

Start and end your day on a relaxing note by creating a morning or evening basket or comfort kit. Consider adding items that make you feel good and offer a few minutes of luxury. For example, you could include a bottle of lotion or a tube of hand cream, a novel, a puzzle book, a ball of yarn and a crochet hook, a devotional, or several herbal teas.

Get Help for Negative Thoughts

Negative thoughts have a way of sneaking in when you’re tired, overwhelmed, and stressed. Beat them at their own game by having a reframed mantra. First, identify the negative thought. Next, ask yourself whether this is really true, and flip the script by rewording the negative thought into a positive mantra to repeat aloud to yourself.

Help is Only a Call or Click Away

If chronic stress, overwhelming responsibilities, and worry about the state of the world have you feeling anxious or down, reach out to our office today to schedule a session with a Christian counselor. Your Christian counselor will address you as a whole: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Call or complete the online form today to get started. It is time to care for yourself so you can serve the Lord to the best of your ability.