December is a hectic month for most of us, and then January is a long month of paying for December (both financially and often bodily). People talk about starting healthy eating, exercise plans etc in January and if you are someone who sticks to that, then good for you. Keep it up! I think for most people though, January is depressing enough and sticking to a new regime is unrealistic.
February comes along and money might still be a little bit tight, but the holiday rush has well and truly gone away and winter is dragging on and I feel like this is a good time to practice a bit of self care that will make you feel good about yourself in time for spring rolling around. Because it can still be a tight time for people money wise, the three things I recommend doing for self care in February are all free (or very low cost – you might need to buy a face mask if you don’t have one to hand).
Have An At Home Spa Day
Going to a spa can be expensive, but there is nothing to stop you from having an at home spa day. Start with a shower or bath and use your nice products! Wash your hair and if you have a hair mask, apply it. Shave, exfoliate, do whatever you want that makes you feel good.
After the bath or shower, apply a face mask. While that’s on, moisturise your skin with a nice lotion. Remove the face mask and moisturise your face. Apply foot lotion and hand cream. Paint your nails if you like them done. If you are having the spa day with someone else, get some oil and give each other a nice massage. And don’t forget to relax.
Get a Health Check
While this activity isn’t exactly fun, it can go a long way to making you feel good and even save your life. Get yourself booked in with your doctor for a health MOT. Have your bloods checked and your blood pressure checked. And perhaps most importantly for women, book in for a smear test. I know it’s not pleasant, but it really could save your life and that is worth a few moments of discomfort. Another bog one for women is to check your breasts for any lumps and bumps. If you find anything out of the ordinary, book an appointment with your doctor. Again, this could save your life.
And if all of your tests come back clear, you can relax knowing your body is healthy and this will help you to feel good and not be stressed over anything medical related.
Take Some You Time
Making time for yourself is so important, but with careers and children and other family commitments, friends to see and chores to complete both in and out of the house, it can be hard to catch a break. But your mental health is important and getting burnt out isn’t healthy for you.
Take time for you, even if it’s just an hour once a week. Do whatever makes you happy – have a bubble bath and a nice cup of tea, read a book and nibble on some nice snacks, watch a movie and have a glass of wine, even have an early night, whatever works for you. Taking this time for yourself isn’t selfish. Not only will you feel good, but you will also be refreshed and more able to carry out your every day duties so your whole family will actually benefit from this.
What do you do to feel good about yourself? Let me know in the comments 🙂
This is a fantastic approach to self-care ! Acknowledging the financial realities after the holidays and the lingering winter blues is a great starting point. Focusing on free or low-cost activities like an at-home spa day makes this advice accessible to a wider audience. Breaking down the steps for a pampering spa experience at home is helpful and actionable.