Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially when you have children in today’s fast-paced society, where our schedules are action-packed and we often feel overworked, stressed out, and exhausted. This is equally true for teachers and educators who are dealing with older children. How can we get back to achieving a state of balance and happiness when we don’t have the time or money? Luckily, there are many options available for regaining control of your schedule, your life, and your own well-being.
Here are some budget-friendly suggestions for how to give yourself the gifts of self-care without breaking the bank.
Hiring Help
Do you ever daydream about what you’d do if only you had more time? If you never have enough time (whether you’re planning next week’s lesson or shuttling the kids to practice or after-school activities), it might be worthwhile to hire someone to help you out. For instance, you might hire a professional dog walker or pet sitter to take care of your pet while you’re at work, grabbing dinner, or running errands. Another idea is to hire a maid service on occasion to clean your home.
Sure, you could do these activities yourself, but using these convenient (and cost-effective) local services is a great way to help manage stress. In fact, the BBC recently reported that additional time was more effective at raising levels of happiness than material goods. This was backed up by a second article in the New York Times, which cited a recent study on happiness. According to the study, people were happier when they spent money on time-saving services, such as ordering takeout foods or hiring cleaning services rather than doing everything themselves. The extra time they saved contributed to an increased sense of happiness and well-being.
Stay on Top of Your Physical and Dental Health
When you’re trying to maintain a professional life and manage a household, sometimes your own physical self-care can fall by the wayside. As such, it’s important to stay on top of checkups and appointments with your physician. And while you might think it’s okay to skip out on dental care, you’d be surprised by the ways oral hygiene affects our overall health. In fact, poor oral hygiene can often lead to depression, and those who suffer from mental health issues often have multiple oral health problems, including loose teeth and gingivitis.
Holistic Health and Wellness
By following the steps listed above, you’ll empower yourself to have more free time to spend on your own self-care. One of the best things you can do with this time and clarity is to invest in holistic health and integrative wellness services. Services like chiropractic care, acupuncture (usually costs between $50 and $90 per session), and light therapy are great for stress management and improved health and well-being.
Studies have shown these health services to have numerous health benefits, especially for parents and educators. Researchers have concluded that “integration of multiple health care modalities is beneficial to patient health.” For instance, you might consider getting a massage on the same day that you get a chiropractic adjustment. Not only does this create a beautiful day of self-care; it also helps relax your muscles and loosen your joints to better respond to your chiropractic adjustment. Another option would be to integrate chiropractic care with a personal yoga practice, which can help improve scoliosis and support a healthy spine.
Endless Possibilities
The options listed above are just a few of the endless possibilities for self-care on a budget. As you might imagine, self-care looks a bit different for every person. Regardless of how you like to unwind, there are plenty of options for improving your physical, mental, emotional, and social health. By following the advice listed above and doing some brainstorming on your own, you’ll be able to incorporate healthy habits to ensure your well-being all year long.
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