Zero Waste Self Care

We’re living in an interesting time right now amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of us are staying at home and bored out of our minds and some of us are out of work and have nothing else to do but stay home.

Whatever your circumstance, we can all go a little bit stir crazy when at home for too long. Now is the time to listen to our bodies and hearts and give them both a little extra love during this time. And any time! You don’t have to be quarantined to practice self-care!

So I wanted to share with you the free and zero waste ways I give myself a little extra care. For when I need to slow down and check-in and appreciate myself.

A lot of self-care ideas include spending money and otherwise wasteful things. I don’t think you have to spend money or waste anything to practice self-care. 

Zero Waste Self Care Ideas:

1. Gratitude journal –

Nothing kicks off my self-care routine like grounding myself in the things I’m thankful for. It doesn’t take much time but it can totally change your mood/perspective.

Especially with everything going on in the world right now, taking account of the things you’re thankful for does wonders for your morale.  

All you need is a pen and some paper and a little bit of time to check in with yourself.

2. Make your favorite drink –

If you’re a tea lover, opt for some bulk tea or take the time to make a special drink. Everyone on the internet is going crazy over “whipped” or “fluffy” coffee, so why not try something new! 

This is an easy way to indulge or treat yourself without spending a dime.

3. Take a bath –

What’s a self-care list without a good ole bubble bath? You can take it to the next level and make it feel like a spa!

Add some essential oils and Epsom salts to the tub or even add some milk (oat, almond or cow!) for a nourishing milk bath!

Turn on a podcast or your favorite tunes and just chill out.

I like taking it even a step further (because, why not?) and adding a facemask and doing a body scrub!

Here are my DIY recipes:

Oat Facemask:

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup oats

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth and apply to your face for about 15 minutes! This mask is really hydrating and smells super yummy!

Body scrub:

• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup ground coffee (I use the leftover grounds from my french press to really make this zero waste!)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp jojoba, almond, or vitamin E oil

Combine the ingredients until you get a rough paste. Then use it to scrub and polish your entire body! The coffee grounds and sugar work to buff away dead skin cells while the oils moisturize the skin!

4. Read a book –

I think reading is one of the best forms of self-care. It’s an act of learning and bettering yourself.

Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, you can always learn something from a book and expand your mind. 

5. Exercise –

Exercising is another way that I practice self-care. It didn’t use to be, I used to think it was torture. A painful way to lose weight or look a certain way.

I had to change my mindset towards exercising. I had to look at it as a form of self-care. A way to take care of myself, to better myself. To push myself and keep myself healthy. 

And this looks different for everyone. It can be a hard-core weight training session, some cardio, yoga or even just stretching routinely. But find a way to incorporate exercise into your self-care routine and you won’t regret it. 

6. Do something just for fun –

Take up painting, try baking something new, dance just for fun! Do something that’s fun and do it just for you.

If you paint a picture, paint it just to express yourself and get the creative juices flowing, don’t do it with the intent to show anyone. 

Don’t bake for anyone else or dance for anyone else. Do something you love, something fun and do it just for you. 

7. Get outside –

There’s a reason why this is an environmental blog. I love nature, I love our planet and I want to preserve it.

Getting outside and enjoying the fresh air and the scenery is one of the best therapeutic practices to connect with yourself and with something bigger than yourself.

Related:

How to boost your immunity naturally

How to become a conscious consumer

Practical ways to reduce stress

Taking care of yourself and creating a self-care routine doesn’t have to cost anything or create any waste. In fact, every single one of these things you can do at home, for free! And Zero waste!

I hope you enjoyed these zero waste self-care ideas and that they gave you some inspiration to kick off your self-care routine! 

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