Free Stuff

From the very official Free Self-Care Things List©™®

Good Morning!

The sun has risen on another Wednesday (YAS, good job Earth) and I absolutely can’t believe that we are more than halfway through the month of May. Every month seems to go by faster than the last.

In today’s edition of Daily Self, we’ll be focusing on a physical form of self-care (as we do every Wednesday). Here’s what you’ll find inside…

1. Morning Microdose: Free Stuff

2. Myth of the Day: Self-care sounds expensive.

3. Action Item: “FREE” yourself this weekend

(1) Morning Microdose

Free Stuff

If I had to pick one word in the English language that gets people’s attention faster than any other word, it would be “FREE” (i.e. something you don’t pay for).

We love free shit.

Proof:

• “Free Stuff” on Craiglist

• “Free Stuff” on Facebook Marketplace

• Free gift economies like the “Buy Nothing” network

• Free promotional items like hot sauce from sticker companies

• Free furniture and cat trees on the curb

• Free tiny lotion bottles from hotel bathrooms

• Free meals samples at Costco

• And when you received this morning’s email, the subject line “Free Stuff” caught your attention, didn’t it?

Particularly during times of economic uncertainty and job loss, the word FREE is hard to ignore. So, when it comes to self-care, there are a number of amazing FREE things you can do for yourself that require zero money down and zero installments, with zero recurring fees and zero interest.

Check out 5 of them below in our very official Free Self-Care Things List©™®!

1. Free books from the library that help you learn (including eBooks and audiobooks)

I LOVE reading self-help books as a form of self-care. In fact, I just love reading as both a learning tool and a form of escape. Unlike YouTube and TikTok, teaching yourself new things through books saves you from ads, FOMO, and social validation. Library cards are easy to get, and once you have one, you can use it as a key to unlock an entire universe of knowledge.

2. Free cardiovascular exercise in the form of sidewalks

Unless you live in a very rural town like my friend Amy who brakes for cows in Driggs, Idaho, you probably have a sidewalk that’s conveniently located near your home or workplace. That sidewalk goes somewhere, which means that by walking on it, you can go somewhere too.

Now, one could argue that shoes cost money (unless you’re one of these folks… you do you), but walking on sidewalks really doesn’t require super technical sneakers unless you’re an urban thru hiker like my friend Liz. All you need is comfortable shoes that allow you to walk far enough and fast enough to get your heart rate up.

If you live in a rural area, find a dirt or gravel road. And if your sidewalk isn’t safe, consider going to your local high school or college and using the track.

3. Free sit-under-a-tree in a park

City parks are generally free. Many state parks charge only for vehicle use, which means that you can walk or bike into a state park for free. Sitting under a tree is a beautiful way to connect with nature, which can be both rejuvenating and calming. Take the opportunity to observe the details of the tree, feel the texture of the bark, listen to the rustling leaves, and immerse yourself in the sensory experience.

4. Free meditation/relaxation apps

If you have a smartphone, there are many amazing free apps for meditation. Here are a few I’ve tried:

• Insight Timer (free, but premium upgrade for $)

• Simple Habit (free, but premium upgrade for $)

• Headspace (free through a 30-day trial, then $)

• 100% FREE meditation audiobooks from the library! (remember the first recommendation on the list?)

I can’t express enough how much meditation has helped me with stress reduction, mental clarity, and self-reflection. By engaging in meditation, you can activate the relaxation response in your body, which helps to counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol. It provides a dedicated space to calm the mind, release tension, focus thoughts, and explore your inner world.

5. Free music/concerts

Many communities offer free local concerts and/or musical gatherings (try searching Eventbrite for your city). In terms of self-care, music has the ability to affect neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward. Listening to uplifting or upbeat music can boost your mood, increase feelings of happiness and motivation, and provide an overall sense of well-being.

(2) Myth of the Day

I can totally get on board with that! If you think of self-care as a day at the spa, weekly massages, top-shelf skincare and body care products… YES, those things can add up quickly. But I look at those things more as “treating myself” versus daily self-care. Self-care can be as simple as sitting alone in a quiet room with your eyes closed.

(3) Action Item

Practice self-care for FREE this weekend, using either the list above or your own creative thinking. If you come up with something great, please share it in the comments below or shoot me an email at dailyselfnewsletter@gmail.com.

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