4 Ways I Treat Myself on Vacation – They’re All Free

I’ll admit it: I buy $7 oat milk cappuccinos and chocolate croissants before running errands on Saturdays. When my friends indulge in yoga classes and an afternoon of shopping, they call it “a Meg Day.”

December Meg is different. As the vast majority of AmericansI can’t help but feel stressed during the holidays. I have to adjust my budget to make sure I can afford the cranberry-flavored cocktails at the holidays and the $80 Skims onesie on my sister’s wish list, or risk going into credit card debt.

But when it’s cold, dark, and the airports are full of people acting like they’ve never walked through a TSA line before, I need extra energy to meet my year-end deadlines. So, I came up with a middle ground. I’m continuing my usual semi-indulgent self-care routine, but I’m substituting activities that cost $0.

Here are four ways I’m making a little more time for myself this holiday season that aren’t chores and don’t cost a dime.

free attractions

Every city I’ve lived in, big or small, is filled with twinkling lights and free or low-cost community events during the holidays.

In New York, where I currently live, museums often have designated free or discounted hours. You can find other free events here, such as tango lessons, silent discos or stargazing at The High Line, quite easily on social media.

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When I lived in Adrian, Michigan, I checked local news, government and university websites, as well as Eventbrite pages and Facebook groups, to find those events, from Christmas concerts to tree lighting ceremonies.

This year, I’m attending a light show and going to a downtown Christmas market with my family in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My sister promises to help me refrain from buying hot chocolate in a boot-shaped mug.

shop windows

Dreaming about next year’s wardrobe instead of buying it is a pretty obvious way to save money, if you have enough self-control. But window shopping is difficult for me. I’ll never be able to resist a discounted pair of Miista boots.

Instead, I take different routes home so I can see as many Christmas-decorated streets as possible—a different way to window shop with fewer financial consequences. Sometimes someone leaves the lights on in their living room and I catch a glimpse of evergreen trees festooned with lights, giant reflective red bulbs, and paper angels.

Some of my coworkers do similar activities that activate their senses, like trying on fragrances, buying candles, or patrolling the supermarket aisles for free samples. It’s a smart suggestion: Activating your five senses It’s an easy way to relieve anxiety, studies show.

Turn my living room into a coffee shop or my bathroom into a spa

I have two hobbies I’m really good at: ice skating and writing, and at least 12 I tried once and never picked up again. I wish I had more time to master them all.

My editor had a good idea: grab a comfy blanket, put on your favorite playlist, make yourself a fancy hot drink, and do an activity of your choice for a couple of hours. (Editor’s note: That guy seems pretty smart!)

I swapped out the overhead lighting for lamps, played The Beatles, and tried to complete a $25 crochet kit I impulsively bought online months ago. I sat under a blanket, sipped ginger tea from my favorite mug, and generally felt recharged after two hours, even though I only completed about three rows of my crocheted strawberry.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, I’ll be doing it again, this time as a DIY spa day, using the countless beauty products I’ve accumulated over the years and rarely use.

My editor will be happy, and probably not surprised, to know that his suggestion is backed by science: practicing something creative can make you a better problem solverpsychologists say. And the simple act of playing can relieve stress and build social skills and mental resilience, no matter what age you are. research shows.

Catch up with an old friend, or not

The holidays can be festive, stressful, and comforting at the same time, and everyone handles that stress differently. Some people, for example, benefit from scheduling a phone call with a friend before or after group events.

I’m actually quite the opposite: my social and family obligations tire me out, because I feel like I need to be “on” during most of my waking hours to meet everyone’s expectations. So, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I schedule some time to “stare at the wall.”

Being alone and silent gives you time to reflect.process difficult emotions and be more present when you are ready to rejoin the word, professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania Justin McDaniel he told me in 2022. After a few minutes of sitting in real silence, I scroll on my phone, watch Thanksgiving episodes of “Gossip Girl,” or do laundry.

The downtime recharges me so I can argue with my family about which Christmas movie to watch on Christmas Eve.

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