We live in an age where every bit of knowledge is at our fingertips, most of it in front of the paywall, easily accessible. Some of these wellness rituals take only 30 seconds, literally, while others take up to an hour. But here’s the thing: it’s doable, the only aspect of making your day one that’s filled with moments of wellness is your commitment.
From the moment you decide to implement little alarm systems serving to remind you to do 10 squats every 45 minutes, or to drink some water, or perhaps to start winding down for bed, you’re already 80% there. Here are the simple wellness routines that cost almost nothing you can adopt into your lifestyle to completely transform it.
You only have 3 minutes after the alarm goes off. Who knows what’s ahead, but you have committed yourself, so you start with your morning stretches that only take, again, 3 minutes.
Here are the 5 best stretches to do in the morning:
This age-old morning ritual has been praised for its effects on the legs. It boosts circulation, serves as the starting point for full-body lymphatic drainage, and activates the metabolism.
All you need to do is:
This little hack might be controversial, but many claim it to be one of the most detoxifying wellness rituals you can try at least twice a year. And here’s the thing, it’s dirt cheap to do.
But perhaps take the weekend off from any socialising if you’re going to do this. Please note that you should not try this if you are on medication for blood thinning; always be sure to consult your doctor first.
A detoxification powerhouse: garlic.
Many people forget that simple ingredients can truly enhance one’s appearance, such as green tea, olive oil, oats, turmeric, and even corn flour. We return to the ancient wonders. In our opinion, ancient remedies offer the best insights and natural ingredients to use for your skin’s health.
Wondering why your day often doesn’t turn out the way you hoped? Did you wake up and nothing was where it should be? The sink is full, and there is clutter everywhere. You try to focus, but your mind keeps drifting to the laundry or the floor that needs sweeping. Even if it doesn’t “bother you”, there’s an underlying buzz you’re trying to distract yourself from.
Or, you wake up, act as though you don’t see any mess, head to work, only to return to a space that should be inviting; however, it is anything but that. Well, there’s a solution: an evening routine. No point in having a morning routine without one, honestly. It’s the same as dieting the entire week just to eat chocolate cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the weekend.
Once your evening routine has become, well, routine, it’s time to implement a morning ritual to bring it all to glory. Upon waking up, you might want to move your body with the 30-second stretching routine and the mentioned heel jumps, then what’s next?
Perhaps a moment of reflection, sitting in complete stillness, listening to your inner heartbeat, visualising your day. Something we recommend is a brain drain. After moving your body, take an exam pad and write three pages of literally anything. Even if you don’t know what to write, write exactly that. Thereafter, take a moment for visualisation. Regardless, the order of your morning routine is up to you.
Although these simple wellness routines that cost almost nothing truly only take pennies to enhance your overall wellbeing, keep in mind that it takes something else too: time. All the minutes stack up, and eventually, you have spent significant amounts of time actively bettering your overall health.
Think of it this way, you need to give time to gain time, much like investing. You’ll never grow what you don’t contribute first—and time is the only truly valuable currency we need to protect, invest in, and grow. Note that this article is purely for informational purposes and does not serve to provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor first.
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Start My Journey →The Simple Wellness Routines That Cost Almost Nothing
Morning Stretching
You only have 3 minutes after the alarm goes off. Who knows what’s ahead, but you have committed yourself, so you start with your morning stretches that only take, again, 3 minutes.
Here are the 5 best stretches to do in the morning:
- A deep sumo squat: push your knees out with your elbows and make prayer hands at the chest. Make sure your back is straight, and that your bum is towards the floor
- Tucked calf and foot stretch: sit on your knees, place your hands on the floor in front of you, lift only your knees and balance on your toes, pushing back into your heels.
- Seated nerve stretch: sit criss-cross apple sauce on the floor, place your hands on the back of your head at the nape of the neck, and gently push your head down to tuck in your chin.
- Figure 4 rocks, both sides: from the criss-cross apple sauce position, place one ankle on the opposite knee. Place your hand behind you, and sway on your bum from left to right.
Morning Jumps
This age-old morning ritual has been praised for its effects on the legs. It boosts circulation, serves as the starting point for full-body lymphatic drainage, and activates the metabolism.
All you need to do is:
- 100 light jumps or
- 100 heel taps on the floor: lift the heel up and down, almost stomping it on the floor. This ritual also serves as a calf workout
Lymphatic Drainage
There’s an array of YouTube videos to follow along with if you want to eliminate toxins through your lymphatic system. The one embedded is comprehensive, easy to follow, and only takes about ten minutes. But why is it so important to move your body, to drain the lymphatic system? Why lymph flow matters:- Helps to alleviate puffiness and fluid build-up
- Supports your immune system
- Helps clear cellular waste (the by-products cells produce)
- May improve skin clarity and glow
- Reduces that sluggish, heavy feeling dramatically
At Home Detox
This little hack might be controversial, but many claim it to be one of the most detoxifying wellness rituals you can try at least twice a year. And here’s the thing, it’s dirt cheap to do.
But perhaps take the weekend off from any socialising if you’re going to do this. Please note that you should not try this if you are on medication for blood thinning; always be sure to consult your doctor first.
A detoxification powerhouse: garlic.
- Raw Consumption: Eating garlic raw is one of the most effective methods, as heat can destroy the active compounds, according to the Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials and Healthline.
- Honey Fermented Garlic: Mix peeled garlic cloves in raw honey, allow them to ferment for 2-4 weeks to create a powerful immune-boosting tonic.
- Synergy: Combine garlic with milk thistle for improved liver detox support.
- Skin Care: Rubbing raw garlic on the skin may help treat acne because of its antibacterial properties, but don’t be surprised if there is a slight burning sensation—it only lasts a minute or so.
At Home Face Masks
Many people forget that simple ingredients can truly enhance one’s appearance, such as green tea, olive oil, oats, turmeric, and even corn flour. We return to the ancient wonders. In our opinion, ancient remedies offer the best insights and natural ingredients to use for your skin’s health.
If you have oily skin, this one is for you:
- Steep 2 sachets of green tea in about 50 millilitres of boiled water.
- Once the water is infused with the green tea, remove the tea sachets and put them aside for later.
- Mix about a teaspoon or two of cornflour into the herb-infused water while it is still hot. It should thicken.’
- Add the herbs from the sachet into the mixture.
- Rub as a paste onto the skin and let it dry.
- Leave for 10-15 minutes, rinse off and wash the face with a moisturising face wash.
Dull skin?
- Mix one part turmeric with 3 parts honey.
- Remember, turmeric stains the skin, so be sure to test it on your wrists first.
- Only keep the mask on for about 7 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Wash the face to remove any residue.
Exfoliation a little overdue?
- Take some coffee grounds, about a teaspoon or more (this depends on you).
- Mix it with olive oil, tallow, or coconut oil until it becomes paste-like in texture. Do not use any other oils.
- Gently rub the mixture onto the face. Do not use pressure; just circle motions and a light touch.
- Rinse off with warm water.
- Conclude with a moisturising face wash afterwards. Plain unscented Dove soap bars work wonders.
Establish a Night Routine
Wondering why your day often doesn’t turn out the way you hoped? Did you wake up and nothing was where it should be? The sink is full, and there is clutter everywhere. You try to focus, but your mind keeps drifting to the laundry or the floor that needs sweeping. Even if it doesn’t “bother you”, there’s an underlying buzz you’re trying to distract yourself from.
Or, you wake up, act as though you don’t see any mess, head to work, only to return to a space that should be inviting; however, it is anything but that. Well, there’s a solution: an evening routine. No point in having a morning routine without one, honestly. It’s the same as dieting the entire week just to eat chocolate cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the weekend.
Here’s the gist of it
- Set an alarm on your phone. Perhaps for eight in the evening?
- Do a general sweep: put things away, throw stuff in the trash, but don’t get too distracted organising cupboards. That’s not the point. The first night, this might take a while (we suggest starting with only one room).
- Any dishes in the sink? Set a timer for 15 minutes to clean the kitchen as best you can.
- Ensure you have something to wear for the following day.
- Once you’re done, start with cleaning your face, make a cup of tea, and snuggle into bed.
- You want to stick to your bedtime. The body loves routine. So, yes, your parents actually knew best all along.
- No screens, no exceptions.
Establish a Morning Routine
Once your evening routine has become, well, routine, it’s time to implement a morning ritual to bring it all to glory. Upon waking up, you might want to move your body with the 30-second stretching routine and the mentioned heel jumps, then what’s next?
Perhaps a moment of reflection, sitting in complete stillness, listening to your inner heartbeat, visualising your day. Something we recommend is a brain drain. After moving your body, take an exam pad and write three pages of literally anything. Even if you don’t know what to write, write exactly that. Thereafter, take a moment for visualisation. Regardless, the order of your morning routine is up to you.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Don’t snooze the alarm; sit up and open a window for some fresh air.
- Start with your morning pages: remember 3 pages of your stream of consciousness. Do not read this; it’s purely to drain your clogged thoughts.
- Visualise your day, set a timer for 2 minutes so you remain focused.
- Start your morning stretches.
- Do your 100 jumps or heel taps; you can even do this while waiting for the shower water to turn warm.
Simple Wellness Routines That Cost Almost Nothing
Although these simple wellness routines that cost almost nothing truly only take pennies to enhance your overall wellbeing, keep in mind that it takes something else too: time. All the minutes stack up, and eventually, you have spent significant amounts of time actively bettering your overall health.
Think of it this way, you need to give time to gain time, much like investing. You’ll never grow what you don’t contribute first—and time is the only truly valuable currency we need to protect, invest in, and grow. Note that this article is purely for informational purposes and does not serve to provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor first.
