4 ways to treat yourself during the holidays – all free

I’ll admit it: I buy $7 oat milk cappuccinos and chocolate croissants before I run on Saturdays. When my friends do yoga and do afternoon shopping, they call it “Meg Day”.

December Meg is different. I like it the vast majority of AmericansI can’t avoid stress during the holidays. I need to trim my budget to make sure I can afford the cranberry-flavored shakes at the holiday parties and the $80 Skims bodysuits on my sister’s wish list — or I risk credit card debt.

But when it’s cold, dark, and airports are filled with people who act like they’ve never been through a TSA line before, I need that extra boost of energy to meet year-end deadlines. So I came up with Happy Wednesday. I’m continuing my usual indulgent self-care routine, but substituting classes that cost $0.

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

Free attractions

Every city I’ve lived in, big or small, is full of twinkling lights and free or inexpensive social events around the holidays.

In New York, where I currently live, museums often offer free or discounted time slots. Here, you can find other free events — like tango lessons, silent discos, or stargazing on The High Line — quite easily on social media.

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When I lived in Adrian, Michigan, I checked local college, state and news websites—as well as Eventbrite pages and Facebook groups—to find events ranging from holiday concerts to tree-lighting ceremonies.

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

Window shopping

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 windows are difficult for me. I can never resist a pair of Miista boots on sale.

Instead, I take different routes home to see as many festively decorated streets as possible—another form of window shopping with less financial consequences. Sometimes someone leaves their living room light on and I see evergreen trees decorated with lights, giant reflective red bulbs, and paper angels.

Some of my colleagues engage in similar activities that activate their senses, such as trying on fragrances, buying candles, or patrolling the aisles of the grocery store for free samples. This is a smart suggestion: Activating your five senses it’s an easy way to relieve anxiety, research shows.

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

I have two hobbies I’m good at—skating and writing—and at least 12 I tried once and never went back. I want more time to master them all.

My editor had a good idea: grab a cozy blanket, put on your favorite playlist, make yourself a fancy hot drink and spend a couple of hours doing the activity of your choice. (Editor’s Note: This guy seems pretty smart!)

I replaced the ceiling lighting with lamps, put on The Beatles, and tried to finish a $25 crochet kit I bought on impulse online a few months ago. I sat under a blanket, sipping ginger tea from my favorite mug, and after two hours I felt completely recharged—even though I had only completed about three rows of my crocheted strawberries.

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

My editor will be happy, and probably not surprised, to learn that his suggestion is backed up by science: practicing something creative can make you a better problem solverpsychologists say. And a simple game can relieve stress and develop social skills and mental resilience, no matter how old you are. research shows.

To catch up with an old friend – or not

The holidays can be celebratory, stressful, and comforting all at once, and everyone handles that stress differently. For example, some people find it beneficial to schedule a phone call with a friend before or after group activities.

I’m actually the opposite: my social and family commitments wear me down because I feel like I need to be “on” for most of my waking hours in order to live up to everyone’s expectations. So, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I plan some “wall staring” time.

Being alone and in silence gives you time to reflectprocess complex emotions and be more present when you’re ready to rejoin the word, University of Pennsylvania professor of religious studies Justin McDaniel told me in 2022. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, I’m scrolling through my phone, watching the Thanksgiving episode of Gossip Girl, or doing laundry.

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

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