Let’s be honest: when you’re balancing bills, kids, and your own sanity on one income, self-care can feel like a luxury you just don’t have time (or money) for. But here’s the truth: self-care isn’t optional. It’s essential. Especially when you’re carrying so much.

The good news? It doesn’t have to cost a thing.

Whether your budget is tight or you’re just trying to build better habits, these five self-care ideas are totally free—and designed for the everyday woman who does it all.

1. 💬 Voice Note Therapy (aka talking it out with yourself)

Feeling overwhelmed? Open your phone’s voice recorder and vent. This is a safe space where you can get real. Talk through your emotions like you would with a best friend. It’s a powerful way to process what you’re going through—without needing an appointment or a co-pay. And surprisingly, offers relief. 

📌 Try this: End your voice note with an affirmation like: “I’m proud of how I keep showing up, even when it’s hard and I have what it takes to keep going”

2. 🧘🏾‍♀️ Stretch + Stillness in the Morning

Before your feet hit the floor—or before the kids start asking for waffles—take five minutes to stretch and sit in stillness. No phone. No television. Start your morning slow. It helps reset your nervous system and makes a big impact on how you approach your day.

💡 Pro Tip: Set your alarm five minutes earlier and keep a glass of water near your bed.

3. 📒 Budget Check-In with a Pep Talk

Reviewing your money doesn’t have to feel like punishment. Put on your favorite playlist, grab your Weekly Reset Budget Template, and approach your numbers like a coach—not a critic.

🪞 Instead of saying: “I messed up again.”
💬 Try saying: “I’m learning, and I’m showing up. It’s normal for it to feel hard, but it’s worth it.”

4. 🌳 Go Outside and Breathe

You don’t need a fancy gym or spa to reset your mood. Just go outside. Take a walk around the block, sit in a park, or lie in the grass. Nature doesn’t charge a cover fee, but appreciate it. Notice the trees and the birds. Feel the wind against your face. Look up at the beautiful sky. Take it all in. All of it was created for you.

🌞 Even 10 minutes of sunlight can boost your mood and your vitamin D.

5. ✍🏽 Journal Your Way to Self-Love

You spend so much time showing up for everyone else. Now it’s your turn. Grab a notebook (or the notes app on your phone) and journal your way back to you.

Write a note to yourself like you would to your best friend. Remind yourself of everything you’ve overcome, how far you’ve come, and what you’re dreaming of. This practice does wonders for cultivating a strong mindset.

💡 You Deserve This

You don’t need a spa day or a shopping spree to take care of yourself. What you do need is to remember: you matter too. And small acts of self-care create big shifts in your energy, mindset, and money habits.

💖 Want to build a regular self-check-in practice? Download the Single Mom Weekly Reset Budget Template to track your mindset, money, and wins every week. It’s free—and created just for you.