A 4-Step Mini Self-Care Plan

TIME: These classes are always offered at dinner-time hours like 6:30-7:45 — the exact time I am corralling my kid through the dinner-bath-books-bedtime chachacha.

MONEY: Yoga classes are nearing $20 a pop. Add in about $50 in babysitting costs with getting there and back and whatnot and you are looking at $70 a pop! Not possible!

So here is a mini self-care plan in case it’s helpful to you. And when I say you, I mean if you’re like me in some way. Take what you like and discard the rest.

Smiling because I’m doing push-ups

Step 1:

The most important one: Find an affordable gym membership with free childcare included (try your local YMCA) or in the case of my gym, which is $80/month and has a super cheap hourly rate for daycare – mine goes for $4/hr – compared to the $20/hour going rate for babysitters in Washington, D.C., is a total steal!).

Ideally, the gym has a hot tub! But at minimum, a sauna.

Step 2:

Go to a store and get your supplies: You will need some magazines, an exfoliating facial scrub, lavender oil and/or eucalyptus oil (can also be ordered from Amazon for around $10 to $20 and it will last you a year) and a plastic spray bottle.

Mixing magical lavender and eucalyptus oil for a relaxing spray