How to relax on a budget
Whether you’re a highly paid person working in the finance industry or a college student, everyone needs time to relax.
Working constantly is not viable and indeed is unproductive.
You are human, requiring respite from the burdens of working.
This can mean taking a few minutes out or an entire holiday, depending on your current situation.
Nonetheless, you must factor it in the same way you would factor any other aspect of your life in terms of productivity.
However, not everyone has the money to pay for expensive holidays or has the connections overseas that allows them free accommodation.
To that end, it’s worth considering how to take some time off while on a budget.
1. Make a home holiday
Your home is your castle. Every day you should be finding ways to relax at home, at least even for a few minutes. This can mean either doing simple home exercises, reading a book, watching TV and so on. These are ways people wind down after a long day at the office. But when you take a budget holiday, you can simply expand on this. Get yourself your favourite snacks, movies, books and so on, and spend time behind locked doors away from the world. This way, you can dive in to your favourite distraction.
However, some experts think that routine is what you need to break away from. Family psychologist Dr Rachel Andrews told the Telegraph: “Going away gives us a valuable opportunity to change old habits, for parents and children to act differently towards each other. If you stay at home, the temptation to catch up on chores is overwhelming and you’re unlikely to spend proper time together or to be refreshed by the experience.”
Time away from work or studies give you the opportunity to explore other things. You don’t have to worry about whether something will fit into your schedule. You can take your time, try new activities, and so on.
2. Travel (but by car)
A holiday doesn’t have to mean going overseas. Financing a recreational vehicle might be one option, letting you take it wherever you want. Also, as noted, changing your location can do a lot. Using a recreational vehicle can mean going to different places, so that you can try new things. As Nerd Wallet notes:
“The key is research and vigilance. Digging deep can save you a good deal of cash. If you’re open to alternatives, you certainly are not required to stay at a hotel. Hostels and campsites tend to be far cheaper. Another indispensable resource is CouchSurfing.org, a website that helps travelers find free lodging with hosts all over the world. If all else fails, you can always find a quiet place to park and sleep in the car.”
Calculating petrol is also essential. You then calculate the lodging price, food and so on, to the best of your ability while keeping your budget in mind. You can also arrange a series of stops at free, tourist-relevant spaces.
3. Focus on relaxation
It’s also important to focus on relaxation. While these other previously mentioned suggestions can lead to situations that are not stressful, you should focus on creating relaxation. Holidays are a time to unwind and you don’t need to leave your house to achieve this. Consider exercises and other activities that will declutter your mind, focusing on those aspects of life that could calm you. There is often so little time for relaxation and it’s also essential for health.
4. Sleep
The idea that you can catch up on sleep is unfounded. As the National Sleep Foundation highlights:
“Even when you sleep an extra 10 hours to compensate for sleeping only 6 hours a night for up to two weeks, your reaction times and ability to focus is worse than if you had pulled an all-nighter. This is not good news for shift-workers such as doctors, truckers, and law enforcement officers.”
Getting enough sleep is essential for health. As Mental Health America notes: “If you don’t get enough sleep, or good quality sleep every once in a while, you may notice that you wake up feeling groggy, not well rested, and experience difficulty concentrating. If you consistently do not get enough quality sleep, you are at higher risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, headaches and depression. Try to stay in the suggested guidelines for amount of sleep – getting too much sleep on a regular basis can be problematic for health as well.”
Relaxation is essential and holidays are the best way to get the quality relaxation. It must be viewed as a part of being a productive person – whether as a student or as an office worker. You can’t overlook the importance to your body and mind. There’s no use to your school or company in having a burnt out wreck of a person, since this means you don’t do your job or study properly.