Self-Care Sunday: 10 Grounded Practices That Won’t Cost You a Thing

We live in a world that often confuses self-care with spending. Glossy products, pricey retreats, and curated routines fill our timelines—but for many of us, that kind of care is out of reach.

Here at Intellectual Ink, we’re reclaiming what self-care actually means: intentional acts that nourish, restore, and protect your peace. No paycheck required.

This Self-Care Sunday, we’re offering a list of free and low-cost ways to care for yourself. These aren’t meant to “fix” you. You’re not broken. They’re meant to remind you of your humanity—and help you return to it.

10 Free or Low-Cost Self-Care Practices You Can Do Today

1. Take a walk without your phone.
No music. No distractions. Let your senses guide you and pay attention to the world around you.

2. Write a letter to your future self.
Share your hopes, your fears, your truth. Be as honest and kind as possible.

3. Sip something warm, without multitasking.
Make tea, coffee, or hot cocoa—and sit still while drinking it. Let it be a ritual.

4. Stretch for ten minutes.
Loosen your body and release some tension. You don’t need a yoga mat—just space and breath.

5. Read something nourishing.
Pick up a favorite poem, book, or even a passage that’s helped you through hard times.

6. Say no to one thing today.
Protect your energy. You don’t have to over-explain or feel guilty.

7. Clean one small area of your space.
Not because you “should,” but because clearing space can clear your mind.

8. Call or text someone who makes you feel seen.
Not to vent or unload—just to connect.

9. Lay down and do nothing for five minutes.
Let yourself be still. Let your mind drift.

10. Step outside and look at the sky.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Let that moment be enough.

Self-care doesn’t require a perfect moment. It doesn’t need money or aesthetics. It just needs you to choose yourself—even for five minutes.

And the more you do that? The more natural it becomes.

You don’t have to wait for rest. You don’t have to earn care. You are worthy of it right now.

Self-Care Prompt:
What do you need more of in your life—and what small step can you take today to give yourself a piece of that?

Write it down. Honor it.

A Word from Us:
At Intellectual Ink, we believe that creativity can’t flow from burnout. That your best ideas are born in stillness, and your clearest voice comes when you feel safe, rested, and whole.

Take what you need today.
Even if it’s just a moment.

We’ll be right here when you return.

— Intellectual Ink

P.S. If you’re looking for a powerful reminder of why rest matters, check out Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. It’s not a how-to guide. It’s a full reclamation.