Don’t Sacrifice Self-Care On Vacation. Here's How to Do It — On a Budget
Emma Grace Brown lives her life by her rules; it works! When she's not snuggling puppies, Emma promotes female empowerment through her website. Her mission is to help those who live with self-doubt to realize they don't have to mold themselves to conventionality.
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If you’ve never been to California, there’s never been a better time to put Los Angeles on your bucket list. From the weather and diversity to the culture and, of course, the food, LA has a little something for everyone. Although the city isn’t known for being budget-friendly, it is possible to enjoy the City of Angels without draining your entire bank account or giving up on self-care during your vacation.
Let’s take a look at how you can enjoy some much-needed time away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life as you visit Los Angeles.
It’s Your Vacation Time, Take It
According to CNN, workers in the United States forgo hundreds of millions of vacation days each year. This equates to around $65.5 billion in benefits that never get paid out. The statistic is very telling of our obsession with work. This is unhealthy, at best, as we all need respite from the things that cause us stress, fatigue, and anxiety.
Don’t let your vacation time sit on the books. Instead, get together with friends and family and splurge on a vacation rental. This will help save each of you money, and you will get the added benefit of experiencing new attractions, such as Hollywood Hills, Venice Beach, or Disneyland, with your favorite people. Before you head out, take a look at the map and find a vacation HQ that puts you close to everything you want to see.
Self-Care, Vacation Style
Taking a vacation is already a great form of self-care. However, it is easy to get caught up in the moment and forgo things like exercise, solitude, and nutrition. Regardless of where you are, these types of healthy activities should have a place in your schedule.
You don’t have to visit the gym to maintain your physical fitness routine while you are away from home. You can do yoga right in the backyard of your rental. And if you’ve never done yoga before, now is a great time to start a practice that you can take home with you.
You can also download a few guided meditations at Yoga to Cope if you feel like you need to connect your mind and body before you begin your practice. And since Los Angeles is blessed with unbelievable weather all year, you can always simply go for a walk, swim, or hike.
If you’ve traveled with a group, you may find that having a few moments alone is difficult. Getting out of your rental for a few hours is a great way to enjoy solitude. Plus, exploring on your own will give you an opportunity to indulge your creative side, help you gain self-confidence, and perhaps most importantly, push you outside of your comfort zone, which might make you more willing to experience new things in the future.
During your travels, you also want to focus on healthy eating. Ideally, you’ll steer clear of hotels and their restaurants, and book a private rental with a kitchen so that you can cook quick and easy meals that won’t add unnecessary fat, oils, and calories to your diet. As a perk, cooking is usually less expensive than dining out. However, if you’re really trying to steer clear of the kitchen, Eater suggests several healthy restaurants around Los Angeles including Sqirl Kitchen and California Chicken Cafe.
Self-care doesn’t have to sit on the sidelines when you’re on vacation. If you want to channel the bulk of your discretionary spending into visiting your destination, the above tips can help you shave dollars off of your overall cost without giving up your healthy habits. Remember, you have to get away sometimes, so make every moment of your vacation count by prioritizing yourself for once. Let Yoga to Cope be a part of your self-care journey. Listen to the podcast and follow the site for more yoga and mental health resources.