It’s spring break, and you have had just about enough of the assignments, laundry, dining hall food, roommates, and grimy hall bathrooms. It’s time to go home and unwind, do all those luxurious things you have seen women do in movies, bath salts, steam showers, massages… but being in college, you are probably broke.
Luckily, here is a list of things you can do at home to relax without spending money (because let’s be honest, you just don’t have any.)
Make a Face Mask
Yeah, you can make a facemask. All that is in those pre-packaged bags anyway are random foods and oils mashed up together in a convenient and cute little packet and then sold at a marked up price.
Thankfully, they all work the same way; apply to clean face, let dry for 15 minutes, wash off and feel rejuvenated. It’s almost deceptively simple.
Mash up and Mix Together:
¼ of a ripe avocado
1 teaspoon of plain yogurt
½ teaspoon of honey
OR
¼ cup water
½ cup cornmeal
OR
½ cup cooked oatmeal (use water, not milk)
½ teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon of water (add to desired thickness)
(Yep, that’s really all there is to it.)
Make Homemade Chocolate Truffles (because you deserve it)
Again, this is simple, but the stores and expensive brands trick you into thinking it cannot be done. In addition, if you make them yourself, you get to eat them while you go along (don’t lie) and personalize them to your tastes!
Personally, I am all about dark chocolate, darker the better, but it works with any kind. The same goes for the toppings, some ideas are smashed up peanuts, sprinkles, coconut or cocoa powder, but never hurt’s to get creative.
To add to the process of making the truffles, make sure your house is empty (or be really comfortable around whoever is home) and put on music to obnoxiously sing and dance around to. (Shout out to my family who deals with the baking and dancing thing with such acceptance.)
-Pick your chocolate*
*Cut into small pieces if not already small (like chocolate chips)
-Melt in microwave until almost smooth (important still has a little clump to it to make rolling easier)
-Add milk, depending on how much chocolate you used this will change amount, but should be about the consistency of oatmeal
-Roll into balls
-Roll balls into toppings
-Place on cookie sheet and put in freezer
Adult Coloring Books
So, this isn’t a free activity, but it is pretty affordable and definitely relaxing. You can go to any craft store (AI Friedman, Michaels, even some drug stores) and find a whole myriad of coloring books. This is awesome because you don’t have to be artistic, it’s literally coloring in the lines (or not, no judgment) and enjoying the pictures you make that look professional and take minimal effort.
Again, this experience can be amplified with the help of some music (and maybe even some Netflix). You’ll be shocked at how nice it feels to have your hands moving and then you get a pretty picture!
Swing Challenge
When was the last time you were on a swing? (Not rhetorical, feel free to talk to the computer.) For most people, it was when you were a child. Unless you have some sort of aversion to movement (in which case skip this), it can be soothing to swing, which is why most kids like it. If you get bored easily, you can make this into a sort of personal challenge, and try to see how high you can get the swing.
Look at Old Pictures
The nostalgia is real when you look at baby pictures, but real in the best way. If you’re anything like me, you probably want to look at pictures that have yourself in them, because you’re slightly self-obsessed (it’s best to just admit it). If this is the case, again, wait until no one is home. Take your time also, no need to rush. Look at the pictures and try to feel as happy as you looked when you were that age. No worries, no stresses, just sitting in your jumper looking like a million bucks.
And if all else fails, have a drink.