Self-Care Trends You Can Try at Home (and When to Visit the Experts)

It’s fun to test out new trends in self-care and discover what works best for your physical and mental health, but some activities, products and services are more expensive than others. Here is a selection of free or cheap DIY self-care tricks.  

Home fitness 

Don’t want to splurge on a gym membership (opens in a new window)? No problem. The at-home fitness industry has never been so big, thanks to apps that act like personal trainers in your pocket, offering pre-set workout routines, video tutorials, food tracking and more. And if time, not money, is the issue, smart technology—from rowing machines and boxing gloves to snazzy stationary bikes with digital access to classes—makes it possible to get a sweaty, gym-level workout in the corner of your living room. Remember: never begin a new fitness program without checking with your physician first.

Oat milk

Forget soy, almond and coconut: Oat milk (opens in a new window) is the latest dairy alternative to take over coffee shops because of its thick consistency and subtle flavour.  and amp up your homemade smoothies and lattes.

One-stop wellness centres 

In this fast-paced world, we’re all time poor (opens in a new window) and no one wants to drive between the gym, the salon, the physiotherapist and the smoothie shop to check off our self-care to-do list—not if we can help it, anyway. Enter one-stop wellness mega-centres that offer multiple services all under one roof. You can’t take part in this self-care trend from home, but at least visiting a wellness centre with multiple service offerings will help you save on gas!

Meditation 

Fancy studios that offer guided meditation, yoga and sound baths seem to be popping up on every corner. But you don’t need to spend $25 per session to reap the benefits of mindfulness. Take a few minutes to focus on your breathing, mindfully wash your dishes (paying attention to the feel of the cloth, the temperature of the water and the smell of the soap) or go for a walk in nature without your phone. 

Easy-access cosmetic treatments 

Lasers, peels, and fillers for rejuvenating the skin, treating dark spots and adding volume are becoming popular and more easily accessible. However, these non-surgical procedures require the ministrations of a professional, so book a consultation with an experienced practitioner—like one of the pros at The Beauty Clinic by Shoppers Drug Mart (opens in a new window).®