We all want to be well. But if your wellness inspiration comes from social media (well, mainly TikTok), you’ve probably found yourself becoming tempted by expensive adaptogenic smoothies, IV drips and vitamin infusions, ice baths and infrared saunas… all of which are wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but they’re expensive.
The economy, inflation, interest rates, your power bill are likely all working against you right now, and spending $18 on a smoothie that promises eternal youth is probably not the most enlightened choice, it’s more like financial sabotage.
So, how do we participate in wellness, the glowy, self-optimised, matcha-fueled version, when times are tough? How do we do it without maxing out a credit card or becoming a person who starts every sentence with, “Have you heard of cold plunging?” Here’s some food for thought.
Master the art of the low-cost reset
There’s a reason wellness is often packaged as a luxury: it makes it easier to sell. But a reset doesn’t need to involve a remote island or an entire week away. A single-day wellness retreat, one that doesn’t require a passport or a second mortgage, can do wonders.
Myland & Co is a new Auckland-based retreat offering where you can book one-day escapes that feel like mini holidays without having to sacrifice your annual leave. Likewise, many spas offer day passes, yoga studios host donation-based classes, and a long, uninterrupted walk somewhere green is still free. A reset is attainable, no matter the state of your cash flow.
Drink water, but make it fancy
We’ve been told over and over, hydration is key. But hydration does not have to come from artisanal glass bottles blessed by moonlight. If you must infuse, slice up whatever’s in your fruit bowl, such as cucumber, lemon, those slightly sad end-of-season strawberries, and suddenly, you’ve made “spa water.” It’s the same water, but now it has a little more je ne sais quoi, and perhaps it means you’re more likely to drink it.
If you do struggle with your H2O quota, water drops and sachets are another way to make upping your hydration a bit more palatable. Try Drinke all-natural freeze-dried fruit powders and Vital Zing Water Drops.
Prioritise sleep over pricey serums
Skincare is important, yes. But you know what’s better than a $150 peptide serum? Sleep. No one wants to hear this because sleep doesn’t have the allure or dopamine hit of chic packaging, but it’s free and it’s effective. Start romanticising your bedtime routine with low light, swap scrolling for a really good book, and find a wind-down tea or hot drink that you really love.
Try Jeuneora Beauty Sleep hot chocolate or a good old sleep tea from the supermarket, like Healtheries Sleep with Chamomile and Passionflower (it’s $3!).
Find budget-friendly versions of the trends
Love the idea of an infrared sauna but not the price tag? Go old school and bundle up in layers for a brisk walk in the early morning sunshine or evening sunset. During this time, the earth’s atmosphere filters out more blue and ultraviolet light, allowing red and infrared light to reach the earth’s surface more easily.
Craving lymphatic drainage? Invest in a body gua sha (The Facialist and Tronque both have excellent options) and learn a few gua sha techniques on YouTube. You don’t need to ‘biohack’ your way to better health, ok. Starting the day by getting outside in the morning sunshine and trying not to look at your inbox before you’ve had breakfast is a great place to start for anyone.
Choose your supplements wisely
It’s easy to fall into the wellness trap of believing you need all the viral supplements, be they collagen, magnesium, ashwagandha, whatever is currently making the rounds on TikTok. But unless you’ve got a specific deficiency, you probably don’t need a dozen powders cluttering your kitchen.
Perhaps the key to not wasting your money on unnecessary supplements is to spend it more wisely on an appointment with a naturopath or your GP, get some blood work done and go from there. Trust the experts!
The most underrated wellness hack: Community
It turns out, one of the biggest indicators of longevity and happiness isn’t how many green juices you’ve consumed, it’s your relationships. Yes, having friends is a wellness hack. Instead of spending on pricey self-improvement, invest time in good conversation, a shared meal, a walk with someone who makes you laugh.
It costs nothing and studies have shown that strong friendships have a positive impact on your nervous system. Research into adult co-regulation shows friendships can lead to an increase in oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and a decrease in cortisol (the stress hormone), contributing to a sense of wellbeing.
The takeaway here is that wellness isn’t just for those with plenty of disposable income; it’s for everyone. The trick is remembering that wellness, at its core, isn’t something you buy, it’s something you do. Everything else is optional.