5 Fun (And Cheap) Ways To Relax After A Never-Ending Work Week

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A long work week is physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. When you clock out of work at the end, it’s time to finally indulge in some critical work/life balance—me time. Relaxing is critical to prepare for the work week reloaded, but what are you doing to unwind?

Here are five budget-friendly ways you can relax after a long work week.

1. Read a New Book

Read a new book without leaving your house or paying a dime. With your library account number, you can check out digital books for free from your public library using sites like OverDrive and Cloud Library. There are lots of sites where you can download or borrow books for free too, like Project Gutenberg and the Google Play bookstore. Check your local city and county library branches to maximize your selections and see what digital sites they’ve partnered with.

2. Host Your Friends

Invite your friends over for a themed night to reconnect and socialize. Make it a night in rather than a night out to keep costs low. Traditional favorites include book club, movie night, game night, wine and cheese tasting, dessert swap. If you’re looking to shake up the routine, though, try these unique ideas:

  • Cooking Class. Take turns teaching the rest of the group how to cook a favorite or unique meal. Enjoy your kitchen creations together for dinner.
  • Pinterest Night. Channel your inner Martha Stewart and switch off picking a Pinterest project you can teach to the rest of your friends and create together.
  • Clothing Swap. Everyone brings five items of clothing they don’t wear anymore, then you set up your place as a mini clothing store for everyone to pick and choose favorites, try them on, and leave with five “new” items.
  • Meal Prep. Take turns picking a meal that can hold well for a few days—like freezer casseroles, mason jar salads, enchiladas—and break up the ingredient list among the group. Spend a night meal prepping together, saving the results for the work week when you won’t have time to make a big dinner or grab lunch from home.

3. Watch New Releases You Can’t Find on Streaming Sites

Though binge-watching TV shows is the usual standard for downtime, transforming your television into a comfortable home theater experience can enhance your evening relaxation. Watch newly released movies or classic cinema you can’t find on Netflix with up to 290+ channels on a US Dish package, and enjoy a home movie night wearing your sweats and eating reasonably priced treats.

4. Find a Fun New Hobby via Daily Deal Sites

Did you know learning a new skill keeps your brain sharp and improves your memory? Subscribe to Groupon or Living Social to find deals on new hobbies in your area. Both sites frequently offer deals on local activities like dance classes, cooking classes, horseback riding lessons, foreign language courses, online photography classes, computer courses, and sports club memberships.

5. Attend a Free Yoga Class

Yoga is an amazing way to relax—it’s meditative and challenging, so you destress while strengthening muscles. But it’s also incredibly expensive. A yoga studio can charge anywhere from $10 to $20 per class. But free options are plentiful.

  • Watch Yoga Videos. Though arguably not as effective as a class since a teacher can’t help adjust your poses if you’re doing them wrong, there are plenty of high-quality yoga videos for beginners up to advanced students.
  • Find Local Free Yoga Classes. The best way to find out about free classes is to first join the e-mail list or “like” the Facebook pages of your local yoga studios. Yoga studios often offer free monthly classes of hosting promotional or nonprofit events. Second, search for “Yoga in the Park” in Google or Facebook. There are many yogis who live by the philosophy that yoga should be available to all, regardless of income level. If you live in a larger area, results will likely pop up for yogis teaching public classes at local outdoor parks.
  • Search for Holy Yoga. Check your local churches to see if any of them offer Holy Yoga classes. Holy Yoga focuses on a spiritual connection with God, so the yoga class incorporates elements of Christianity into the class. Classes are open to all, religious or not, and classes are typically free or offered with a suggested donation.

There are 168 hours in every work week, and you shouldn’t spend more than 40 of it stressed and worried about your job. Enjoy frugal, worthwhile options to relax after a long work week.