Women over 60 have been through a lot in life – we’ve had careers, married, divorced, raised children, welcomed grandchildren, cared for pets, houses and husbands… and now we’re ready for someone to attend to OUR needs. We deserve some pampering.

Whether it’s a morning yoga class, a day at the spa, an evening glass of wine, or a therapeutic massage, there are many wonderful ways to achieve relaxation and centeredness – but most of them cost money.

Fortunately, there are also a variety of totally FREE ways to pamper your body and nurture your spirit. Here are a few ideas for how women over 60 can stay comfortable and feel well cared for, but without spending any cash:

Schedule Social Time

Regularly socializing with friends is one of the most important ways to maintain our cognitive abilities and enjoy healthier overall lives as we get older. A study of women over age 70 found that the women who had the most active social lives were less likely to develop dementia.

Meditate

Meditation and prayer are some of the best ways to relax – and these spiritual practices can also have a physical benefit. According to a study from a U.S. Buddhist retreat, meditation may help to slow the aging process.

The concept of meditation is about being present in the moment, being mindful, being aware of your every breath and grateful for every moment of your life. These feelings can contribute to a sense of well-being and calm, just like being pampered. Meditation is like a spa day for your brain.

Make a Do-it-yourself Home Facial

Want to save money on spa treatments? Give yourself a facial mask at home using fresh ingredients like avocado, papaya and honey. This article has recipes for 8 easy do-it-yourself facials to do at home. Also check out our six healthy skin tips for women over 60.

Drink Tea

Tea is known for its calmative and contemplative benefits. Who doesn’t love to curl up with a mug of hot tea and a good book on a rainy afternoon? But beyond the relaxing effects, tea is also believed to provide a number of substantial health benefits. Green tea contains high amounts of antioxidants and is believed to help reduce the risk of cancer and boost the immune system. Other antioxidant-rich teas have been shown to possibly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Exercise

Staying in shape doesn’t have to involve an expensive gym membership or personal training sessions. Some of the best exercise is free and happens close to home – by walking around the neighborhood or riding your bike.

Walking just 30 minutes per day is one of the most important and effective things we can do to improve our health (as described in this remarkable video from preventive medicine expert Dr. Mike Evans).

Cycling can improve your health in many ways and is an ideal low-impact exercise for people who have joint problems (which is not unusual for women over 60). Read more about how to stay active after age 60 in our article about 6 Sports and Activities that You Can Enjoy at Any Age.

Plan a Vacation

Having something to look forward to is one of the best ways to stay upbeat, optimistic and energized. Even if you can’t afford to take a vacation or don’t have time to take a vacation, the mere act of planning a vacation still has surprising benefits.

According to this study, people are made happier by planning a vacation (making plans, choosing places to stay, anticipating all the fun they’re going to have) than they are by actually going on vacation. This doesn’t mean you should stop going on vacation – but it does mean that you can have a lot of fun (for free) by keeping up a steady pipeline of future fun outings and events to look forward to.

What do you think about this? What are your favorite ways to pamper yourself – for free? Please add your thoughts in the comments below.