I've Lived in NYC for 10 Years, and This Is How I Manage Stress on a Budget

They say you can officially call yourself a New Yorker once you’ve lived in the city for a full decade, and while I may have just crossed that threshold (pats self on back), truth be told, I’ve felt like a New Yorker for a long time. Not because I know at least three alternate subway routes to any given destination or the best little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, but because I have unlocked the true secret to success in this city that never sleeps: affordable ways to de-stress.

If you’re wondering how a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 20-something could possibly afford to manage stress in Manhattan, you are not alone. After paying rent, monthly student loans, purchasing daily provisions, and the occasional item of professional businesswoman attire, there really isn’t much leftover. Which is precisely why it’s helpful to know that you can find almost anything in New York, at any price. Sure, you can splurge for the $300 an hour massage at a fancy hotel spa, but folks on a budget know that a $20 foot rub in Chinatown is nearly as satisfying (plus, you have cash left over for takeout from across the street)!

Lucky for you, one way that I help myself unwind is by helping others, which is why I’ve compiled a list of ways to de-stress at any budget. Read on for a few of my favorites below, and then find me at @DrewBlahBlah or in our Facebook group to share your tips, too.

You Have Literally $0 to Spend

Trust me—I have been there, so hear me out: Take a walk. Literally, go outside and find your way to somewhere green and/or with a view of the water. Press play on a free podcast if you like and take a moment to appreciate where you are. You might have zero dollars, but it's fine—you're here.

Read a book. A genuine, physical book. You can pick one up at the New York Public Library (membership is free with proof of residency!), or borrow one from a friend. Hopefully, it’s entertaining and not at all work-related, but hey, whatever helps you unwind. Bonus points if you can read on a stoop or fire escape.

Reclaim your space. Take it from me, a person who hates cleaning—this really helps.

It’s amazing what a few clear surfaces will do for your psyche. Plus, your future self will thank you for giving her a beautiful, uncluttered place to come home to after work.

You Have $50 to Spend

If you’re really in need of some self-care, fifty bucks are more than enough to fuel your way back to mental clarity.

Finally, you can always use your executive decision-making powers to grant yourself a mental health day. Take that $50 and do whatever you like, whether that’s sleeping in late, going to therapy, or donating it to your favorite cause. You’ve absolutely earned it! 

You Have $100 to Spend

Congratulations, you’ve done it! You’re either financially secure enough to afford to spend a little money on yourself or seriously stressed out enough to require some urgent self-care. Either way, you’re probably feeling like a real New Yorker right now.

In addition to finding anything at almost any price, you can also get anything at almost any time. This is what I love most about on-demand services like HeyDay for skincare and FaceLove for facial massage: You can almost always get a same-day appointment.

While building up stress and de-stressing take time, there are a few products that keep me at peace day to day. Below, shop a few of the must-haves I’ve acquired over the past decade of surviving, thriving, and commuting via the MTA in NYC. 

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Up next: 4 Self-Care Strategies That Work for Me