Bibles, Bikes & Bananas
“Self-care” is a big buzzword these days, evoking images of bubble baths and decadent desserts in popular imagination. Lots of companies, desperate to attract younger employees during a hiring crunch, offer perks ranging from beer in the break room to unlimited paid time off. Benefits like these are supposed to prevent staff burnout and turnover.
A few years ago, I worked ridiculous hours for a larger company. Most days I was in the office before 8am and didn’t leave until at least 8pm, and sometimes I didn’t even have a full day off each week. It was brutal, and every area of my life suffered as a result. In between long workdays, I practiced “self-care” through spa trips, beers at bars, and shopping. Without realizing it, I internalized the sneaky message that I worked really hard, so I deserved it. Oof.
These days, God has blessed me with a much more peaceful life. I work a reasonable schedule and my wonderful husband handles most of our errands and housework, and I’m still bringing in a comfortable paycheck. If I wanted to make the spa a regular fixture in my day-off plans, I could swing it. But I don’t, and even if I found myself back in crazy-hours land, I think I would avoid this trap.
Self-care, as our culture defines it, depends on constantly wanting and spending more. You have to keep going back as the buying sugar high wears off. Eventually, you get acclimated to the luxury stuff and feel deprived without it. The excellent Mr. Money Mustache expanded on this tricky phenomenon in his classic post about hedonic adaption.
Some antidotes to this addiction to so-called self-care are clear. Don’t lock yourself into expensive luxuries like “unlimited car wash” subscriptions and “beauty regimens” that require weekly appointments (plus tax and tip!). But don’t worry; I’m not advocating for all work and no fun until you reach financial independence.
Excellent news: it turns out that frugal Christians have lots of self-care options that have the advantage of being better for our mental, physical, and spiritual health, while also being practically free! We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture for all our spiritual needs, but we are extra lucky because our modern world includes lots of bonus blessings to make the journey more comfortable and fun.
Bibles, bikes, and bananas– they’re all you need for an uplifting, rejuvenating day off. You can enjoy them together or separately. The key ingredient for a joyful life is a vibrant relationship with God, and there’s no better way to start than reading directly from God’s word. In 2 Timothy, Paul powerfully exhorts us to use this resource, which is “inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). Everything else is the cherry on top. But what a blessing to enjoy the world around us during our earthly lives! Cycling, like other physical activity, goes beyond promoting physical health by clearing our minds and giving us an outlet for unhelpful thoughts and feelings that bounce around in our brains while we’re stuck in office chairs. And then there’s food, one of God’s most innovative creations. Fortunately for most of us in the United States, healthy food is accessible and delicious. While lots of people, myself included, enjoy fancy restaurants, good food is available for cheap all around us. Bananas, full of potassium and other nutrients, are available from 7Eleven and even in the bowels of airports (but don’t buy them there unless you’re already a millionaire).
To reach peak joy on earth, not to mention potential financial independence at a young age, we have to disconnect from our worldly programming that spending money=happiness. The best reward for a tough but productive day at work isn’t a new outfit or $200 bottle of wine. Our God has so much better to offer us, even during our time on earth.
