Self-Care in Five Minutes

When you hear the term “self-care,” it’s easy to think that it means spa days or long bubble baths. While both of those activities are awesome for self-care, there are LOTS more things you can do in only five minutes. And let’s face it — when you’re most in need of self-care, five minutes may be all you can spare.

While none of these activities will solve all the problems you might be having, taking a break to do something for yourself will help you to reset so you can face whatever you need to do.

How to add these quick tasks to your day:
~write them in your planner
~set reminders on your phone
~choose a few times during the day when you will do one of these tasks (when you pour your morning coffee, when you first get to school or work, during your first break of the day, as soon as you get home, etc.).

So – here’s a list of 50 activities you can do in five minutes (or less).

1 – take a quick walk around your school or workplace

2 – stretch or try some yoga poses in Office Yoga

3 – pet an animal

4 – write in a journal

5 – search the hashtag #inspirationalquotes on Instagram

self-care

6 – read a chapter in a book

7 – read a magazine

8 – pray or meditate

9 – do some neck rolls or shoulder shrugs

10 – look for something pretty or funny or inspiring around you – take a picture of that object (or person)

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11 – listen to a favorite song or playlist

12 – balance on one foot, then the other (“tree pose” in yoga), or use a Bosu balance trainer

13 – watch birds at a bird feeder or fish in an aquarium

14 – wash your face & use a good moisturizer

15 – drink something – coffee, tea, water, wine – whatever is suitable for the time of day!

self-care

16 – water some plants

17 – listen to a podcast

18 – listen to a book on Audible

19 – clean out a drawer or part of a closet

20 – take just five minutes and clean off your desk or workspace

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21 – buy a plant

22 – buy some flowers for yourself (if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they have the best flowers for the best prices!)

23 – if you like to cook or bake, browse for new recipes online or in a cookbook. (Some of my favorites: Love Welcome Serve, What Can I Bring?, Pioneer Woman – Super Easy!. One that I’ve pre-ordered and can’t wait to get: Celebrate with Babs!)

24 – rearrange a bookshelf or an area you see frequently

25 – light a scented candle

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26 – give someone a hug

27 – watch funny videos on TikTok

28 – make plans for dinner or doing something fun with a friend

29 – write a letter, send a card, or send a text to someone you love

30 – call someone you love

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31 – read an inspirational book

32 – think of five things that are going well or that you appreciate

33 – try hand lettering

34 – try knitting or crochet

35 – stand up and walk around

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36 – declutter your computer desktop or downloads

37 – take a bath or a shower

38 – find (or make) a new playlist on Spotify

39 – do some squats or lunges

40 – find a new workout to try on Beachbody on Demand

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41 – think of something you love – blue hydrangeas and beach scenes, for example – and search those hashtags on Instagram

42 – floss and brush your teeth

43 – put on your favorite comfy pants. Here’s my favorite Lululemon option and my favorite Amazon option.

44 – put a tennis ball on the floor and roll your foot over it for a quick foot massage. Switch to the other foot.

45 – diffuse some essential oils. Lavender is especially calming.

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46 – relax in savasana (corpse) pose.

47 – write down whatever is on your mind. Sometimes called a “brain dump,” this is a wonderful way to clear whatever is on your mind, process it, and let it go.

48 – eat some good chocolate (these milk chocolate sea salt caramels are my favorite)

49 – watch a sunrise or a sunset

50 – read a favorite devotional (one of my favorite books is Melanie Shankle’s Everyday Holy and The Bright Life by Jen Wise).

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Here’s a printable list of these tips!

5 Minute Self-Care List

What would you add to this list?

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