Every day’s work has been so much that we all have forgotten the importance of caring for ourselves. We are so busy caring for loved ones, earning money, and checking things off to-do lists that we no longer take a break. Time is the biggest enemy, the main reason self-care has become impossible for people worldwide. You don’t want to spend time relaxing when you can utilize that time to get other things done. And that’s why we are here today, to tackle the issue of not having enough time for self-care!

In this article, let’s discuss fantastic self-care ideas that’ll hardly take 5 minutes and still leave you feeling fabulous!

5-minute or less self-care activities:

• Positive affirmations

It takes less than 2 minutes to stand in front of a mirror and hype yourself up once every day. And this short activity can work wonders on your mental health and make you smile for hours. You can find endless positive affirmations online or make some of your own. Say them a few times throughout the day or whenever you are in a bad mood. This simple activity will undoubtedly change your perspective and make you feel happier.

• Journaling

If you still haven’t started journaling, now is the perfect time to start doing this fantastic activity. You don’t need to write paragraphs or spend hours scribbling something in the notebook. All you need to do is spend 5 minutes remembering things you are grateful for or something that makes you smile. Then write down those things and allow yourself to think about them for a minute or two. Doing this much can instantly elevate your spirit and excite you about your life. It will improve your mental health and make it easier to be positive.

• Quick Stretches

If you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, stretching must be a part of your daily self-care routine. Luckily, you don’t need any equipment, a vast space, or much time to do this. Especially during stressful moments, take a few moments to stretch all your limbs and do some light exercise. This will help release some tension in your body and make it easier to get back into work and concentrate. Physical fitness is just as crucial as mental wellness; thus, you must care for your body daily.

• Simple Skincare

Skin care doesn’t always have to take hours out of your day – Sometimes, a quick face wash or a face scrub can do wonders for your mood. After a long hectic day, washing your face calms your mind and refreshes you. Even if you feel too tired to do skin care, we suggest at least doing the basics, like washing your face or applying moisturizer. Doing skin care will help you care for yourself and feel better mentally.

• Read a book

Reading can significantly benefit your mental health and doesn’t take much time or effort. If you are into reading, make it a habit to read for at least 5-10 minutes every day. Have your favorite book with you at all times and read it every few hours for a few minutes. It could be a quick and nice distraction from stress and allow you to relax your mind.

• Laugh break with loved ones

Keep aside 5 minutes daily to talk to family members or call a friend. Laughing with them and sharing stories is one of the best ways to treat your soul better. Spending quality time with loved ones can instantly brighten your mood and allow you to relax. Self-care doesn’t always have to be expensive and tedious. Sometimes, it’s all about spending time with the ones you love the most.

• Breathing exercise

Sometimes, you can feel overwhelmed with all you must do and blame yourself for all that goes wrong. In those situations, breathing exercises can be the quick solution to be more mindful and retain your composure. Even when you are not stressed, we recommend spending five minutes each day taking deep breaths or doing other breathing exercises. It is one of the most remarkable ways to care for your mental well-being and allow yourself to relax instantly.

• Make a gratitude list

Appreciating all you have when you are overwhelmed and surrounded by negativity is essential. A gratitude list is an excellent way to list all you are thankful for and remember the good things in life. Sitting down for 2-3 minutes to list good things that happened that day or things you are grateful to have can help a ton. It will help you be more mindful and look at the brighter side of things.

• Quiet Time

This one goes with the above, as taking time to sit down with yourself can be greatly rewarding. No matter how chaotic your day is, spending a few minutes alone and focusing on your inner thoughts is good. Set aside specific time to go to a quiet room and relax for a few minutes. This will give you enough time to process your current situation and feel mentally ready for the rest of your day.

• Stand outside

We suggest stepping outside every few hours to get fresh air if you have a backyard. Getting in touch with nature is crucial if you’re feeling stressed or anxious.

 If you’ve been avoiding self-care because of time constraints, I hope these ideas enable you to focus on your mental health and practice better self-care! xx, Tonya