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
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)
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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).
Here’s a printable list of these tips!
5 Minute Self-Care ListWhat would you add to this list?
The post Self-Care in Five Minutes first appeared on Still Teaching, Still Learning.
