5 Minute Self Care Ideas

Short on time? Here are 5 minute self care ideas.

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Self care isn’t for just one group of people⁠—it’s for everyone. Taking time out of your day to do something for yourself can have a very positive effect on your mood and how you feel inside. However, it can be hard to find time to practise self care every day, especially if you’re busy or work long hours. That’s why I’ve put together this list of 5 minute self care ideas.

Yoga Session

I love doing yoga, but I don’t always have the motivation to do it. Recently, I’ve started doing 5 minutes of yoga every day, which is a great way to stretch out your body without overdoing it. You can do it in the morning, just before you have to start work or run any errands. Or if you don’t have the time in the morning, a 5 minute yoga session in the evening is a great way to unwind and relieve any tension you’ve been carrying throughout the day.

If you don’t know where to start or you’re completely new to yoga, there are some great 5 minute yoga sessions on YouTube that are great to follow.

Some of my favourite yoga poses that I practise most days are:

• Child’s pose
• Cobra pose
• Happy baby
• Warrior pose
• Thread the needle

Practising yoga frequently can help to relieve pain and tension in your body. Additionally, it can be mood-boosting and relaxing. It’s a great way of taking care of yourself physically and mentally.

Tidy Your Surroundings

It can be hard to concentrate when you’re surrounded by mess. More than that, it can make you feel low, unmotivated and stressed out. If the thought of tidying up your whole home makes you feel exhausted, then focus on your current surroundings instead. For many people, this could be the living room or the home office. Look around you and see what can be tidied away. The problem with clutter is that it can easily get out of hand. And the more it builds up, the more exhausting it will be to tidy it up. Spending just 5 minutes tidying your surroundings can lessen the load and make you feel more restful. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself for it later!

Write A Gratitude List

I’m fairly new to this practice, but what I can say is that it makes a big difference to my mood. The idea is that you write down (either in a notebook, gratitude diary or in the notes on your phone) the things you’re grateful for. These are things that are personal to you. It could be things that happened to you that week or general things in your life that make you happy. Sometimes, when you’re feeling low and tired, it’s easy to feel like there’s very little to be grateful for. You may even start taking things for granted. It’s normal for you to experience highs and lows, but regularly writing a gratitude list can help to keep you grounded. Whenever you get a spare 5 minutes, add to your list. Even the smallest things can make a big difference!

Meal Plan

Some people like meal planning, while others hate it. I don’t always stick to it, but I can say that meal planning makes a lot of difference, especially when you’re busier than usual. 5 minutes is enough time to make a quick list of meal ideas for the next few days. The great thing about meal planning it is encourages you to use up what you already have in the fridge or freezer. Also, if you plan meals ahead, you’re more likely to make nutritious and balanced meals instead of going for convenient options.

Give Yourself A Foot Massage

How many times have you forgotten to put cream on your feet? We’re far more likely to remember to moisturise our face and hands than our feet. As a result, the feet tend to get dry and cracked, especially in the winter when they are neglected the most. If you’re on your feet for a few hours a day, they can start to feel tired and sore. Giving yourself a 5 minute foot rub is a great way to nurture yourself and relieve pain.

This video is a great demonstration of how to perform a self foot massage. To relieve dryness and cracked heels, you can use a massage oil like this * or any oil that you have in the cupboard like coconut oil to give your feet some much-needed TLC.

Exfoliate Your Face

Self care looks different to everyone. While some people like to focus on journaling and exercise, others like to focus on pampering and spa-like activities. I love exfoliating my face. It’s relaxing and it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. In turn, this makes me feel better about myself.

The key with self care is simply to do anything that makes you feel good inside and out. So if exfoliating for 5 minutes once or twice a week makes you feel good, then you should make time for it. The exfoliator that I use is this one from Green Planet Beauty *. It’s made with argan oil, lavender, rose geranium and almond shells. The almond shells help to gently exfoliate your skin without being too harsh. It’s also vegan, cruelty free, plastic free and made here in the UK.

Hope you found some inspiration from these 5 minute self care ideas! Let me know in the comments what your favourite act of self care is.