Maintaining a career, family responsibilities, a social life, physical health, mental health, and more is a delicate juggling act. It can be incredibly challenging to find time to even rest let alone engage in self-care. However, it’s important to take time for yourself every day to recharge in some way even if it’s just for 10 to 15 minutes. Make it a priority to include self-care as a part of your routine so that even on those busy days when you are constantly on the go, you are prepared and can still take the time to engage in something for yourself. Check out this list of self-care ideas that can take less than 15 minutes for even the busiest person to engage in.
- Listen to a guided meditation on Spotify, YouTube, or the Headspace app.
- Go for a walk or run.
- Take time to reflect and journal about how you are feeling.
- Do some yoga or stretching.
- Deep breathing exercises.
- Watch the sunset or sunrise.
- Dance or sing your heart out to an upbeat playlist.
- Read a few pages from a book or listen to an audiobook.
- Walk barefoot in the grass or lay in the grass.
- Call or text a family member or a close friend.
- Recite positive affirmations out loud.
- Set a timer and tidy up space in your home or office until the timer goes off.
- Make your favorite snack.
- Snuggle with your pet(s), your kid(s), or both.
- Write down 3 things that you are grateful for today.
- Water your plants.
- Take a quick shower.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Enjoy your favorite beverage.
- Hug someone you care about.
- Turn off your phone and step away from emails, social media, etc. for a moment.
- Stand outside and listen to the sounds of nature.
- Put on your favorite comfy clothes.
- Light a candle or use essential oil in a diffuser.
- Allow yourself to let it out and cry.
- Walk through a garden and notice the smells of the different plants and flowers.
- Go for a drive with the windows down.
- Do a word search or puzzle.
- Compliment yourself or acknowledge something you feel you’ve done well in the past week.
- Close your eyes and allow yourself to rest your mind and body for 15 minutes on a comfortable surface. Yes, doing a whole bunch of nothing can certainly be self-care and much-needed at times.
You can try one of these quick self-care ideas while you are in the car rider pick-up line for your kiddos, on your lunch break at work, at the start of your day while you enjoy your morning coffee, in between work meetings, on your commute to/from work, or just before you lay down in bed. It is very hard to be the best version of yourself if you are burnt out and overwhelmed. Carve out some time each day to make sure you are taking care of yourself!
Do you need assistance with finding balance in your life or learning how to engage in self-care? Our counselors at Natural Balance Counseling are qualified to provide individualized mental health counseling to support you. Feel free to reach out to us at admin@naturalbalancecounseling.com to schedule a free 10 to 15-minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit for you!