7 Everyday Self-Care Ideas That Take Less Than 10 Minutes a Day

Self-care is important! It helps maintain good mental and physical health, but it can be difficult to find the time for it in our busy lives. There are many simple and quick everyday self-care ideas that can be incorporated into your daily routine to help you feel recharged.

1. Take a Quick Walk Outside.

Spending time outside or in nature for a walk reduces stress and improves your mood. If you have a few minutes to spare during a work lunch break, take a quick walk outside. Soak up some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine.

For me, there are days when I will choose to walk to the next bus stop or to my subway station before I go to work to sit at my desk all day. Any effort helps. Even just a few minutes of walking can help clear your mind and boost your energy levels.

2. Practice Deep Breathing Exercises.

Deep breathing exercises are a quick and easy way to reduce stress and anxiety. I personally love using apps like Headspace or Breethe to follow along. Simply find a quiet place to sit (or lie down), close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.

If this is new to you, it might be hard to keep your mind from wandering however I find focusing on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of your body helps most of the time. Truly once you get into the habit, you’ll start to notice your mind quieting down. Even just a few minutes of deep breathing can help you feel more calm and more centred.

3. Write Down Three Things You’re Grateful For.

Start a gratitude journal or just a journal. Practicing gratitude within your journal can make an impact on your life and has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being.

Take a few minutes each day to write down things that are on your mind. I think it is so important to remove the cluttered thoughts, anxieties and negative thoughts and put them down on paper.

Then once that is done you can end it with three things you’re grateful for. They can be big or small, from the drink you enjoyed this morning to the appreciation you have for a supportive friend or family member in your life.

Focusing on the positive aspects of your life can help shift your mindset and improve your overall mood. Lastly, remember all the good things in your life by reflecting on previous pages from time to time.

4. Write a Dream List.

Another thing you can do is write a dream list. I personally love this book I got from the dollar store that keeps all my dreams nice and organized. However, your dreams lists can be as simple as a vision board too. All you need to do is get some inspiration by looking for images and pinning them or putting them on a vision board. Either way, you choose, you are dreaming BIG. Don’t forget to go and check some off.

5. Listen to Calming Music or Guided Meditation.

Do you prefer calming music or guided meditation? Taking a few minutes each day to listen to calming music or guided meditation is a great everyday self-care idea. Whether you are looking for an app or website, you have many to choose from that offer free guided meditations, such as Headspace and Calm.

If you need a calming boost to your day, you can also create a playlist of your favourite calming songs and listen to them during your daily commute or even while doing household chores. There is really no better time than the present to start this idea. Just a few minutes of relaxation can make a big difference in your day.

 

5. Stretch your Body.

Sometimes we may find ourselves sitting for long periods of time whether that is because we are working or because we are relaxing while binge-watching Netflix. Taking just a few minutes each day to stretch your body can have an impact on your physical and mental well-being.

What I love is that not only does stretching help improve flexibility and reduce muscle tension, but it can also help reduce stress and improve your mood too. Try it for yourself by incorporating a few simple stretches into your daily routine, such as reaching for the sky, touching your toes, or doing a few neck rolls. Trust me, your body will thank you!

7. Do Something Creative!

The last thing on my everyday self-care ideas list is that you choose something creative to do. There are so many things out there that can instantly calm you or release the stress, it all really depends on what you want to try or what you love doing. Here is a list of ideas you can try for yourself:

• Painting
• Writing
• Drawing
• Play an Instrument
• Pottery
• Colour in a Coloring Book
• Watch a Do-It-Yourself Video & Try It Out
• Have a Dance Party

Final Thoughts

I hope I gave you enough everyday self-care ideas that you can do in less than 10 minutes. Even though life can be busy let’s make sure that you schedule some self-care. You only have one body so let’s make sure that you are getting all that you need mentally and physically to keep your body healthy. It is the little things that you we do daily that make a real difference in our lives. So, tell me, your everyday self-care ideas?