Self care is an ongoing practice, just like yoga or meditation.
But the outside world doesn’t prioritize self-care. Which means we have to make it a priority for ourselves and not wait for the exact right moment or for when you have an hour to spare.
(Because when does that ever happen really?)
Small acts of self love are effective and much easier to work into your daily routine. Especially when they’re five minutes or less!
Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. As much as we work on ourselves and our lives, there will be inevitable times of disappointment, heartbreak or stress.
Plus it will just help you to chill out and be a better overall human, any old time.
The Mini Self Care Checklist
Identifying the problem is the real beginning of self-care. Our practice will always be the most beneficial if we can figure out where the problem is stemming from. Here’s a quick list of some questions to help you narrow it down:
- Have you eaten recently?
- Are your surroundings bothering you?
- Are you feeling anxious?
- What do you think is missing?
- What do you need more of right now?
- What do you need less of?
- What do you want right now?
- Who or what is causing me to feel resentful and why?
- What are you starving for?
35 Quick & Easy Self Care Practices
Not all of these suggestions will be a good fit for you! Take a look through them and go for the ones that seem to resonate for you at the time. But most take five minutes or less so you can do them and get on with the rest of your day.
1. Drink hot lemon water.
2. Have a good long stretch before you hop out of bed in the morning. Make it a full-body one. Think about how cats and dogs do it!
3. Set an intention for your day. Write it down in your planner or calendar.
4. Do a 1-minute plank.
5. Smudge your bedroom or office.
6. List out 3 things you’re grateful for (either in your head or on paper — your choice).
7. Drink a cup of ginger tea to promote digestion and increase Agni (the Ayurvedic term for digestive fire).
8. Get out of auto-pilot: take a different route to work.
9. Take two minutes to hang out and play with a pet.
10. Eat a piece of fruit.
11. Do nothing for 2 minutes! (http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/)
12. Do the legs-up-on-the-wall yoga pose.
13. Study a piece of art that you love. (A picture of it online still counts!)
14. Practice the Hawaiian Hoʻoponopono forgiveness mantra. Repeat this yourself:
I am sorry
Forgive me
There is only Love
Thank you
15. Do an oil pull: put 1 or 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth like mouthwash for 10-15 minute. Then spit it out.
16. Send a quick message or text to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
17. Do a quick declutter: pick three items from your closet, bookcase or cabinets that you can donate or throw away.
18. Unfollow or mute some people that annoy you on social media. (No un-friending required!)
19. Do a quick body-scan. Focus for a moment on each part of your body and release any tension that you find there.
20. Write yourself a love letter.
21. Spend some time watching the clouds roll by.
22. Ask for help on a project that you’ve been stuck on.
23. Color in a coloring book.
24. Use a tongue-scraper. Use firm pressure and go as far back on your tongue as possible. Rinse off your scraper and repeat until there’s no chalky residue left.
25. Sing! Whether at karaoke or in your car singing always releases stress.
26. Do a guided meditation on YouTube.
27. Fix a small annoyance in your life, like changing batteries, a lightbulb or sewing on a button.
28. Put on your favorite song and have a dance around your flat.
29. Do two-minutes of Pranayama: slow deep belly breathing.
30. Roll on a tennis ball for a self-massage. (This is especially great for your feet!)
31. Use aromatherapy. Try peppermint to increase motivation or lavender for calm.
32. Say no to a project or obligation that you’re dreading.
33. Watch a hilarious video on YouTube. Laughter is the best energy and mood booster!
34. Give someone a compliment.
35. Write in your journal or do your Morning Pages. Let yourself write about whatever comes to mind.
I hope you found some of these suggestions useful! If you enjoyed this post, please say thank you by sharing it. See you back here next week!
PS You might also want to check out 5 Ways To Create A High-Vibe Home or this one about practical advice for empaths.
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