Do you wish you had time to invest in yourself but you feel like there isn’t a time block in your day to do so? Doing things to refresh and refuel ourselves doesn’t necessarily have to mean we need a free hour or two.
Here are 12 of my current favorite simple self-care ideas — that you can make happen in 5 minutes or less:
- Turn on a podcast. I love to listen to podcasts while I drive or wash dishes or clean the kitchen or cook. One of my favorites — especially when it comes to self-care and soul care is Emily P. Freeman’s podcast, The Next Right Thing.
- Put on a little makeup. It’s amazing how much happier and put together I feel when I take a few minutes to put on makeup. I recently trimmed my makeup routine down and only regularly use 5 products: a brow pencil, mascara, foundation, blush, and lip stick/gloss. This means I can quickly do my makeup and be on with my day — feeling happier, more energetic, and ready to meet whatever comes my way!
- Wear real PJs to bed. It’s only this year that I actually bought real PJs (can you believe that?). I used to just wear workout clothes or sweats to bed. There’s something about actually putting on a real pair of PJs that just makes me feel more relaxed and cared for. That might sound weird, but it’s proved to be very true.
- Brew a pot (or cup) of tea. I love making decaf tea with cream. It’s one of my favorite daily rituals and one I look forward to. If I’m feeling overwhelmed or tired, I usually stop and make a cup of tea — just to take a minute to slow down and breathe.
- Drink a glass of water. Many of our aches and pains and health problems can be traced back to being dehydrated. Do yourself a favor and drink more water! (Here’s how I drink a gallon of water every day.)
- Text a friend. I love to text a quick text to a friend to let her know that I’m thinking of her or praying for her. It’s simple, but those small investments in relationship can pay off in big dividends over the long haul. (Read my post here on how to be a better friend and how to find good friends.)
- Make a healthy snack. Food is your body’s fuel. Take care of yourself by regularly fueling your body with good food — like fresh fruit sprinkled with coconut, or fresh veggies with hummus, or peanut butter and celery, or a hard-boiled egg, or a piece of whole-wheat toast.
- Go outside. I try to stop at least once or twice a day and just step outside and look around. To breathe in the scents and sights of the world around me. To listen to the bird singing or see the sun rising or marvel at the beauty of creation.
- Clean or organize something. I always feel so fulfilled when I take a few minutes to clean something. This might be putting away laundry, or wiping down the kitchen countertops, or putting away the dishes. It gives you a little boost in your day (or at least it does for me!)
- Light a candle. There’s something about having a candle burning that just makes a house feel homier and makes you feel like you are taking better care of yourself and your family. Also, a messy house can feel cleaner when a candle is burning! 😉
- Make your bed. I know I said that I don’t always make my bed, but after reading the book called Make Your Bed, I’ve been inspired to make this an almost-daily habit. I find that a made bed is a gift to myself. It just makes me happy to walk into the room and see the bed all made — and it truly does inspire me to have more order in other areas of my life, too.
- Turn on music. I love listening to music while running or cleaning or reading or making dinner or while working on the computer. One of my current favorites is listening to the soundtrack from The Greatest Showman.
What are YOUR favorite quick and easy self-care ideas? Share them in the comments!
P.S. This post was inspired by my friend, MacKenzie. Read her post on 5 Lovelies for My Current Self-Care.
Jamie says
What brand(s)/type(s) of makeup do you use? It always looks so great in your videos, and I love that it only take you five minutes to apply!
Crystal Paine says
I’ve been talking about makeup on Instagram this week — you can check the highlights in my profile (the circle that says “makeup”) to watch:
https://www.instagram.com/themoneysavingmom/
Andrea says
Sometimes I just sit quietly. I have a little loveseat that looks out onto part of the back yard where the bird feeder and birdbath is. That loveseat barely gets used except for those quiet times for sitting, relaxing and staring out the window, just to recoup some energy. No lights on. No sounds. Just quiet time.
Crystal Paine says
I love that! Thanks for sharing!
Leah says
I feel so energetic when that soundtrack is playing. I get so much more accomplished trying to keep up with the tempo.
Jennifer Kaiser says
It made me smile that you like the Greatest Showman soundtrack. Ever since I took the kids to see it almost two weeks ago, anyone walking past our house can probably hear the it blaring at the road. We are all obsessed. It’s awesome!
Thanks for these tips!
Crystal Paine says
I’m right there with you!
Lori says
This takes more than 5 minutes, but running my car through a car wash, throwing out any accumulated trash, a quick vacuum and wipe down of the dash is like hitting the restart button for me. For some strange reason it always makes me feel calmer and more in control.
(And if I don’t have time for that, cleaning out and organizing my purse takes about 5 minutes and helps me feel more in control too.)
Crystal Paine says
Such great tips!
Laura says
Take a bath after the kids are in bed. Sooo relaxing and free of charge!
Crystal Paine says
Love it!
Melissa says
Yes!!!! All of these are so good!!! I have been listening to music from The Greatest Showman so much! It is so good!! In fact, I better go turn it on right now!
Crystal Paine says
It’s the BEST, isn’t it??
CF says
I like these ideas! Although organizing and cleaning help me feel more in control of my home environment, I wouldn’t call them “self-care.” With little ones sometimes I feel like cleaning up is all I do, ugh, lol
Connie C says
I think I could have written your exact same list!
Crystal Paine says
😉
Victoria Huizinga says
My list of quick self-care items changes with what my current obsessions are right now here are my top 3
1. Indulge in a YouTube video on minivan to camper conversions (my husband and I plan to do one so we can pick-up and go hiking for the weekend easier)
2. Scroll Google images for hiking areas near us.
3. Read a few magazine articles –purchased for free through offers mentioned right here on Money Saving Mom of course! 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Love it! Thank you for sharing!
Vee says
I like to change my clothes immediately when I get home. I have really cute “house dresses” that I love to wear. Its something about changing my clothes that makes me feel instantly relaxed.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks for sharing!
Luba @ Healthy with Luba says
Great list, Crystal. I love the making the bed and cleaning part for sure. It limits chaos for me. Drinking water is essential too!
Walking is self-care for me and helps me sleep at night.
Also, taking my vitamins and eating healthy food is a must in our family.
Lea says
Soaking my feet in an Epsom salts bath – just a basin with hot water and a handful of Epsom salts. If I want to be fancy, I’ll add essential oil too. It feels super decadent and helps my feet at the end of the day.
Lea
Suzanne says
Sometimes getting dressed in what my girls call ‘real clothes’ helps improve my mood. (As in, jeans and a button-down, as opposed to yoga pants and a stained tee shirt.) Even just putting on earrings and perfume with my sweats perks me up.
Crystal Paine says
YES! So true!
Krystal @ Simple Finance Mom says
Diffusing oils is also on my list! Lavender and lemon are my fave!
Crystal Paine says
Oh! That’s a GREAT one!
Kristel Groff says
I just received my 1st diffuser..I LOVE it..try 2 drops of lemon, lime & a splash of grapefruit..omg..smells amazing!!????
Mandy says
This may sound a little silly, but seriously.. washing my face and brushing my teeth. Once I have microderm abrasion pasted my face, I feel like I have scrubbed the days worries away. And there is nothing like baby bottom smooth skin and clean teeth to make ya feel better about yourself.
Crystal Paine says
I love these ideas — and I am such a fan of washing my face every night!