Make Time for Self-Care

Self-Care in 10 Minutes or Less

By Raeka George, BSN RN

Whenever I ask someone if they apply self-care, they usually share a long list of reasons why they can’t fit that into their day. I began to wonder why most people look at self-care as just one more thing on their to-do list instead of something to look forward to as part of healthy living.

Frankly, you don’t need an hour or several minutes to care for your body, mind, and spirit. It would help if you had awareness and a dedication to listening to your body's needs. Then, you could plan to check in with yourself and intentionally insert small amounts of self-care whenever you happen to need it. This has been coined as micro-dosing your wellness and, when done daily, has great benefits.

Self-care is essential and critical to maintaining health, productivity, happiness, and overall well-being. So don’t withhold this simple act of nourishing your body.

Here are my top ten self-care activities that you can fit into your day in 10 minutes or less. I invite you to try these every day and see how much more clarity and energy you gain through applying self-care.

1. Deep Breathing for 2- 5 cycles. Imagine these breaths pulling out the stress and letting in the good feelings that you prefer. You could use a guided meditation or just visualize something relaxing.

2. Take a short walk inside or outside for 5 minutes, connect to your feet with each step.

3. Look in the Mirror and say something empowering to yourself, such as “I’ve got this.” If this seems too severe for you, get playful by sticking out your tongue or making a funny face. After all, laughter is good medicine.

4. Sip cool water slowly for 1-2 minutes, making yourself more mindful of how much your body appreciates being hydrated.

5. Hum your favorite song and swing your arms or sway your hips.

6. Gently rub lotion on your hands or feet and thank them for supporting you all day.

7. Listen to a short podcast/audiobook that uplifts your mood.

8. Sit down and slowly eat a snack, think about how this will fuel your body and mind.

9. Write down 10 reasons why you’re grateful today.

10. Give a hug or ask for one. Why not do both? You deserve to be hugged.

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Disclaimer: these activities are not a substitute for medical or mental health treatment; the reader should consult with a professional if they have any concerns about their health or well-being.