Sundays.
Apparently this is the day of rest. I say bulls**t to that, though, because Sundays are anything but restful in our house!
It *should* be restful in some way, because we need to recharge for the week ahead and all its going to bring, but very rarely does that happen.
So I’ve compiled a list of my favourite 5 minute self care ideas which are perfect for any day of the week, especially on a Sunday 💜
These will hopefully be easy for you to just slip into your hectic day on a regular basis, and give you a starting point to begin working on your own wellness instead of just focusing on your family, your work or your home. YOU need some attention too, don’t forget!
Self Care is an amazing tool for those of us who are suffering from mental health issues, those who just don’t seem to be able to stop, those of us who are so down our own list of important people and jobs, but I know from experience that it’s hard to get started and make it become routine. Which is why I’ve compiled this list of 5 minute bursts of self care. And if you think you’re too busy to do one of these activities even once a week, then that’s EXACTLY when you need to be doing one of them (or more, if you can). Because you should NEVER be too busy to show yourself a bit of love.
So let’s get started 💜
1. Have a drink.
REALLY have a drink. Don’t just make a brew to drink whilst working on your to-do list or while you’re still going to be busy. Make a brew, sit down and switch off. If your mind is too busy, just focus on deep breathing – count on each breath, breathe in *one*, breathe out *two* etc. Or pay attention to how your drink tastes….if it’s a flavoured tea, what can you taste? How warm and cosy do you feel whilst you drink it? (this is my favourite self care activity as it’s so easy to have a “thinky-drink” as Boe calls them).
2. Work on the following week’s meal plan.
OK, this might take more than 5 minutes, depending on how much thinking you need to do, but it’s still looking after yourself, so it still counts. As I’m still recovering from my anxiety around our old kitchen and trying to get back on track with meals and how people with kitchens live, we only have about 10 meals that we currently alternate between, so our meal plans don’t take that long to think up.
3. Wash your face.
If you’re feeling a bit groggy, washing your face is a great quick pick-me-up. It’ll leave you feeling awake, refreshed and ready for the world. (Invisible bonus points if you manage to use Tropic’s ABC Collection as part of this, which you can do in 3 minutes (there’s a timed video on my Tropic page HERE)
4. Practice Mindful Breathing.
Meditation is such a great tool in the way of wellness and self care. Much in the way of number 1, it helps you focus on your breath, which, when done regularly, even for 5 minutes, really does make a massive difference in your life. If you need help with meditation and getting started, I highly recommend downloading Headspace or Calm (both have awesome free sections). I use both every day and they’ve improved my mental health in more ways than I can explain. I get different things from each app, which is why I use both, so give them a try and see which one you gel with and use it as regularly as you can (I meditate as soon as I wake up and while Mr Plinky is putting Boe to bed at night)
5. Turn your phone off for 5 minutes.
If you paid attention to how often we’re disturbed by our phones, you’d be shocked. An email here, social media there, news reports, whatsapp messages, game notifications etc… 5 minutes may only appear a short time, but it’s still 5 minutes of being “free” from any possible distraction. Once you get in to the habit of doing it for 5 minutes, extend it to 10, then 20…. My phone goes on aeroplane mode every day for an hour these days. I may not even be needed in that hour, but it still means my phone isn’t a distraction and I’m able to be focused on something more important than a spammy email from Clark’s.
6. Get some fresh air.
Even if it’s just sitting in the garden or on your doorstep. Raining? Just open a window and sit next to it (unless it’s insane rain that will leave you drenched lol). When I lived in Reading, I used to regularly sit on the balcony in the rain. My flatmates used to think I was nuts (for many reasons, not just this) but I used to find it so grounding and refreshing…watching the rain bounce off the windows or the ground is amazingly calming, do you agree? Invisible bonus points if you do this whilst also doing number 1 😉
7. Forgive yourself.
Have you done something in the last week (or beyond) that you’re annoyed / angry about? Forgive yourself. I’m sure you’re doing your best with your world right now, and just holding on to that little or big amount of anger will be altering your days, probably without you realizing it until it’s become a massive snowball. Just forgive yourself… Show yourself some kindness.
8. Doodle.
This is a great 5 minute activity. Just grab a scrap of paper (or a colouring book if you have one) and just scribble. Whatever pops into your imagination, pop it on to paper. A cluster of stars? Flowers? Hearts? Fire engines? Dinosaurs? Or literally just crazy shapes and scribbles…. Let it flow for 5 minutes.
9. Listen to some music.
Whether it’s peaceful or pop, listening to just 5 minutes of music can alter our mood and mindset dramatically. So open up Spotify and search for your favourite artist. Invisible bonus points if you have a little sing-a-long and dance as well!
So that’s my list of my favourite quick self care activities. Are there any that take your fancy or would be easy to slip into a Sunday? Let me know in the comments below, or share your favourite 5 minute self care activity 💜
Peace and love, Kate xx
