Self care ideas for 10 minutes or less

One of the biggest excuses I make as to why I haven’t done anything kind for myself on any given day is “I haven’t had the time”. In reality, not taking care of ourselves has a lot more to do with low self esteem and poor mental health than it does with our schedule. But, when we’re genuinely pushed for time, self care is often very low on our list of priorities. Let’s change that.

If you’re able to find 10 minutes in the day to unwind, this article is for you. I’ve put together some self care activities that can be accomplished in a short space of time and that might leave you feeling a little bit more fulfilled. Because I’m trying to help you squeeze some self care into your already busy schedules, I’ve deliberately chosen activities that take minimal prep.

I would like to emphasise that you deserve far more than 10 minutes each day. You should try to make space for longer peaceful moments to spend with yourself, or more than one per day, if you can. If you’re truly struggling to consistently find 10 minutes to spend taking care of yourself each day, you are likely going to end up feeling burned out and stressed (if you’re not there already!)

I hope that some of these activities appeal to you and will help kick start your self care routine, if you’ve been neglecting it lately.

1. Wash your face and brush your teeth
2. Move your body (dance or jiggle about)
3. Lie down flat and stretch out your body
4. Go for a short stroll
5. Tense and relax your muscle groups one by one; start at your toes and work up!
6. Listen to your favourite song
7. Watch a funny video on YouTube
8. Follow a guided meditation
9. Water your plants
10. Spend 10 minutes outside
11. Make yourself a hot drink and sip it slowly
12. Write a list of some goals specifically to bring yourself joy
13. Buy yourself a gift
14. Light a candle or spray some of your favourite room spray
15. Get changed into your PJs and some comfy socks
16. Open all your windows and let some fresh air in
17. Spend a moment with your pet
18. Simply put your phone down and have a screen free 10 minutes
19. Watch the clouds go by or stargaze
20. Clean your desk
21. Order yourself some flowers and leave a cute message in the gift card
22. Change your bedding
23. Cuddle up in bed with your favourite blanket
24. Sit upright and stretch your back
25. Read an article you’ve been meaning to read
26. Plan ahead and book yourself some time off work (maybe a whole day of just doing wonderful things for yourself)
27. Shake it off
28. Massage your own arms and legs
29. Moisturise your face
30. Paint your nails or put on some eyeliner
31. Write down what you’re feeling in a notebook or journal
32. Write a letter to your future self
33. Speak your hopes and dreams out loud
34. Sing really loudly to yourself
35. Collect some pebbles or pick some flowers
36. Do a crossword or wordsearch
37. Doodle or draw something that makes you feel peaceful
38. Try to identify the emotions your feeling
39. Research something that matters to you
40. Find out where you might be able to access support (this list might help)
41. Do the smallest thing on your to-do list
42. Visualise a person or place that makes you happy and focus on it for 10 minutes
43. Make yourself something to eat like a sandwich or snack
44. Do 10 minutes of knitting or crochet, or even spend the time finding a pattern to follow or watching a tutorial
45. Rhythmically stroke something that feels nice to touch, like a silk scarf or fluffy cushion
46. Brush or plait your hair
47. Order your favourite takeaway (and dessert!)
48. Sort your medication and get it ready for the week
49. Have a little cry
50. Put together an emergency self care box that you can access during a panic attack

If you liked this post, you might also like 20+ low energy self care ideas because we’re all tired.

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