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We all know how important self care is, right?
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
“Love yourself so you can love others .”
And so on.
But do we actually do it? I mean daily, not just the obligatory #selfcaresunday pics we share.
Ask yourself- am I taking care of ME, everyday? What does that look like?
It isn’t just massages and pedicures, lunch dates and big ol’ glasses of wine (although it definitely CAN be those things too!).
It’s the little things too. A few minutes of meditation on your lunch break, taking the time to make yourself a healthy lunch, setting boundaries.. the little things can really add up to make a big difference.
I’ve found out recently that self care needs to be preventative. It doesn’t work nearly as well if you wait until you’re already in crisis to start taking care of yourself.
What’s holding us back? If we KNOW how absolutely crucial it is, what stops us from just doing the damn thing? Guaranteed, one of the top answers is going to be: TIME.
With that in mind, I put together a list of 25 self-care activities that you can enjoy in just 5 minutes! Read on to see what grabs your attention and try a couple today!
Dry brush your body before you shower. It exfoliates your skin, increases lymph flow, and gives an extra boost of energy! This is the set I use.
Apply lotion or body oil after your shower. I know this seems like a basic need (especially as we head into the dry winter months), but it’s easy to skip it when you’re in a hurry. Try taking that entire 5 minutes to really appreciate every inch of your skin.
Exfoliate your lips- this is another MUST during the winter! Easiest thing in the world- all I do is mix a little olive or coconut oil with sugar, then rub it all over my lips and rinse.
Self massage- use your hands or a tool like the Thera Cane, spiky balls or bongers to loosen your muscles and boost your mood, too.
Take a few minutes to make some fruit infused water. Something as small as tossing a couple lemon slices in my water makes hydrating a lot more fun!
Try a quick guided meditation or breathing exercise. Even a few minutes can make a profound difference. Here are a few to get you started:
Journaling only takes as much time as you’ve got! Check out my list of journal prompts for self love, write about what you’re grateful for today, or just vent.
Headphones and your favorite tunes! Keep a pair of headphones in your bag/car/desk so you can fully immerse yourself in the music when you need a break. Music is one of my favorite self care (and parenting, and anxiety management) tools of all time. The effects can be instant! You could even build a few different playlists for different moods so you always have the right grooves available.
EFT/ Tapping requires no equipment, can be done anywhere, and also can get you results fast! Not familiar with tapping yet? This short video breaks it down for you.
Movement is so important- not just for our physical health, but our mental/emotional/spiritual health as well. Emotions are stored in our body. If you aren’t moving, your emotions can be stagnant as well. You want your energy to FLOW, so get up and go, baby!! Some options:
Go for a quick walk. Even if you can’t get outside, you can walk up and down stairs, do laps around the office, whatever!
Dance!
Oh, you can’t dance, you say? That, my love, is a story you tell yourself and nothing more.
Listen to the fabulous Deanne Love when she says:
“ You were born to dance. You were born with love and wonder for your body. You are a miracle in motion.”
Just move to the music, let your feelings flow through your body. I promise you’re doing it right.
Stretching is another one that you can (and should) do every day. If you need some inspiration, check out this video for a quick routine.
How about busting out a quick body-weight circuit? Select a few moves you can do without any equipment ( like lunges, squats, tricep dips on stairs, calf raises, planks, etc.) and do 10 reps of each. Repeat if time allows.
IMPORTANT::: Try not to worry about looking crazy doing any of these in public. Yes, I am encouraging you to dance in a parking lot..yes, I really do think that you should do lunges down the hallway at work. Remember how crucial movement is to our happiness and healthiness. Maybe you’ll inspire someone!
Sometimes we need to reach out to fill our cup, in addition to going inward.
How about a quick call ot text to a friend or family member you haven’t seen for awhile?
Talk to someone (your coworker, kids, the Amazon delivery guy) about what you’re grateful for today. Gratitude is both A) a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it and B) contagious AF. Spread that love!
Go outside and touch the earth. If your part of the earth is covered in snow like mine, lay your bare hand on a tree, or spend some time with a houseplant. Just get back in touch with Mama Earth.
Give your love a niiiice, long, hug. Hugs are underrated, y’all. Oxytocin for the win!!
Sometimes we just need a BREAK, right? Try these ideas to shake up and reset your day.
Watch a funny video on YouTube. Laughter is the best medicine!
Escape into a book, magazine, or blog. I love immersing myself in a book and usually am reading more than one at a time.
Say no to something- working late, going out, making dinner. I know I’ve had more than one day when the decision to say fuck it and have grilled cheese for dinner was a total game changer. Pinpoint something that isn’t serving you and let it GO.
Felt good, didn’t it?
Do a brain dump. This is similar to journaling in a sense, but I’m including it as a separate item because it really has its own intention. I like to do this at the end of the day, when I have 8,000 tasks running around in my head, but very little energy left to accomplish an-y-thing. Dump all the thoughts out on to paper, and it seems a little quieter, easier to deal with.
Put your phone down. Remember when we didn’t have these hunks of plastic attached to us at all times? (Please just say you do so I don’t feel OLD!) What did we do before we had Facebook/Insta/Reddit/Snapchat/YouTube to occupy our time?
Go do that.
You can definitely indulge your senses without breaking the bank! It’s all about being mindful.
Make a cup of tea. Take the time to appreciate the ceremony of preparing it.
Treat yo self to some really good chocolate ( or whatever sounds appealing, if you don’t like chocolate. But also- really?!? Who doesn’t like chocolate?? I’ll have yours) Eat it sloooowly. Let it melt on your tongue.
Pick up some fresh flowers. This never fails to lift my spirits, especially on a gray, cloudy day.
Buy a fancy coffee. Sit for a minute and appreciate the smell, sip it slow.
This is one of those posts where I wrote it for you, but also, I can’t wait to take my own advice! I invite you to stop and give yourself 5 minutes, three times a day, and focus on you. Use my ideas or anything else that fills your cup. You deserve it!
Comment below to tell me your favorite way to show yourself a little love.
Shine bright and vibe high today, you beautiful soul!
Love,
Jacki
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