Want to practice self care but short on time? I’ve got you covered with this blog post! How about 101 5 Minute Self Care Ideas to Help You Feel Better Fast?! I’m sharing ideas to help you mind, body, and soul. Save this for later and share it with someone this could help!
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Why Use This 5 Minute Self Care Ideas List?
For many of us, when we think self care, we think, “I don’t have time for self care!” I know I do. This may be because self care frequently equates to things that are enjoyable but take time, like doing a spa day, going on vacation, or other time-consuming activities.
And while time-intensive self care activities are lovely when you have a lot of time, sprinkling 5-minute self-care activities through your life, month, week, or even day can be a great way to manage stress, improve your mental health, and feel better overall.
Doing quick and easy 5 minute self care ideas can be a realistic way to include positive activities in your busy schedule and life.
If you can carve out even 5 minutes a day, taking a mini self care break for yourself can be a huge help!
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean ‘me first’, it means ‘me too’.”
L.R. Knost
What to Do If You Don’t Have 5 Minutes
Whilst I know there are extreme situations where you truly do not have 5 minutes to spare, for most of us, observing that we don’t have 5 minutes available is a great call to do some soul searching.
(This has been a call to action for me many times, so sharing from a place of experience, not judgement)
I know this is really annoying to hear, but not having 5 minutes can mean that you’re not prioritizing your time well. Do you really not have 5 minutes or did you spend 60 minutes watching Netflix?
If you’re not sure where your time is going, checking your screen use time on your phone can be really enlightening.
Gentle reminder: You are worthy of self care. You deserve to prioritize yourself.
Try this self care affirmation: I’m ready to make time for myself.
101 5 Minute Self Care Ideas to Help You Feel Better Fast
Here are 101 quick self care ideas to try when you want to feel better fast but are short on time. Write down your favorites so you know what to try first and what to try next time.
Take a five minute self care break and try one of these ideas on this 5 Minute Self Care Ideas List today! Set a 5 minute timer, and enjoy!
Free 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
Note: Several of the ideas in the sections below are also free.
1. Take Deep Breaths
Taking deep breaths is one of the simplest stress relieving techniques out there. According to Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, a deep breath can indicate to our bodies (and nervous system) that we are safe so we can relax after encountering a stressor.
2. Dance to Your Favorite Song
Dancing is a great way to shift your energy. It also just naturally feels so amazing. If you’re shy, have a private dance party at home. Wherever you do it, put on a upbeat song that makes your body move and enjoy.
3. Get Some Fresh Air
No matter which way you do it, sometimes just getting out of the house/office/whatever and getting some fresh air can be a game changer.
When I worked at a very stressful job, I noticed that the smokers got mini breaks throughout the day while I was heads down cranking out work. So I started taking “sun breaks”. It was like a cigarette break without the cigarette. I go out, get some sun and fresh air, and come back to work feeling refreshed. Highly recommend!
So just step outside and breath some fresh air, walk around your building, take a sun break, or find another way to get fresh air and enjoy.
Note: If you like this one, be sure to check out the Outside 5-Minute Self Care Ideas below.
4. Use Positive Affirmations
Take five minutes to say positive affirmations to yourself. You can read through a list of affirmations (like the ones I wrote here, here, or here), say affirmations with a YouTube video, or listen to an audiobook like this gem by Louise Hay.
Want more? Check out High Vibe self care idea #1 below for another affirmation idea.
5. Make a Gratitude List
Take out a piece of paper and write down everything you’re grateful for. Add anything that comes to mind – big or small. Sometimes the silly gratitude ideas are my faves.
You can also create a list on your Notes app, a Google Doc, or anywhere else you can capture lists.
6. Write a Love Letter to Yourself
Write a letter about all the things you love about yourself. Try writing to you at your current age or even consider a note to younger or future you.
7. Stretch
Whether you roll out your yoga mat or take some standing poses, enjoy some body stretches of your choice.
No idea where to start? Sometimes just standing or laying down and taking a full body stretch with some nice, soothing yawns can do the trick.
Love yoga? Check out Spa Self Care Ideas #4 and #19 below.
8. Play a Happy Song
Isn’t it amazing how just listening to upbeat music can improve your mood? Put on your favorite happy song and vibe out.
9. Make a Pinterest Vision Board
Thinking about your dream life can be so uplifting. And Pinterest makes it easy to throw a vision board together in no time. And for free!
Click here for my tutorial on how to make a Pinterest Vision Board in 5 Minutes.
10. Write Someone a Letter (And Actually Mail It Later)
Get out an actual piece of paper (or super cute card / stationery set) and write someone a letter. Keep the theme positive and tell them some fun updates or recount some favorite memories you have with them.
And then mail it later!
11. Watch a Funny Video
There are endless funny videos available online – on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and beyond. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. It definitely has a way of cheering me up when I’m feeling down.
Tip: Save your favorite videos in each respective app so you have a collection of your faves ready when you need them.
12. Call Your Best Friend for a Quick Catch Up
Who better to lift you up than your BFF? Call your bestie for a quick phone catch-up and prepare to be boosted with the positive energy only your closest friend can make happen.
13. Call Someone and Thank Them
You may often practice gratitude for those who have helped you in life. Why not let them in on that energy of appreciation and let them know how thankful you are for their support, guidance, love, and beyond?
14. Give Someone a Hug
Preferably not a stranger! Lol! But seriously, hugging can be very uplifting and give the huggers many benefits.
My fellow Yoga Teacher Trainee, Laura, taught our class that if you hug opposite from the norm (left shoulder/chest to left shoulder/chest), you can positively charge each other because your hearts actually are aligned and closer. This is known as a “heart-to-heart” hug!
15. Read Inspiring Quotes
Where are my fellow quote lovers at?! Reading inspiring quotes can really improve your mood. I’ve had a Life Quotes board on Pinterest for YEARS, and I just love adding all of my faves to it.
Also, I love finding a nice round-up and reading through quotes on a specific theme. If you’re looking for inspiration, I have some round-ups right here on The Chic Life about self worth, beauty confidence, manifestation, and more.
PS: I LOVE creating quote blog posts, so I have several more planned ahead. Be sure to check back or subscribe to my email newsletter to learn when I publish a new one.
16. Call Someone You Love
Besides the idea above to call your bestie, your loved ones are also perfectly positioned to lift you up. Try calling your supportive significant other, parent, sibling, other family member, or other friend for a quick catchup.
17. Set Some Goals
Not everyone finds setting goals “fun”, but for my fellow Type A achievers / goal getters, setting goals can be a great way to explore future possibilities in a tactical way.
Try making a list of general goals. Or if you want to be more organized, try writing short term, one year, five year, and ten year goals.
18. Do a Random Act of Kindness
Doing kind things for others has a funny way of actually helping ourselves, so doing a random act of kindness can totally be a form of self care. What a lovely side effect for putting something positive out in the world.
You don’t need to buy 100 people coffees to help others. Simple stuff like holding the door for someone, giving someone your seat on a crowded subway, or connecting your Amazon account to a charity are all great.
Though if you feel like buying 100 coffees, go for it!
19. Sing Your Heart Out
Put on your favorite song and jam out! Sing like no one’s around. Channel your inner pop / rock / country / or other music style star.
20. Cuddle with a Pet
You probably don’t need scientists tell you that cuddling with your pet can make you feel way better. But there are definitely studies out there proving the benefits of pet cuddles.
Get cozy with your pet and snuggle away.
21. Write a To-Do List
While to-do lists can feel more stressful than relaxing to some, sometimes getting your to-do list out of your head and onto paper can actually help clear your mind so you can finally relax.
22. Set an Intention for Your Day, Week, Month, or Year
Setting an intention can be a powerful exercise to bring more positive energy into your life, direct your attention towards your goals, and help you live your dream life.
You’re often asked to set an intention in class/school, during your yoga practice, or during goal setting. Intentions can be helpful in almost every area of life.
Make your choice of setting daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly intentions and see how it resonates.
23. Make a Pinterest Board of Your Favorite, Positive Life Quotes
Whether I’m feeling inspired or sad, it can be super fun to search Pinterest for life quotes and save your favorites. This way you can read through them again later.
It’s amazing how you can find that one quote that hits so good and helps you feel more understood, comforted, or inspired.
Click here for my Life: Quote Chic Pinterest Board (that I’ve been curating since about 2009!)
24. Go for a Drive with the Windows Down
Sometimes you just need to get OUT. Am I right? Escape your home, office, or other location and go for a quick drive down the street and back.
Nice day? Put the windows down and enjoy the feeling of the wind blowing through your air. This can be a really lovely moment of active mindfulness. Just be sure to pay attention to the road.
If you really want to let go, try doing one of the Outdoor Ideas below sans car.
25. Do Nothing
As someone who used to have nearly every minute of her day scheduled, doing nothing is something i’ve been experimenting with over the years.
At first, I found it nearly impossible to do nothing for even 5 minutes. I worried about my to-do list raging on or I’d be unable to quiet my mind.
But with time (and thanks to taking up meditation), I now intentionally create space in my day for do nothing breaks. And it has been surprisingly beneficial in helping me relax and actually be more productive in the long run.
On top of being a generally good idea, doing nothing can be a great way to create space in your day and let your mind breath.
Most recently, I was watching a movie on the Gaia channel about The Power of the Heart, and I heard an inspirational quote on this topic by Maya Angelou:
“I think when we don’t know what to do it’s wise to do nothing. Sit down quietly; quiet our hearts and minds and breathe deeply.”
~ Maya Angelou
If you try to do nothing, be sure to give it multiple attempts. This one can be a challenge at first but it’s worth trying again and again. Let me know how it goes!
Spa-Inspired 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
You may not have time for a manicure, pedicure, massage, or full spa day, but you can enjoy spa vibes with these easy spa-inspired 5 minute self care ideas.
1. Do a Face Mask
Use your favorite face mask for a quick self care break.
Bonus: try one of the other self care ideas at the same time. It would be easy to meditate, take deep breaths, or listen to nature sounds while your mask sets.
2. Diffuse Some Essential Oils
It takes 5 minutes or less to set up your essential oil diffuser, and then you’ll actually get to enjoy the aromatherapy for much longer.
My fave relaxing scents are:
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- “Unwind” by Saje
What are your favorite relaxing essential oil scents to diffuse? Comment below!
3. Take a Quick Shower
Reset your energy quickly by taking a quick shower. Try it regular or cold.
Bonus: focus your thoughts on intentionally washing away any negative energy for an intentional negative energy cleanse.
4. Take a Restorative Yoga Pose
Roll out your yoga mat, grab your bolsters & blocks, and enjoy a soothing restorative yoga pose.
Many restorative yoga poses are designed to be held for 5 minutes or longer. So you just need one for this quick and relaxing self care idea.
5. Give Yourself a Quick Massage
Whilst you can’t do a full body massage in only 5 minutes, you can do a quick massage of your hands, feet, neck, or other area of the body of choice.
6. Apply Some Lip Balm
I know it probably only takes a few seconds to slap some lip balm on, but try carefully and mindfully applying it instead.
Practice mindfulness by noticing any of the five senses you can:
- Sound: Notice what you hear – or perhaps notice how quiet it is
- Smell: What do you smell?
- Sight: What do you see?
- Touch: How does it feel?
- Taste: What does it taste like?
It’s like a mini meditation using lip balm!
7. Try Box Breathing
Box breathing is a deep breathing technique that apparently the US Navy SEALS use to help with stress management and concentration in difficult situations.
Box Breathing is easy, and you don’t need any special tools.
Box Breathing – to the count of 4 seconds:
- Inhale
- Hold
- Exhale
- Hold
Repeat!
That’s it! Easy, right?
8. Do a 5 Minute Meditation
There are plenty of free 5 minute meditations online on YouTube and probably all over social media.
But my favorite place to get free meditations is Insight Timer. Try searching their thousands of meditations or use their Timer feature.
The Timer is lovely because unlike using your phone (which ends in a jarring alarm sound), Insight Timer lets you pick the start and stop sounds from different sound bowls!
9. Sit in Silence for 5 Minutes
Sort of similar to #8 above or Free idea #25 – try sitting in silence for 5 minutes.
It can be really eye opening to see how easy or hard this may be for you.
But also – in a world where we’re constantly on work meetings, social media, and what not, it’s so lovely to have 5 minutes of silence.
10. Lie Down with a Weighted Eye Pillow
This one is easy. Just lie down on your bed, couch, yoga mat, or other support of choice with a weighted eye pillow.
Bonus: Try an eye pillow with lavender inside for an extra-soothing experience.
11. Listen to a Sound Bath
Sound baths are picking up in popularity, and there’s good reason why! They are very restorative and even healing for some.
Most in-person sound baths are over 60 minutes long. But you can definitely find 5 minutes sound baths online.
Side note: Did you know I’m a certified sound healer?
12. Light a Candle (And Try a Candle Meditation)
Lighting a candle and watching the flame can be soothing for sure. But did you know that there is actually a candlelight meditation called “trataka”.
You can keep it simple and just enjoy your candle however you choose. Or check out Spa Idea #23 to learn more about doing a candlelight meditation.
13. Do Your Skincare Routine
This one is straightforward, right? Simply take five minutes to do your skincare routine.
Already did it? Try a mask like Spa Idea #1 or move ahead to makeup on Spa Idea #14.
14. Play with Makeup
Spend five minutes playing with makeup. Do your usual, try a short tutorial, or experiment in a creative way of self-expression.
15. Rest with a Weighted Blanket
Grab your weighted blanket and get cozy. Rest, relax, and enjoy the soothing feeling of using a weighted blanket.
Tip: Try pairing the weighted blanket with one of the meditation or sound therapy ideas in this post.
16. Do a Body Scan Meditation
Lay down in a quiet and comfy position. Close your eyes. And start to scan your body from your feet up, pausing at different points to notice any sensations in that area of your body.
Want guidance? Find a free body scan meditation online – try YouTube or the free Insight Timer app.
17. Listen to Nature Sounds
Find a cozy spot on your couch, lay down in a comfortable position, or find another restful spot and enjoy some sound therapy through the beautiful sounds of nature.
Try YouTube or the free Insight Timer app for a variety of nature sound options.
18. Try the 4-7-8 Breathing Method
Popularized by one of my faves, Dr. Weil, the 4-7-8 is a stress relieving breathing technique that is really simple to do:
- Breath in for a count of 4
- Hold for a count of 7
- Slowly exhale for a count of 8
Repeat!
There’s a guided version of this breathing technique in the Calm app and a few options in the free Insight Timer app too.
19. Do Some Yoga Poses
Grab your yoga mat and try some simple yoga poses.
My faves for grounding / warm up / relaxation:
- child’s pose
- doing cat-cow aligned to your breaths
- downward dog
- happy baby
Or try the next option for an even more restful experience.
20. Take a 5 Minute Savasana
Savasana is the final resting pose you get to enjoy at the end of yoga class. With a cool lavender towel at may hot yoga studios. It’s the best!
śavāsana is a Sanskrit word meaning “corpse pose”. That may sound anything but restful, but there’s a deeper meaning here. This article by Insight Timer explains more about savasana and the meaning behind “corpse pose”:
While the body and subtle body benefit from the movement and exertion of asana, yoga’s ultimate state is only achieved when we stop. It’s in savasana that we practice the very important task of doing nothing, in both body and mind. When we lose ourselves as the actor, bliss arises.
To enjoy savasana, simply lie down with your legs and arms extended (arms near your side). Close your eyes. And enjoy the stillness for five minutes.
You can try savasana in silence or play some soothing music in the background. I recommend choosing music without lyrics since the lyrics can be distracting and reduce your relaxation vibes.
21. Mindfully Apply Your Favorite Lotion
Mindfully and lovingly apply your favorite lotion on your hands, feet, and/or body.
22. Do a Tension Release Meditation
To do a Tension Release Meditation:
- Lie down in a quiet space and in a comfortable position.
- Starting with your feet, tense your feet and hold it for a few seconds.
- Then release.
- Notice any sensations.
- Move to the next part up your body (your lower legs) and repeat.
- Keep repeating as you move up your full body.
For me, I feel way more relaxation in different areas of my body after doing this simple tense and release exercise.
Tip: Find a guided meditation for this on the free Insight Timer app or other meditation app of choice.
23. Enjoy a Candle Meditation (aka “Trataka”)
Trāṭaka is a Sanskrit word meaning “to look” or “to gaze”. I learned a bit about Sanskrit as part of my Yoga Teacher Training in 2023, so I thought this was especially cool as I was researching this post.
Now I could write a whole blog post about trataka. But in general, the idea is to place your candle in a safe space (with nothing flammable nearby), about two – three feet away from you. Get comfortable in a safe place, and then focus on the candle flame for the duration of your meditation, trying your best not to blink.
Tip: I didn’t see this in my research, but my health coach side is suggesting that you place the candle somewhere you can see it while maintaining a neutral neck and spine.
24. Make a Self Love List
Write down as many things you love about yourself as you can for five minutes.
Tip: Save the list somewhere you can read it next time you’re feeling down.
25. Read Self Love Affirmations
Can’t think of anything for the Self Love List idea above? Prefer affirmations? Read these self love affirmations for five minutes.
Food and Drink 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
1. Drink Water / Hydrate
Drink some / a glass of water.
2. Make a Cup of Tea / Sip Tea
Try a simple tea ritual and take your time mindfully making yourself a cup of tea. Infuse the experience with positive energy and set an intention that the tea is going to help you feel better, relax, etc.
Already have tea made? Try sipping it and enjoying it slowly and mindfully.
3. Make / Enjoy a Healthy Snack
Make and enjoy a quick and easy healthy snack. I love this Easy Almond Butter Banana Honey Toast or 2 Minute Yogurt Breakfast Bowl.
Want something even simpler – try the next idea.
4. Eat Some Fresh Fruit
Eat your favorite fresh fruit. It should take just a couple minutes to wash, prep, and/or cut. Or you can have pre-cut / prepped fruit on hand for. aneven faster snack.
5. Make a Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl
Smoothies and smoothie bowls are super fast to whip up. I like using a combo of fresh bananas and frozen fruit so there’s no chopping or cleaning needed. Easy-peasy!
Smoothie and Smoothie Bowl Recipes to Try:
- Healthy Salted Caramel Smoothie
- Raspberry Banana Smoothie Bowl (3 ingredients!)
- Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie
- Easy Acai Bowl
Yummm!
6. Have Some Adaptogen Hot Chocolate
Add some adaptogens to your favorite Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe. Or try an instant mix like the Cacao Reishi option at Four Sigmatic.
Tip: Use my Four Sigmatic Referral Link (here) to save on your first order.
7. Make a Health Latte
Love the idea of health lattes! There are so many to choose from!
Try making a golden latte, beet latte, or blue moon latte.
Too busy? Many coffee shops offer health lattes on their menus.
8. Make Herbal Water
Add some fresh herbs to your water for a refreshing twist on hydration. My fave is mint!
9. Make Fruit Infused Water
Add fresh fruit to your water for a fruit-infused treat. I especially love berries and citrus fruit for this.
10. Enjoy a Chia Fresca
Love chia seeds? Try a refreshing chia fresca. Lightly sweetened and with fun bubbles, this easy mocktail is a healthy treat.
This Blueberry Chia Fresca and Raspberry Lime Chia Fresca have a fun fruit flavor!
Home-Related 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
1. Put Out Some Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers really brighten your space and mood. Put some of your faves out in your home.
2. Clean Your Home
They say your home is a reflection of your mind. So if you’re wanting to clear your head, try cleaning your home. It can be strangely soothing and restorative.
Ditch the long cleaning list and see how much you can pick up / clean in 5 minutes.
3. Change Your Sheets
Whilst it may take a couple hours to wash and dry your sheets, you can definitely change them in just a few minutes.
4. Flip Through a Magazine
Grab your favorite magazine and enjoy some QT leisurely flipping through it.
5. Make Art
Draw, paint, sketch, or enjoy your other favorite artistic activity.
6. De-Clutter Your Home
This is similar to Home Self Care Idea #2 above. But this time – set your timer for 5 minutes and just go around one room of your home (or your entire house) and see what you can pick up and organize.
7. Use an Adult Coloring Book
Grab your colored pencils or markers and enjoy some relaxing artistic time using an adult coloring book.
Try a fun theme like: Enchanted, Mindfulness, or Motivational & Inspirational Swear Words Adult Coloring Book.
8. Read Your Favorite Book
Five minutes is a short amount of time to read a book. But, it’s enough time to read a quick snippet or your favorite highlighted notes, of your favorite book.
You could also try a book that has super short chapters or single pages to read.
Click here for my favorite books.
9. Play an Instrument
Love to play a musical instrument? Set aside 5 minutes to play it and enjoy creating those beautiful sounds.
10. Make Your Bed
Making your bed doesn’t have to be an annoying chore. It can be a really easy way to take control of your day, keep your home vibes high, and feel put together overall.
11. Decorate Your Planner
There are more options beyond using a black or blue pen in your planner. There’s a whole world of planner decorations to explore. Washi tape, planner stickers, colorful pens, sticky notes, and more planner supplies!
Click here to learn how to decorate your planner.
12. Doodle
Grab a piece of paper and your favorite pens, markers, colored pencils, or other writing tools and doodle away.
Prefer to go digital? Try doodling on your iPad!
13. Groom Your Pet
While grooming your pet may sound more like a chore than a self care activity, consider that doing things for others is one of the best ways to find fulfillment and happiness in life.
While over-prioritizing the needs of others over your own meeds can lead to detrimental levels of people pleasing, being in service to others can be wonderful.
Try mindfully grooming your pet while them sending loving energy and think about the positive impact you make on your pet and your pet makes on you.
14. Do a Quick Photoshoot
Grab your camera or phone and do a mini photoshoot. You can take pictures or your dog, yourself, or random objects in your home. Try staging a flaylay or other set-up.
Or go outside and take some photos of plants and lanscape scenes.
15. Play with Your Pet
Find a fun game to play with your pet – fetch, tug of war, and the list goes on.
16. Organize a Drawer or Closet in Your Kitchen, Office, or Other Space
Five minutes might be all you need to quickly organize a drawer or closet in your home.
A full closet makeover could easily take longer. We’ve all see the organization TV shows to know that.
But you could do 5-minute bursts or tackle the easy parts.
Outside 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
Most of these work best on a beautiful, warm, sunny day. If it’s raining now, consider trying one of the ideas from the At Home or Spa Self Care Activities Lists.
1. Take a Quick Walk
A short walk can be great to shift your energy, get your heart rate up, and improve your physical health over time.
It’s also one of the best ways to let off steam and reset.
2. Go for a Bike Ride
Have a bike? Try a quick, invigorating bike ride to get your body moving and enjoy some fresh air.
3. Do Some Gardening
Have a garden, yard, or houseplants? Get in touch with nature and do some gardening / tend to your plants.
4. Notice Shapes in the Clouds
Remember that game you used to play as a kid? You’d lie down in the grass, look up at the sky, and notice what you’d see in the clouds.
Whether you’ve actually played that game or not, it’s a fun way to enjoy a nice day and tap into your inner child.
5. Get Some Sun
Soak up some Vitamin D and spend five minutes in the sun. Whilst you do need to be mindful of your skin health and protect against sun damage and exposure, the sun is a wonderful thing to experience safely.
6. Get Out in Nature
Being in nature is soothing and healing. There’s a reason forest bathing is a thing.
When I get stressed at work or home, I’ll find myself pulled to getting outside and walking through a nearby park, greenway, or other nature space.
It’s so relaxing!
7. Go Stargazing
Here’s a night time self care idea. Step outside and look at the stars. Bonus points if you can pick out constellations.
8. Lie in a Hammock
This one is pretty straightforward. Just enjoy a hammock for five minutes.
9. Sit Near Some Water
People pay big bucks to re-create the sounds you’d hear being close to water. If you’re lucky enough to be near a fountain, creek, river, lake, or ocean, head over to it and enjoy!
10. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset
Whether you go outside or catch it from your window, it’s so lovely to spend a few minutes watching the sun rise or set.
High Vibe 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
1. Set up Sticky Note Affirmations in Your Home
Surround yourself with positive messages by putting your favorite affirmations on sticky notes around your home.
Areas to add an affirmation sticky note:
- Bathroom mirror
- Closet mirror
- Vanity / makeup area
- Refrigerator Door
- Back of a door
Or anywhere else you’d like a positive reminder.
Tip: This is actually a super easy way to shift your mindset and manifest with ease!
2. Try a 5 Minute Positive Energy Morning Routine
Start your day first thing with positive energy with this simple, 3-step, high vibe morning routine.
3. Do a Negative Energy Release
My friend and fellow Yoga Teacher Trainee, Laura, recently shared our YTT cohort a cool negative energy release:
- Stand and face towards an area you won’t mind directing negative energy (so *not* towards your loved ones, plants, etc.).
- Do the following while focusing your thoughts on removing negative energy from yourself.
- Take your right hand from your left shoulder diagonally to your right hip.
- Then your left hand from your right shoulder diagonally to your left hip.
- Take your right hand from your left shoulder and down your left arm.
- Take your left hand from your right shoulder down your right arm.
- Take both hands and swipe your hands from your chest into a short downward direction .
That’s it!
Tip: If you like this idea, consider also trying Spa Idea #3.
4. Journal
Journaling is therapeutic, fun, and a good way to clear your mind and heart. Try using a journal prompt or doing stream of consciousness writing. Or any of the many styles of journaling out there.
5. Try Grounding
Take your shoes and socks off and walk with bare feet over something in nature – grass, the beach, etc.
According to this study:
Grounding appears to improve sleep, normalize the day–night cortisol rhythm, reduce pain, reduce stress, shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic activation, increase heart rate variability, speed wound healing, and reduce blood viscosity.
How cool is that?
6. Make a List of Things That Are Going Well
Similar to journaling – take some time to make a list of things that are going well for you right now. And feeling into the positive energy remembering all of these wonderful happenings.
7. Daydream
We may have been told to stop daydreaming as kids. To be more practical. But daydreaming can be a fun and creative way to tap into your potential. So enjoy it!
It’s even a cool way to do some inner child healing.
Don’t quit your daydream!
Love this? Try one of the manifestation methods below to bring your daydream to your reality.
8. Pull an Affirmation Card and Focus on It
Using affirmation cards is a fun way to receive guidance from the Universe. Go ahead, shuffle your favorite deck, pull a card, and use it for your intention and/or focus of the day.
I especially love affirmation card decks like this by Louise Hay, like this deck by Gabby Bernstein, and even this kind of hilarious but still powerful deck.
9. Use or Cleanse Your Crystals
You use and/or cleanse your crystals in just a couple minutes. How to do both is enough content to fill books. So I can’t cover it all here.
Cleansing Your Crystals: The fastest way to clean your crystals is to sage them.
Using Your Crystals: Hold your crystal(s) of choice while enjoying Spa Self Care Ideas #8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, or 20. Or any other 5-minute self care ideas of your choice.
10. Try the Scripting Manifestation Method
Scripting is like Journaling (High Vibe 5-Minute Self Care Idea #4), but it’s a manifestation technique!
Scripting is easy. Basically write out your ideal day in present tense like, it’s happening (or past tense, like it already happened). This invokes the Law of Attraction – like attracts like – because you manifest what you are, not what you want.
Click here for an example of some scripting I did and what worked (and didn’t!).
11. Do an Energy Cleanse of Your Home
Many cultures use plants or other tools to cleanse the energy of the home. Some commonly used energy cleansing tools are: sage, lavender, incense, guava leaves (in Filipino culture), and sound bowls.
Research to see if your family’s culture uses anything in particular and see if you can try it to connect to your roots and culture while also cleansing the energy of your home.
12. Do Energy Shifting Movement
Energy can get stagnant. But there’s good news! There are movements you can do to shift your energy.
My favorite energy shifting movement is easy to do, but a little hard to explain – but I’ll try:
- Bring your right knee up to hip height while you circle your left arm back, up, and then forward to meet your right knee as it rises.
- Repeat on your opposite side.
- And keep repeating to switch up your energy.
This one is fun too!
13. Try the “Wouldn’t It Be Nice If?” Manifestation Technique
This is probably the easiest and best manifestation techniques around. This was created by Abraham Hicks, and is featured in their classic Law of Attraction book, Ask and It Is Given.
To use the “Wouldn’t It Be Nice If?” Technique: Simply say, “Wouldn’t it be nice if” and add whatever you want to manifest. That’s it!
The lightness of this technique helps remove resistance because it makes the whole thing playful and fun. Try it, and let me know how it goes.
14. Try an Anxiety Release Method
I recently learned three anxiety release methods on Gabby Bernstein’s podcast. My fave was The “Peace Begins with Me” Practice (#3). This method uses a mudra (symbolic gesture) and mantra.
How to Do The “Peace Begins with Me” Practice:
- Tap your thumb to your pointer finger and say, “Peace”.
- Tap your thumb to your middle finger and say, “Begins”.
- Tap your thumb to your ring finger and say, “With”.
- Tap your thumb to your pinky finger and say, “Me”.
That’s it! Just keep repeating the mudra and mantra and enjoy.
15. Listen to Solfeggio Music
Solfeggio music is a relaxing style of music, sans vocals, that some say have healing therapeutic properties.
Click here to learn more about Solfeggio Music
Click here for some of my favorite Solfeggio songs – free on YouTube
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Summary: 101 Easy 5 Minute Self Care Ideas
Don’t have time for self care? Think again! If you have even 5 minutes, you can do one of these quick and easy 5-minute self-care ideas.
Say it with me: I deserve self care.
You definitely do! Come back to this post when you’re ready for some self care QT. And share this with someone who could use this too!
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Hope you enjoyed this list of 101 5 Minute Self Care Ideas to Help You Feel Better Fast!
Which of these 5-minute self-care ideas are you most excited to try? Comment your faves below!