Self care is a vital part of staying happy and healthy. It’s great for when you want to maintain your mental and physical well-being but also an important tool for helping us get through those tough mental health days. Which inevitably we will all have. But, let’s not beat around the bush, a lot of us have busy and hectic lives. With kids and jobs and relationships to maintain. We don’t have time to treat ourselves to hours of self care every day. Which is where this handy list of self care ideas in 10 minutes or less comes in!
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
As much as we’d all love to be going for massages, pedicures and hour long walks in the countryside every day, it’s obviously not feasible for most of us, for a lot of different reasons. But that’s certainly not to say that we shouldn’t be trying to introduce small acts of self care into our daily lives.
10 minutes of self care is better than none at all!
There are thousands upon thousands of self care ideas but today we’re focusing on those small acts of kindness we can give to ourselves when we’re a busy mum, a working woman, a carer or someone that just leads a very busy lifestyle. Circumstances don’t always allow for an hour long soak in the bath, sadly!
In times of stress, it is SO bloody important to take extra care of ourselves. Even if we’re busy. Even if we’re tired. Even if we have responsibilities. I truly believe that you can’t give your full self to your duties if you don’t take care of yourself adequately too.
If you’re struggling to fit self care into your busy life, this post is for you. The list below contains simple self care ideas which will take 10 minutes or less. Just 10 minutes of your day – we all have that to spare. Some things listed below are super basic self care ideas as well, that we absolutely shouldn’t overlook.
Here are 30 self care ideas which will take you just 10 minutes or LESS!
- Meditate for 10 minutes
- Yoga (check out this playlist from Yoga With Adriene of practices under 10 minutes)
- Journal your thoughts and feelings
- Read a book or magazine
- Moisturize your body (I love the Vitamin E All Over Body Cream from Superdrug!)
- Freshen up (wash your face, brush your teeth, brush your hair etc)
- Go outside for a 10 minute walk
- Put on your favourite songs
- Text a friend
- Write a list of things you want to plan
- Make yourself the perfect cup of tea or coffee
- Treat yourself to a cake or a sweet treat
- Snuggle with a pet
- Clip and paint your nails
- Stretch your muscles
- Drink a glass of water
- Watch a video from your favourite YouTuber
- Listen to a short podcast/TedTalk
- Treat yourself to something online
- Read a blog post from your favourite blogger
- Create a vision board on Pinterest
- Clean something
- Write a list of things you’re grateful for
- Hug someone
- Do a visualization exercise
- Give yourself a neck massage
- Delete all Facebook friends you no longer speak to
- Make your bed
- Book an appointment you’ve been putting off (like your cervical screening)
- Do a quick 10 minute HIIT workout (check out Holly Dolke on YouTube!)
Which suggestions are your favourite? What do you like to do as a small act of self love or self care when you’re busy? Let me know!
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Great working 😊
This is such a wonderful post, thank you so much for writing this! The Facebook one is such a great suggestion, when I was dealing with severe anxiety and experiencing symptoms of agoraphobia back in 2018 I might have taken this a leap further and just deleted it in it’s entirety! But honestly it worked wonders and never once have i invited it back into my life, or felt the need too.
Quinn x
That’s amazing to hear!
Thank you for this post! I was having a day and this encouraged me❤️. I never put enough tome aside for myself. Work I’m progress…
Glad you found this post!
This is fantastic, it really highlights how even small acts can make a huge difference to how we feel. Lately I’ve been taking ten minutes to meditate when things are feeling rough, or just cuddling my cat (sometimes she only lets me do it for about 30 seconds but still!). Taking some time to slow down every day is so crucial, especially in times like these!
That’s a great idea. Haha “self care ideas to do in 30 seconds – cuddle a cat”
I giggled at delete all Facebook friends you no longer speak to 😂 good list! And so important.
Haha well, it’s true!
Great ideas — and very accessible, which make doing them or making time for self-care an option.
Thank you ☺️
Nice, very helpful!
Self care is so important
Awe I love this idea. Especially for those who struggle with self-care. This can help guide them to do smaller and simpler tasks so they can better understand the benefits and how much better it can make you feel! You rock! Thanks for sharing! xx
Definitely 😌
Self-care isn’t a selfish act. It is not only about considering your needs. It is knowing what we need to do to take care of ourselves, and of others. A really good article
-Siddharth Chaudhary ( https://arcanelost.com/category/lifestyle/well-being/)
Thank you 🙂
[…] self care by now. I’ve published many different types of self care related content, including self care in 10 minutes or less, basic self care and how to bring self care BACK into your life when you’ve been […]
Great list! And I love your pin images. Very professional looking!
Thank you very much!
Excellent ideas here!
It’s amazing how much better I feel with something as simple at making my bed, even if I grumble at the thought of it.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
The little things always help!
I am loving this list! I love that so many of these things can be done in minimal time! I have deleted sooo many old “friends” and it feels so good!
Rosie
It does doesn’t it! I’m going to do the same!
I love these tips on how to keep happy and healthy 😄👏❤️
I enjoyed reading this! People think that self care has to last a while but your post proves that you can practice self care in just a short amount of time! Some of these I mentioned I have never thought when thinking about self care, such as clipping my nails, visualization exercise, massage. I especially like that you mentioned booking an appointment that you are putting off (I am guilty of this). My favourite 10 min self care would be making a cup of tea and giving Coda a cuddle! Great post jenny xx
Coda cuddles sound like amazing self care!
I love this list! I’ve been decluttering little by little to help me make more room to do things I love! Or I love baking something go give me a little bit of a break from my usual routine. Making things from scratch has always been one of my favorites.
Sounds like fab ways to practice self care!
Great list! I think you just about covered everything there is to do in 10 minutes LOL
Hahaha absolutely!
Coffee, cleaning and watching my favourite youtubers are the ones I tend to do to give myself a little treat 😊 The Pinterest vision board would be on my list as well, but I can’t trust myself to stick to 10 minutes 😂😂
Haha well if you have longer than 10 minutes, go for it!
This is such a lovely post, it’s so informative but not overwhelming!
I love this list. Sometimes the tiniest of things can shift our moods and make us feel better. You really don’t need hours and hours to do something positive for yourself. And doing things like deleting old contacts/ ‘friends’ or emails is so satisfying!! x
Sophie
Oh I agree! I love deleting old “friends”. C ya! xxx
What I love about this post is that none of the ideas you listed are the surface-level kind of self-care. For me, self care is taking care of the now so that things are good for my future self. Setting my bed or cleaning a space is not only meditative but also benefits future me. Great post, Jenny!
Totally agree! Thank you 🙂
These are all great ideas. You know I’m a big fan of Self-Care, but sometimes finding time is a challenge! Spending 10 minutes doing any of these activities is a brilliant way to start building positive habits!
Totally 🙂 You definitely don’t need hours!
So easy to say we don’t have time for self care but you’ve just proved how many things we can achieve for ourselves in a very short space of time.
In fact, I am going to get up and do something for me right now! Now should I paint my nails or tint my eyelashes? I might do both x x
Definitely both!
Oooooh I like these! I always fall into the trap of thinking that if it’s not a long time then it doesn’t count and I need to fix that!
You definitely do! Everything counts!
Self-care doesn’t have to be an all day affair. Like you said it could be as simple as a nice cup of coffee or tea. Or even treating yourself to that expensive coffee you keep at the back of the cupboard (or is that only me?). Great list, pet! Plenty of ideas for me to try.
I totally agree. I don’t drink coffee so that one’s on you but I understand the point 🙂
Love this! Self-care doesn’t have to be long or expensive – it can be the little things. I love Yoga with Adrienne so definitely need to check out her shorter videos for little bursts of self-care.
They’re really great – I’ve been doing a lot of the shorter videos lately!
Moisturising and taking more time out for my night time/skin routine has been a top one for me recent and it’s made a world of difference on how I feel! Going to add more of these ideas to my day, especially as most are effortless!
Fy https://cultureeighteen.wordpress.com/
Ah that’s great to hear!
Love these! They’re not time-consuming or spiritual, rather just simple things you can do during your day. Thanks for sharing! Will definitely be using some of these 🙂
Yep, absolutely 🙂
This is great. Self care is so important! Even doing the smallest thing to look after yourself can make you feel a little better x
It really can 🙂
Reading a magazine, or even multiple magazines, has to be one of my favorite ways to pass the time or even fill up just a simple ten minutes, but I love the idea of clipping and filing nails. I never thought about it before, but concentrating on one simple task can do a great deal for focus! 🙂
It really can!
These are great ideas!!! I definitely need to do more self care!
Hope you manage to fit some in!
What a great list of ideas, Jenny. I think for me it would be make a cup tea, read a book, go for a walk or clean something. Thanks for sharing xx
They’re all my favourite things too!
I love the visualization idea, positives all the way! I was quite pleased with myself that I’ve been doing a good number of some of your suggestions like all over moisturising, drinking water, HIIT and listening to favourite songs.
Woo! So glad to hear that!
Great suggestions! I agree that even 10 minutes can make a huge difference. My favorite form of self-care has lately been meditating!
Yesss meditating can be so helpful x
Excellent list! We always think we need to allow so much time for these little ‘extras’. We can slip them into our day with no trouble at all. We need to be mindful about it. In the end, when we feel better, everything else in life goes better. We wind up having more time to do other things that we need to do.
Oh yes I totally agree!
Love these ideas! I just got my Habit Nest journal in the mail and it is perfect for guided journaling/build better habits. Totally recommend, it’s perfect for 10 minutes or less of self care.
XO Tabby from book-baths.com
These are some great ideas. Applying moisturiser, although really simple, always makes me feel so much better.
http://www.thekellydianereport.co.uk
I love the sound of that journal!
Love the post. I have been lacking in the self care department so much, so this is just perfect.
Glad this helped!
Great ideas – there are loads that you can do every day as well and not just occasionally. I definitely need to listen to more music!
Oh yeah totally you can do some of these every day!
Loved this post! So helpful! X
Thank you 🙂
I love these ideas! I’m going to start trying do to a couple everyday. I love yoga but usually put it off because some practices are quite long – definitely going to check out the ten minute videos 🙂
Style by Sam
YWA has some amazing short videos from 6 minutes, 15 minutes etc!
Great ideas! I tend to do a lot of these – such a great way to set calm! Xx
Thank you 🙂 x
Love these ideas! I think sometimes with self care it can feel like it has to be an hour or so and should take up a good chunk of time but that’s really not the case and little things like this can be so beneficial. I find reading is a great one for me xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Totally agree x
OOoooo I love the treat yourself to a sweet treat! I’ve been eating a lot of cookies and creme Hershey bars lately. lol
Oooh sounds great!
Some really great ideas! I love things that don’t take up too much time xx
Same!
Lovely ideas! I think we often don’t indulge in self-care because we think we don’t have enough time, so no excuse with these ideas. I love taking a quick walk around the garden and just really appreciating all that’s around me.
Lots of love, Helen x
Exactly! You can literally go for a walk around your garden and it’ll help!
These are great. I love how much something as simple as making your bed can help!
Oh it absolutely can!
Some great suggestions. I love getting cosy and having a quick little read in the day, it takes the mind away from the daily stresses for a short while x
I love doing that too!
I love that you came up with so many ideas that you can do in ten minutes or less. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or take forever to be effective. Great list!
It really doesn’t!
Thanks for sharing, plenty of ideas there for some self care 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Thank you 🙂
I have been working out and cooking as my way of self care. This is such a great list
Those are fab things to do x
I think reading is so fantastic for self care x
There’s some great ideas here Jenny, I love meditation as I find it incredibly relaxing and it really helps me relax! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Me too! I agree x
I love these ideas! I really want to try yoga and I find reading blog posts so calming!
-Kyra xx
Oooh do it! I have a lot of yoga related posts for beginners!
Some great ideas here that you just seem to forget about and they are so simple some of them. I am definitely taking more time for myself and looking after myself too. I’m fortunate enough to have the time if I just prioritise and stay organised and focussed…..that’s sometimes the difficult part. Thanks Jenny, I love reading your blog posts they’re so helpful and uplifting xxx
Thanks so much Sarah 🙂 xx
Great post! I love going for walk and listening to my favorite music! Thanks for the ideas!
Me too! Your favourite songs can be a huge pick-me-up!
Now this is the sort of self care list I need! With Theodore running around I rarely have more than a few minutes to myself. I’ll have to book mark this list and treat myself to a few self care moments, there’s some brilliant suggestions!
Rachael x
palegirlrambling.co.uk
Hope this helps! You definitely deserve a bit of downtime!
These are such fabulous ideas, I’m all about self care especially since we’re all stuck indoors. This reminds me, I probably need to call some of my friends I haven’t spoken to in ages 😐
Glad this reminded you!
Fab tips and it goes to show that self-care doesn’t need to be extravagant. I’ve found that freshening up is such a good one, especially in lockdown as it’s so tempting to sit around in your PJs all day! Thanks for sharing! x
Oh isn’t it just haha!
I love this article because you show how simple and easy it is to incorporate self-care into your day to day
Absolutely 🙂
These are such lovely ideas and I feel they are so needed at the moment! Definitely want to do a cull of facebook friends haha!
https://www.emilyclareskinner.com
Thank you 🙂 I need to do that soon too!
Great posts i really enjoyed reading it. i think that it is so important that we have a long list of things that we can do for self care that work for us, some short and some long depending on the situations. i look forward to your future posts.
Totally! And thank you 🙂
This is a fab list! One of my favourites is definitely making myself a nice cuppa and sitting down to watch a YouTube video. I like to do it in the morning so I do give myself that 10 minutes or so just to start the day off feeling relaxed before getting stuck into work!
Chloe xx
I absolutely love doing that too! I always watch something on YT when I’m eating my breakfast!
Great ideas! I think looking at it this way instead of saying “I don’t have time” is great. I love to clean for 5 minutes or even just meditate for 10 minutes and that is a great way for me to just do self care without taking up too much time xxx
Totally agree!
This is an amazing list of ideas, so often we say we’ve not got enough time for a typical self care pamper night so I absolutely love these ideas!
gingerblogger.wordpress.com
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Jenny, I’ve been doing lots of yoga during lockdown and keeping fit sessions with my daughters. Really fun and loving the yoga with Adrienne videos. <3 x
Awh that’s great to hear!
Yep, I am determined to get as supple as I can! Lol.
Thanks for the 10 mins self care suggestions, everyone can take out at least 10 mins for ourselves everyday, sounds like a brilliant idea.
They absolutely can 🙂
After reading this blog, I tend to realize that I concentrate on only 8/30 things!!!
I got to know my level!! Thanks for this!!!
Will start applying most of them!!!
😊
Glad to hear that!
This is a brilliant list of things! Self-care is so on trend right now and I’m always a bit afraid that people start “achieving” it like we do with so many things in life. But the thing is, self care can be such a small thing as promising oneself to have a proper lunch hour every day at work. Shockingly many don’t, or they eat at their desk, which is sooo wrong. Take half and hour or an hour away from your laptop, and stick to it. It’s on everyone’s contract as well that we are obligated to take that break, so we bloody well should. Owning our time and appreciating it is the only way to a happier life 🙂 xxx
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
Totally agree! And when we work for ourselves we need to be disciplined enough to work AND to take that break! I always have an hour break for lunch and watch Desperate Housewives haha!
Awesome resource Jenny, never thought of giving myself enough time by either applying any of your suggestion above, I will start applying this self care tips to my daily living. Thank you so much for sharing
I hope you do! You deserve some self care!
Thank you so much for these lovely ideas! As strange as it sounds, I never really knew how much going for a quick walk could impact my mental health until I started doing it during lockdown as part of my exercise. I’ve been really slack lately and it definitely shows, so need to get back into it again! Cleaning is such a good idea, too!
Hope you can get back into those daily walks soon lovey! <3 xxx