When it comes to self-care, have you ever said to yourself “I don’t have time?”
Of course, you’ve heard many times before that self-care is good for you, it’ll make you feel better, blah, blah, blah.
But this is where I beg to differ. You don’t have to spend hours engaging in self-care (unless you want to) 😊.
You absolutely have enough time to engage in self-care because you have more time than you think. Beginning the process of self-care can be something that can take just a few minutes. The tips that are in this post will give you a jump start on managing your stress before your stress manages you. All 7 of these self-care tips will each take you less than a minute to perform. Because after all, it’s all about Making Time.
Breathe Deeply
Breath is life. Our breath can do so much for us and many of us don’t do it correctly.
Anytime you’re feeling tense, stressed out, or even just a little ‘off’ taking several deep breaths will change how you’re feeling for the better.
Wanna know the key?
Don’t just breathe. Breathe deeply. Hold your breath in between the steps below for maximum impact. Start with inhaling to the count of four, then hold it for the count of four, and exhale to the count of four.
Eat Mindfully
Be honest. When is the last time you truly enjoyed your food?
We’re gonna change that right now! The next time you eat anything at all, pause for a moment in your chewing to savor the textures and flavors. By doing this you aid in digestion and rediscover the joy of eating as well.
If you want to go deeper with eating mindfully, try the raisin exercise:
Put the raisin on your tongue and before you chew it, hold it there. Notice how the raisin feels on your tongue.
When you're ready, chew the raisin (slowly) and notice the flavor as it spurts out in your mouth. Notice how the taste, smell and texture of the raisin changes the longer it's in your mouth.
You are going to mindfully eat this raisin using all of your senses. Before you begin eating the raisin, look at it as if you've never seen a raisin before.
Notice its color, notice the folds in the raisin and how the light reflects off of the raisin's surface.
Smell the raisin, notice it's scent. Feel the raisin and notice it's texture. Is it hard, rough, or smooth?
Silence is Golden
Although there are those who like being in the midst of the action all of the time, there’s a lot to be said for a moment of silence. Calm racing thoughts, lower your heart rate, and relax fully into the moment by putting down that phone, turning off your other electronics and just sitting with your eyes closed.
This would be a great time to practice your deep breathing. Take 60 seconds at least once a day to try this tip out.
Look Around
If you normally spend your days staring at a computer screen, your eyes will thank you for trying this tip.
Engage your mind by actively taking notice of an object near you. Spend a full minute in exploring this object, taking note of everything about it. Here’s some questions to ask yourself:
What does it feel like?
What color is it?
How does the light strike its surface?
After looking at the object for a minute, close your eyes and see if you can recall this object in minute detail. This will actually help with your cognition and focus.
Daydream
Having a rough day? Taking a one-minute vacation in your head can help perk you up. You can either visualize your vacation yourself by picturing someplace you’d like to visit or something you want to experience in person someday. Or you can use a meditation app such as the one I talk about in my 5 Minute Escapes blog post.
Show Gratitude
If you’ve been around the Making Time blog for any amount of time, you know that I’m a big believer in gratitude. Having a thankful heart helps shift how you see the world and is really good for your mood and helping you to talk that positive self-talk.
Think of something you’re grateful for. Or better yet, take a minute to send off a quick email or text thanking someone in your life for something you appreciate about them.
So there you have it, 7 ways to take just a minute for yourself. Doing this will have a great positive impact on your mental and physical wellbeing. Being more relaxed and less stressed will only help you as you go about your day.
Let’s talk, what’s one quick action that you do regularly for your self-care? Let me know in the comments section.
Shhh Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash
Cassandra Martin-Himmons is a trainer, wellness coach and consultant who believes in empowering her clients and providing the tools that they need to make positive changes in their lives to manage their stress and increase their self-care. In her spare time, she enjoys papercrafting, volunteering and travel. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn