101 Ways To Practice Self-Care In 10 Minutes or Less

I’m not going to lie, it can be challenging to find the time to prioritise self-care.

Especially if you have a busy schedule and an endless to-do list.

But the truth is, your self-care practice doesn’t need to be overly long or complicated to be effective.

Just 10 minutes of self-care a day can make the biggest difference to your overall health and well-being. So, keep things simple!

Here are 101 ways to practice self-care in 10 minutes or less, no matter how busy you are.

The best way to practice self-care

Over the past couple of years, I’ve found that the best way to practice self-care is to commit to just 10 minutes a day.

This approach has allowed me to integrate self-care into my daily routine, whether it’s by reading in the morning, taking breaks throughout the day, going for a walk, or using an LED light therapy mask to nourish my skin after a long day of travel.

My self-care routine is short and simple, making it achievable even on busy days or days when I’m low on energy.

So don’t get sucked into the overly-long or complicated self-care routines you see promoted on social media as they may not be realistic or sustainable for your lifestyle.

Keep it simple so it can easily fit into your schedule.

Commit to just 10 minutes a day of doing something that will benefit you in the long term, such as reading a book, listening to a podcast, getting outside for fresh air or even just taking a moment to reflect.

101 quick and simple self-care activities that take 10 minutes or less

To make this list easier for you to navigate, I have split it up into sections:

• 10-minute self-care ideas for the morning
• 10-minute self-care ideas for the afternoon
• 10-minute self-care ideas for the evening
• 10-minute self-care ideas for the weekend

This will allow you to find the right self-care ideas to fit into your schedule and needs throughout the day or week. Feel free to make adjustments where needed to fit your lifestyle and likes, or create your own list of 10-minute self-care activities.

The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy yourself.

Self-care should never feel like a chore; otherwise, what’s the point?

Yes, self-care can be uncomfortable sometimes if you’re doing a lot of inner and “healing” work, but as long as what you choose to do is making you feel good both inside and out, then you’re doing it right.

I also encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it whenever you need some self-care inspiration.

10-minute self-care ideas for the morning

• Watch the sunrise
• Open the windows and let the fresh air in
• Make your bed
• Read a few pages from a health and wellness book
• Or a chapter from Stay & Slay; How To Beat Burnout Without Quitting Your Job
• Do a few jumping jacks to wake up your body
• Create your own 10-minute yoga flow or stretch routine
• Step outside barefoot and practice grounding
• Do a 10-minute HIIT workout
• Meditate for 3-mins or longer using Activations
• Have a 10-minute dance party
• Complete a short skincare and makeup routine
• Take a few minutes to plan out your day
• Write a gratitude list (use a journal or go freehand)
• Write down 3 positive affirmations and say them out loud
• Write down one thing you’re excited about today
• Make a small to-do list and highlight just ONE priority
• Send a thoughtful message to a friend or loved one
• Listen to a 10-minute motivational podcast or book summary on Headway
• Or you can listen to Stephen Bartlett’s “Moment” segments from The Diary of a CEO podcast
• Make a fresh seasonal juice
• Enjoy a cup of morning tea or coffee outside
• Read a page from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
• Wiggle your toes
• Unclench your jaw and relax your shoulders
• Take a few deep breaths, you’ve got this

10-minute self-care ideas for the afternoon

• Have a 10-minute power nap
• Go on a walk around the block to stretch your legs
• Drink a large glass of water
• Make a quick, healthy snack or a sweet treat like this creamy avocado mousse
• Gently stretch your neck and roll your shoulders
• Listen to “All Too Well” (10-mins version) by Taylor Swift
• Watch a beauty or recipe tutorial on YouTube
• Listen to a short comedy clip or a funny podcast if you’re feeling down
• Create a vision board or mood board on Pinterest
• Doodle, sketch, or do a quick creative exercise
• Declutter your desktop
• Have a quick 10-minute clean-up of your space, wherever you are
• Do a quick desk meditation or breathwork exercise
• Don’t look at your phone for 10 minutes
• Have an IRL conversation with someone
• Write a list of fun physical activities you can incorporate into your schedule next week
• Take a 5-minute self-love break! Check in with yourself to see how you are feeling. Reflect on what currently feels good and what feels off. And think about the small steps you can take to make the rest of your day 1% better
• Practice the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method
• Watch an empowering TED Talk
• Listen to a relaxing or happy playlist to boost your energy
• Put on your favourite song and sing your heart out
• Take a moment for yourself
• Give yourself a mini hand massage with lotion
• Step outside for a few minutes of fresh air and sun
• Laugh!
• Watch the sunset

10-minute self-care ideas for the evening

• Use the Growband scalp massager to promote hair growth and boost circulation
• Take a long, hot (or cold) shower
• Moisturise your entire body
• Exfoliate and stimulate your skin with dry brushing
• Light a candle and enjoy a moment of stillness
• Read a chapter from ‘Me Time’ by 5 Minutes for Me (I’m a contributing author)
• Give yourself a mini-facial massage with oil
• Use CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask (each session takes 10-minutes)
• Paint your nails
• Plan your outfit for tomorrow
• Start creating a seasonal acoustic playlist
• Find some new healthy recipes to cook
• Colour in a page from a colouring book
• Write a “things I’m looking forward to” list
• Practice gratitude with The Five Minute Journal
• Hug a loved one or pet
• Watch an episode of Man vs Bee on Netflix (average running time is 10-12 minutes)
• Do a 10-minute breathing exercise
• Sip a calming herbal tea and listen to soft music
• Listen to a guided meditation or sleep story
• Put your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode for 10 minutes before bed
• Journal or brain dump right before bed
• Stretch
• Tuck into a fiction book before bed (choose a genre you actually enjoy)
• Write down one win from your day, no matter how small

10-minute self-care ideas for the weekend

• Dance around your bedroom
• Declutter and tidy an area in your house
• Buy yourself fresh flowers
• Sort through your camera roll and reminisce over old memories
• Watch a short documentary or educational video
• Listen to a chapter in an audiobook
• Re-organise your bookshelf
• Get outside and take pictures of what you see
• Call a friend or loved one
• Look at cute puppy (or kitten) pictures
• Read through this list of thoughtful and inspiring quotes
• Dedicate time to learning a new skill
• Play a quick 10-minute round of chess, timer at the ready
• Complete a crossword puzzle or word search
• Do more of the jigsaw puzzle you started the weekend before
• Play a game of cards with a friend
• Try a new 10-minute recipe just for fun
• Write a seasonal bucket list
• Get started on your health and wellness journey by mapping out your intentions
• Give yourself a massage using a foam roller or massage ball
• Schedule your self-care rituals for next week
• Plan a mini-adventure for next weekend
• Read one of my blog posts on self-care, wellness or mindful productivity
• Do a quick journaling prompt about your week
• Subscribe to The Weekly Reset and open my email every Sunday
• Try a guided stretching routine for relaxation
• Do absolutely nothing

Final thoughts

Just like with all of my blog posts, I encourage you to test out these 10-minute activities first before fully committing to them and adding them to your self-care routine.

Because what works for me might not necessarily work for you.

Put together your own self-care tracker to record which quick 10-minute self-care ideas you enjoyed and which ones you would do again.

Rate each ritual out of 5 stars and ask yourself, “How did this activity make me feel?” If it’s a hell yes rather than a hell no, then add it to your self-care routine and get consistent.

I’m all about doing the stuff that works for you. Not one-size-fits-all BS.

You’ve got this,

Thalia xx

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