Simple Self-Care Ideas for When Your Time is Limited
“Me Time” verse Self-Care
I was watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show on YouTube recently. It was an episode that aired in 2004 where the guest was a multi-millionaire socialite mother of three young children, who had the help of three nannies and two housekeepers. Having the help allowed her to have a lot of “me time” which involved, a lot of shopping, getting her hair and nails done, working out at two gyms, hanging out with her friends, and dinners out with her husband regularly. I know, we all wish!
Now, when we think about this concept of ‘me-time’ today, it’s such a major contrast. Today’s version of me-time often has to come with a permission slip that says, setting aside some time to take care of yourself is not selfish but necessary. You are worthy and deserving too. We’ve even moved away from the language of me-time to a much broader, inclusive, and realistic version called ‘self-care’ that is centered around health and wellness.
What is self-care?
Generally speaking, self-care is about your ability to manage your health and wellbeing (physical, mental and emotional). According to the World Health Organization, this can include your personal hygiene, what you eat, your lifestyle and living conditions and socioeconomic factors like, your income level and cultural beliefs.
Self-care is also about empowerment through autonomy, self-reliance and self-efficacy. Self-care affects not only you and your relationships, but it can impact communities by allowing for greater participation and support. Dr. Maya Angelou is quoted as having said, "As you grow older, you will discover you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
Self-care is what you make it
The beautiful thing about self-care is that self-care looks different for everyone, and it is for everybody. For some, self-care might include, a dedicated ‘self-care Sunday’ routine involving a mani-pedi session or a luxurious bath with fancy bath salts, a glass of wine, candles, and a Spotify curated self-care playlist.
While for others with limited time, self-care might be about enjoying that first cup of morning coffee while reading their favourite news article, yet for someone else, it might be donating to their time to serve others or having breakfast with the family, phones, and devices away.
7 Simple Self-Care Ideas for Your Everyday
First things first, schedule the time in your calendar - 10 – 15 minutes as one of the daily activities on your to-do list. Set a reminder in your phone, get an accountability partner, or try a habit tracking app if you find that helpful. You need to make it official, recurring and a priority.
Here are some 15-minutes (or less) self-care ideas for you to consider incorporating into your busy life:
Sip your morning brew or take your morning shower more slowly. We often take the little things that make up our day for granted because they’ve become habits. I challenge you to slow these experiences down and take the time to savour the little moments. For example, enjoy the first few sips, smell the aromas, feel the heat of the mug on your hands, or if you drink water then focus on the sensations of the water as you drink.
If taking a shower is the only ‘alone-time’ you get, then make the most of it. Close your eyes and savour the feel of the water against your skin, the smell of the soap, the texture of the bubbles, the warmth. Find a place of gratitude in this everyday routine and enjoy the feeling.Soak up 10-15 minutes of sunlight each day. The sunshine will give you life! Well, at the very least, sunshine has health benefits, like vitamin D and if stop for a second to simply close your eyes and feel the warmth on your face, you’ll probably feel pretty wonderful.
Consider making it a priority to get outside for 10-15 minutes every day to enjoy the sunshine (and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!).Can’t get outside? Find a nature photo that you love. When going outside to enjoy nature is not possible, try looking out the window for a few minutes or place your favourite nature photo at your desk and spend some time looking at, and enjoying it. There are some studies that show that this can have a restorative effect.
Make laughter a part of your everyday. If your partner, kids or pets are hilarious then this is one is easy. During the pandemic, I discovered Trevor Noah and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on YouTube. These short clips provided a daily dose of laughter during my lunch breaks.
Embrace the quiet and be present with yourself. Find a quiet spot where you can be alone for a few minutes and embrace quiet and alone time. This might look like sitting in silence to do some reflection, journaling, a short meditation or breath work if that's your thing (also see #1).
Move your body. I know, I know, the kids already have your heart rate through the roof for most of the day with their energy and demands, but this is different. This is more enjoyable and about you feeling good.
You can try quick workouts or simple stretches from your bed, desk, or the comfort of your home using various fitness apps (free or paid), YouTube, or see tip #2. It’s such a short commitment of time, you don't have any excuses not to get moving. Commit to showing up for yourself and to being consistent.Listen to podcasts. There are so many great podcasts out there for various interests, including, podcasts about mental health and wellness to help you navigate challenging times because you are not alone in feeling all the feelings right now. Or more uplifting happiness podcasts. Whatever your interests, there’s likely a podcast out there for you to enjoy.
So, how will you prioritize self-care in your daily life?
Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. However, no matter what it is you choose to do, self-care should make you feel good. Taking small steps each day will have a cumulative effect on your health and wellbeing over time.
Cassandra is a 9-to-5er and when she’s not at her full-time gig, she’s tapping into her creative superpower as a lifestyle content creator and photographer. Her experience with career burnout has turned her into a wellness warrior who knows the power of healing through slowing down and finding calm in everyday with mindfulness, self-compassion, humour and realistic optimism.
Follow her for some inspiration on Instagram: @swaggerandgreys