I don’t think I’ve met a women recently who wouldn’t describe themselves as busy. We all lead very full lives meeting our obligations and taking care of people we love. However, that busy life filled with meeting everyone else’s needs often leads to your own needs falling to the bottom of the list. This can lead to burnout and resentment and ultimately not enjoying life as much as you could!

Something I’ve found personally is that despite being a self professed self care queen, it’s incredibly easy to let the small everyday acts of self care drop when life gets a bit crazy. It’s these small regular things that actually have the biggest impact and that make your daily life more joy-filled. Having a go-to list like this one means you won’t have to spend any time thinking of what to do when the time is available, you can just get stuck right in!

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but one thing that has stuck with me is hearing someone say ‘if you don’t have 10 minutes you don’t have a life’. However, when you are really busy it can feel impossible to find that 10 minutes!

When it comes to finding time personally the most impactful change I’ve made is stopping Pointless Scrolling (PS). Do you realise how long you spend aimlessly scrolling your Facebook and Instagram feeds? Quitting the PS might just be the thing that frees up your 10 minutes! Believe me you won’t be missing anything that important.

Now that you’ve found your 10 minute window it’s time to create some simple acts of self care that will have a big impact. Remember this is just my list of ideas, really think about the activities that bring you joy and fill you up and create your own pick and mix list. Save it somewhere you can access it easily and quickly, like your planner, journal or phone.

1. Make yourself a warm drink and read a chapter of a book

Very Hygge and blissful! Bonus points if the book is especially uplifting.

2. Listen to some of your favourite music

Try creating a playlist that lasts around 10 minutes of some of your favourite music. Music is simple but can radically transform your mood especially if you dance to it! This is my current Spotify Playlist:

3. Do a brain dump / journal

This is something that always helps me immensely when I have a lot going on. I process things by writing them down and I find it really helpful to form a plan of action. Just sitting down for 10 minutes and letting everything flow out through the pen can really help clear your head and make you feel better.

4. Try EFT

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is the process of tapping on certain points on the body (think of how acupuncture works with energy, tapping is similar) to help shift suck emotions and energy. I personally prefer to follow along with someone on YouTube like the incredibly cheesy but awesome Brad Yates. Even if you don’t believe in the woo of it, it can be incredibly relaxing.

5. Get outside

I find being outside in nature incredibly enjoyable and like a big reset for my system. Just a brisk 10 minute walk makes me feel better!

6. Moisturise your body all over

My skincare routine is pretty good but I always seem to slack when it comes to moisturising my whole body as well as my face. Using a body oil or even plain coconut oil and giving yourself a massage while you’re at it can feel amazing.

7. Do something creative

This could be 10 minutes of knitting, an adult colouring in book or just doodling in a note pad. If you enjoy taking photos perhaps you could turn your own Instagram feed into a creative project or use an app like Word Swag to illustrate your favourite quotes.

8. Use scent to change your mood

Essential oils are very powerful natural elements that can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Try adding a few drops to a diffuser and sitting quietly for a few minutes to enjoy the scent, or even just taking a few deep breaths from the bottle. My favourite oils for this kind of self care are lemon which is rejuvenating, lavender which is relaxing and a DoTerra blend called Serenity which is calming. I exclusively use DoTerra oils, find out more here.

9. Go out and get yourself a coffee or tea

This might just be me but it feels so indulgent to go out and get myself a coffee. Even if I don’t sit in the coffee shop to drink it, it feels like a real treat. I have a coffee shop that’s close by so it’s 10 minutes well spent to just pop out and get one occasionally. This works for me because I really enjoy good coffee, but if you’re not a coffee fan like me just think about what would give you pure pleasure. It’s probably best to stay away from something that’s expensive or too based on food and eating as that can be a basis for less healthy habits, but something like buying yourself a cheap but lovely bunch of fresh flowers would be fab too.

10. Throw something out or organise something

This might seem like a strange one but decluttering and / or getting stuff organised can feel really good. The benefits are a tidier and less cluttered home and a better sense of peace. I’ll often rearrange shelves on my bookcase or get to work on a drawer or cupboard that needs sorting out.

Bonus ideas: meditate using an phone app like Headspace, make a green smoothie, take a shower, stretch, do yoga, cuddle your partner or kids.

So many of us are losing our connection with the simple things that bring us joy and bliss on a regular basis. Try creating your own 10 minute self care pick and mix list which focuses on the things that make you happy and feel filled up, then try to do a few of those things each week. I promise you it will have an amazing effect on your wellbeing!

Want a handy fillable pdf worksheet of this process plus a list of 50 self care ideas? Pop your email below to get it!

Do you struggle to fit in more soul nurturing forms of self care on a regular basis? What would make your pick and mix list of 10 minute self care ideas?

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