80 Insanely Easy 5-Minute Self-Care Activities for Busy Moms
Do you feel like you never have time for self-care? Self-care can be done in just 5 minutes!
When we do acts of self-care, we are healthier and happier. We can also be better moms for our little ones!
If you struggle with self-care, relax: we all do every now and again. Use these five-minute self-care activities to help you get started!
Don’t think you can even do 5 minutes of self-care? Make sure to go through this huge list to see if there are any acts of self-care that you are willing to try.
FAQS
What are 5 things you can do for self-care daily?
There are so many great self-care exercises you can do every day, but 5 important things to do to practice taking care of yourself include using affirmations, drinking enough water, meditating, being still, and going to bed early.
What are basic self-care activities?
There are many different basic self-care activities depending on which area of your life you need help with. Some basic routines could be to say positive affirmations every day or go for a run. It all depends on what you need!
What are good examples of self-care?
Making sure you drink enough water and food, thinking positively about yourself, and enjoying each moment are all good examples of self-care.
Best 5-Minute Self-Care Ideas
Here are some fun self-care activities for adults. These will be put into different groups for each area of self-care to help you find exactly what you are looking for!
Use the table of contents for easy access to all the small self-care ideas you can do right now!
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Simple Physical Self-Care Ideas
Taking care of your body is a great way to treat yourself. For busy moms, this can take on many different forms other than going for a run or working out.
Here are some quick five-minute physical self-care activities!
1. Eat a Healthy Snack
Go grab an apple and enjoy! Eating a healthy snack is a great way to take care of your body and mind!
2. Cook A Nutritious Meal
Some people look at cooking as a hassle. Others can find it therapeutic. Find a recipe, or throw together a quick salad!
3. Stretch
Set a timer and stretch out all your limbs for just five minutes. This is especially important if you have been sitting for a long period of time.
Include some stretches and yoga during your self-care morning routine!
4. Play a Sport
Have a basketball? Go shoot some hoops and see how many baskets you make in just a few minutes. Find a sport you enjoy and just spend a few minutes strengthening those skills.
5. Dance
Put on your favorite song and just dance it out! This is the perfect way to get happy quickly!
It is one of the self-care habits that transformed my motherhood journey.
6. Punch a Pillow
If you are frustrated or overwhelmed, try hitting a pillow for a little bit. It can be very therapeutic!
7. Drink Water
Are you making sure you drink enough water during the day? Keep a nice water bottle close by to help you! This usually doesn’t even take 5 minutes!
8. 5-Minute Workout
There are countless five-minute workouts all over the place. FitOn has some of the best I’ve ever done!
5-Minute Mental Wellness Self-Care Ideas
Emotional self-care is one of the best things to do! It helps keep your mind fresh, and will always help to boost your self-esteem.
Use any of these mental health self-care activities next time you have a couple of minutes to yourself.
9. Buy Something Online
Sometimes we just need to splurge. You are important! Treat yourself every now and again.
10. Make a List of Positive Things About Yourself
What do you like about yourself? This might be hard, but try to see how many things you come up with in a short amount of time.
11. Celebrate the Small Victories
What is something good that you did today? Find a quick way to celebrate one small victory!
12. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is crucial for helping you know your self-worth. What is one boundary you can set up to help you be kinder to yourself?
13. Put Your Phone Away
Simply switch your phone off and put it in a drawer. Leave it there. Forget about it. Disconnect from everything for a bit.
We spend so much of our time scrolling through stuff that brings us down. What can you do instead? Try another 5-minute self-care idea from here!
It is one of the best self care ideas for moms to try.
14. 5 Things You’re Grateful For
This can be about the day or just anything. Write down just five things that you are thankful for.
15. Compliment Yourself
How many compliments can you give yourself in just five minutes? Do you like your makeup, your hairdo, your outfit, have you been kind today, etc.
16. Deep Breathing
Take a few minutes to deep breathe. Use the square breathing method or any type that helps you calm down your breath.
17. Inspirational Quote
Go online and find one or two inspirational quotes that you love.
Check out these incredible mom self care quotes!
18. Close Your Eyes
How often do you just sit down and rest your eyes for a bit? This is especially important if you are on a computer all day long.
19. Stop Feeling Guilty
Mom guilt is so damaging! Try to just tell yourself that you are allowed to make mistakes. You do not have to feel guilty. Instead, just try again next time.
20. Mind Dump
If you are feeling overwhelmed, just write down every thought in your mind. Mind dumps are so important to help us release built-up tension.
21. Positive Affirmations
Go through your list of positive affirmations. If you don’t have any, you can grab some here, or search for a list online.
There are countless benefits of affirmations, so make sure to include them in your daily routine!
Check out some of my favorite affirmations for self-love.
22. Create an Affirmation
Don’t have any affirmations? Create your own! Start with I am… and fill in the blanks. Make as many as you can.
23. Say No
Instead of saying yes to something you really don’t want to do, just say no! Practice now so that it will become easier in the moment.
24. Stop Judging
Stop judging others, but most importantly yourself. For every judgment you say, replace it with a positive thing instead.
25. Cry
Just let it out. You need to cry and release everything you have been holding onto. You’ll feel so much better afterward.
This is especially important for those who are not enjoying motherhood.
26. Rewrite Thoughts
For the next five minutes, rewrite all your negative thoughts for positive ones.
Learn more about how to rewrite the limiting beliefs that you have.
27. Mirror Talk
Go stand in front of a mirror and say your positive affirmations or qualities that you like about yourself. You might not believe them, but eventually, you will!
28. Do Nothing
Do you ever sit on the couch and do absolutely nothing? Try it out for five minutes! Don’t use your phone, look at the tv, or anything else. Just sit and enjoy.
29. Be Kind
Do as many kind things as you possibly can in the next couple of minutes. This includes being kind to yourself!
30. Express Feelings
You need to let out all your emotions. Express anything and everything you’ve been feeling, either through journaling or by talking to yourself.
31. Forgive Yourself
If you did something wrong, forgive yourself. It is hard, but you deserve forgiveness and love!
32. Write Down a Goal
What is one goal you have for the day, week, month, or year? Write it down! It will help you achieve it.
33. Listen to Your Favorite Song
Turn on your favorite song as loud as you can. Bust out the dance moves and just live in the moment!
34. Give Yourself Grace
So you made a mistake. Let it go. Give yourself grace and try again. You can do it!
Easy Spiritual Self-Care Activities
Spiritual self-care is so important, even if you aren’t a spiritual person. This can be in the form of connecting your mind, body, and spirit together.
Use any of these spiritual self-care ideas during your next five-minute break.
35. Reconnect With Nature
Being in nature is very healing. Go outside for a quick walk and enjoy the beauty of the earth and the nice fresh air.
36. Pray
If you are a spiritual person, say a prayer! Pray for your loved ones or for peace and happiness during the day.
37. Yoga
Do a quick yoga routine. If you do one every day, you’ll soon see just how flexible you are!
38. Read a Devotional
Reading a devotional is a great way to start your day. Proverbs 31 has daily short emails or this amazing devotional book for women.
39. Random Act of Service
What is a simple, quick kind act you can do for someone? Go rake your neighbor’s yard or take a treat to someone you love!
40. Meditation
Do a quick 5-minute self-care meditation. This is a great way to start your day off right!
41. Journaling
Journaling is so beneficial for your mental health. Use some self-care activity worksheets to journal your thoughts and work towards a better self-care routine for yourself.
This is one of my favorite gifts for stay at home moms because you can literally use journals (like this one) for anything!
Try any of these self-love journal prompts to get started!
42. Read Your Scriptures
Open up your scriptures and read a couple of verses. This can help you with a question you have been having or bring peace to your day.
This is one of my favorite self-care Sunday activities.
Best Social Self-Care Ideas
Sometimes we need others to help lift us up. Here are some of the best social self-care activities that only take five minutes.
43. Join a Class
Find a class for your friends and you to all join! The class itself will not be five minutes, but start a group chat and get to searching! This will help you when you can do longer self-care activities.
44. Send a “Thank You” Text
Send your appreciation to someone you’ve been meaning to. This will make them feel good and you too!
45. Text Someone You Trust
Text someone you trust and tell them about your day, your struggles, and anything else that comes to your mind. Consider it a quick therapy session!
46. Call a Friend
If you can, call someone you love and do the same thing as you would in a text. Sometimes talking is easier than a long text.
47. Social Media Fast
Take a break from social media. This will help you stop comparing yourself and will give you some free time for other self-care activities!
48. Unfollow Toxic People
Go through your friend’s list and unfollow people who always make you upset or post things that don’t do you any good.
5-Minute Personal Self-Care Activities
These are simple things you can do for yourself that will help you practice self-love. You’ll be a lot happier, even if you just do these for five minutes at a time!
49. Read A Book
Find a good book and sit down and read a page or two. Sometimes, you might not want to stop after five minutes!
50. Massage Your Hands
Your hands do so much during the day, they will always need a massage!
51. Hold a Baby
If you can, hold a baby! Their snuggles can bring a smile and peace to anyone.
52. Pet a Dog
Same principle as above. Dogs are used in therapy to help people be happy and de-stress.
53. Doodle
Find a good coloring book or some blank pieces of paper and just doodle whatever comes to your mind.
54. Apply Lotion to Your Hands
Apply lotion is an easy self-care activity that is quick and fun! Find one that smells good.
Lotion is a perfect self-care gift too!
55. Play an Instrument
Sit down at the piano or pick up your guitar and play one of the songs you remember.
56. Take Pictures
Pull out your camera or phone and enjoy taking pictures. You can take pictures of yourself or things around your house.
57. Organize a Space
Find a messy place in your house and clean it as fast as you can!
58. Declutter
Go through your phone and delete all the blurry pictures. Or find a place in your house that you can quickly declutter.
59. Do Your Nails
Have fun and paint your nails! This helps you feel good about your appearance and helps you love yourself.
Adding nail polish to your DIY self care kit is such a good idea!
60. Drink a Cup of Tea
Make a cup of tea and drink it right then and there. The tea will be hot and soothing and helps you to enjoy living in the moment.
61. Take Care of Plants
Go water your plants or start a garden! It is very therapeutic and relaxing.
62. Watch a Funny Video
Find a funny video and just laugh out loud. So often we don’t laugh as much as we should throughout the day.
63. Play a Game on Your Phone
Got Candy Crush? Enjoy a brain break and just play for a few minutes!
64. Sit in the Sun
Enjoy feeling the warmth of the sun on your face. You’ll soak up some vitamin D too!
65. Take a Drive
Even if you just go around the block, try taking a short drive somewhere.
66. Put Oils in Your Diffuser
Grab those essential oils you bought a long time ago and find a smell that makes you happy. Start your diffuser and take a couple of deep breaths.
67. Face Mask
Put on a face mask! This helps you with your skincare routine and is super easy to do!
68. Try Something New
Find a new hobby and try it out today! Learn how to make some soap, lotion bars, or quickly make some lavender bath salts!
Self-Care Ideas for Daily Routines
One of the best self-care tips is to incorporate some habits into your daily routine! Here are some easy self-care ideas for either your morning or night routine.
69. Make it a Priority
Prioritize your self-care. Put it at the top of your to do list. If self-care is a huge struggle, for five minutes just try to tell yourself you deserve it.
70. Hit Snooze
One morning, hit snooze! Take that time to wake up slowly and feel good about your decision.
71. Go to Bed Early
Try to go to bed five minutes earlier each night so you can get a full night’s rest.
72. Watch Sunrise
Wake up early one morning and watch the sunrise. It is a beautiful moment that will help your day start off great.
73. Get Ready for the Day
If you are a stay at home mom, use these next five minutes and just get ready for the day. You will feel more refreshed and it’ll instantly help motivate you for the day.
74. Put on Makeup
Put on your makeup one day if it is not something you usually do. Do the full routine and enjoy how you look!
75. Try a New Hairdo
Try out a new hairdo you’ve been wanting to for a while or look up and learn a few new tricks.
76. Take a Shower
Five minute showers are not always fun, but sometimes they are needed. Try to do a cooler one in the morning to help keep you awake or a hot one right before bed.
I’ve created a self care shower routine that is so worth it.
77. Dry Brush
Get a dry brush and brush your body. This is so beneficial for you and is a quick self-care routine you can do daily.
78. Wash Your Face
Spend a little extra time and wash your face! Exfoliate and put on your favorite facial serum too.
79. Put on Lip Balm
Put on some lip balm or a lip scrub. Take care of your lips especially during the cooler seasons!
Lip balms are budget-friendly things to put inside your self-care kit too.
80. Rest
Take some time to rest and relax your mind and body. This is a great self-care practice to do every single day.
Now do you feel like you can spend a couple of minutes for some self-care? Next time you have a quick break, try out any of these 5-minute self-care ideas!
