24 5-minute self-care ideas to boost self-love
Did you hear? Self love is the best love. And it only takes 5 minutes a day to give yourself a little extra TLC.
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Did you hear? Self-love is the best love. And what better way to show yourself some TLC than with quick and easy 5-minute self-care practices?
Taking care of yourself can be a luxe and long-lasting experience. Who doesn’t want a day at the spa? Or better yet, a weekend. Realistically, we don’t always have the time. Life keeps life-ing and, some days kicks us in the ass a little harder than we’re prepared for. This is when you need to take care of yourself the most. This is when it is crucial to take whatever time you can to love up on yourself.
Whether you’re struggling at work, mending a broken heart, your kids are running you ragged, or just need a breather, these 5-minute self-care ideas are the perfect go-to to boost self-love.
24 5-Minute Self-Care Ideas to Boost Self-Love
Meditate. Meh! That was my first thought when folks told me to meditate when I was going through it. Who has time to sit down and be still? I got ish to do.
I’m sure you can relate. But take it from this energetic, slightly Type A, fast-paced New Yorker: meditation is the bomb dot com. You don’t have to sit still for an hour. You can take 5 minutes right before you wake up, breathe in and out, and remain in the present moment. Instead of grabbing your phone as soon as your eyes open, lay there and give yourself that time.
If you rather sleep in those extra 5 minutes (guilty!), take 5 minutes to meditate before bed. This is now part of my nightly routine.
Journal. Journaling for 5 minutes (paid link) a day is an easy way to center yourself. Journal in the morning to set intentions for the day. Jot down your thoughts before bed. Or, if you’re like me, start a Google Doc to reflect on whatever comes up throughout the day. Just make sure to ground your journaling in gratitude and/or introspection. You want those 5 minutes to focus on your desires and what you are thankful for, not what you lack or hate about life.
Affirm. Speaking of desires, affirming “I am” statements is a proven method to reprogram the subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind holds all of our beliefs about relationships, love, self-concept, money, people - everything. Our beliefs begin to form through our childhood experiences. Most of us hold limiting beliefs we aren’t even aware of. All of our deep-seated, subconscious beliefs then impact how we feel about ourselves, how we love ourselves, and, in turn, the decisions that we make and how we react in relationships.
Affirming for 5 minutes a day will help break the old programming. Use this guide by yours truly to learn how to create your affirmations.
Script. Scripting is a lot like journaling. The main difference is that you are taking 5 minutes to rewrite your desires. Rewrite your affirmations for 5 minutes a day before bed and feel yourself shift.
Song break. Pick a song that makes you feel like a Queen and dance like no one is watching. I always recommend Alien Superstar by Queen B herself.
Apply that lip. Pucker your lips and put on your favorite lipstick or gloss. When we believe we look good, we feel good. This long-lasting vegan lipstick from NYX (paid link) is my go-to when I want to look extra good.
READ MORE: 60 Affirmations to Level Up as a Woman in the New Year
Accentuate your favorite feature. Another related 5-minute self care idea is to take 5 minutes a day to accentuate your favorite feature. My favorite feature is my eyes, which is why I always apply black under eyeliner to make ‘em pop.
Hug. Hugging is scientifically proven to boost serotonin levels. Whether it’s your kid, BFF, relative, or coworker, find someone to hug - with consent. You can also always hug yourself.
Mirror work. Take one “I am” affirmation and recite it to yourself in front of the mirror for 5 minutes a day. Do this before bed as part of your nighttime routine. Especially if you have kids! When my son is tucked in bed, I do this type of mirror work to boost self-love.
Just note that you’ll probably feel all the feels, especially if you don’t believe what you are affirming about yourself. At first, you probably won’t believe it and either cry or feel a tightness in your chest. That means your subconscious mind is resisting this new, foreign belief system, which is why your body is emotionally reacting. Just know it’s normal.
Phone a friend. Remember calling folks? Yeah. It can still be a thing. Take 5 minutes to check in on a friend. And, yes, I realize this 5-minute self care idea can turn into a 20-minute phone call! That just means you had a lot of catching up to do!
Take a walk. Going out in nature is a great way to decompress. And we all know that relaxing is one of the best ways to show ourselves some love! Take a walk for 5 minutes every day. Listen to the birds chirping. Take in some Vitamin D. If you’re a multitasker, listen to that favorite song while you walk. Just get out and move!
Breathe. Doing breathwork is an easy way to release build-up stress. Take 5 minutes a day to breathe in and out. Turn off the TV. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Just breathe.
Laugh. Laughing is so good for the soul! Like hugging, it releases stress and boosts serotonin, which helps us feel so good. Take 5 minutes and go to your favorite, funniest TikToker and LOL.
Massage. Yes, you can get a massage in 5 minutes from the comfort of your home! Grab an at-home massager like this one (paid link) and let it go to town! I use this one and it works wonders to loosen the tension in my shoulders.
Take a selfie. I love a selfie. Especially after putting on some lipstick and accentuating my eyes. Snap that pic (or a dozen) and appreciate your beauty.
Prepare your outfit the night before. When I look my best, I feel my best. That’s why I take time before bed to pick out my outfit for the next day. It saves me time in the hustle and bustle of the morning and it gives me some time to play dress up.
Put on your favorite perfume. I’ve been doing this lately and it makes me feel - and smell - amazing. This quick self-care practice is just another thing to do to treat yourself like the Queen that you are.
Screen break. Take 5 minutes off all electronics. No TV, Facebook, or Instagram. When you log back in give us a follow on the ‘Gram.
Sit. Just sit down, lady. Take 5 minutes to take care of you by doing nada.
Read. I love to read but tend to make excuses about not having time to do so. Welp, 5 minutes a day is all we need! Especially if it’s a quick romance read like Candi (paid link).
Stretch. Stretching is one of the best ways to release tension. Extend your arms over your head, roll your shoulders and neck, or strike an easy yoga pose like Warrior I or Child Pose.
Watch a motivational video. YouTube has become my go-to platform to watch videos that pump me up. I enjoy mindset and manifestation videos by creator and mindset coach, Dylan James. Check out this video by Dylan on accepting top-tier treatment.
Hydrate. Water keeps our bodies functioning optimally, so go fill up a glass and chug a little. Bored by plain water? Add a little lemon or mint.
Engage in aromatherapy. Put a few drops of essential oils in your diffuser (paid link) and breathe in what you need most. Lavender is great for relaxation while lemon is known for increasing happiness. Peppermint is said to increase alertness, while sandalwood helps with grounding.
I can share so many more 5-minute self-care ideas with you all, but this post has already probably taken you 5 minutes to read! Go ahead. Pick one. Show yourself some love today. Let me know in the comments which one you tried!