{"id":9004111222303303,"date":"2019-12-09T05:00:35","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T05:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthcoachinstitute.com\/?p=9004111222303303"},"modified":"2025-04-02T07:13:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T07:13:35","slug":"self-care-habits-for-busy-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.php85.healthcoachinstitute.com\/articles\/self-care-habits-for-busy-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Care Habits For Busy People"},"content":{"rendered":"

13 Self Care Ideas You Can Do in Under 10 Minutes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Self-care.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that thing you know you should do (and desperately want to!), but you can never seem to find the darned time for. That\u2019s why we knew you\u2019d love this: The Self-Care Habits for Busy People mini guide.<\/p>\n

Because, when it comes to making time for ourselves, the struggle is real. There\u2019s a common misconception, though, that self-care needs to be this long, involved ritual for it to have any impact.<\/p>\n

In actuality, even small chunks of time spent practicing self-care can create big internal shifts for you.<\/p>\n

In an article on the importance of self-care<\/a>, Psychology Today<\/em> shared that mindfulness experts suggest dedicating even 10 minutes a day to self-care can positively affect our mental health.<\/p>\n

We all lead busy lives but who among us can\u2019t afford to spend a measly 10 minutes on ourselves\u2014especially if that 10 minutes could make a world of difference in how we feel and show up in the world?<\/p>\n

(And sidenote: the busier you are, the more crucial it is to create space for self-care.)<\/p>\n

13 Ways to Fit Your Self-Care Routine In Fast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re feeling challenged to fit \u201cyou time\u201d into your already busy days, here are 13 simple, yet powerful self-care habits you can do in 10 minutes or less<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

1. Recite Affirmations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the easiest ways we can practice self-care is by speaking to ourselves in a loving and kind way. Consider this: you could splurge on a pampering spa day, grab brunch with friends, or start a new hobby or class you\u2019ve been wanting to try out (all great self-care options, of course!).<\/p>\n

But if, at the end of the day, your inner voice is whispering things like, \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have done that. You don\u2019t deserve to put attention toward yourself.\u201d<\/em> Or \u201cGod, why did you mention that [insert embarrassing story]? You are so annoying and stupid.\u201d<\/em> Or \u201c[insert whatever other negative self-talk you might be engaging in]\u201d<\/em>…those other forms of self-care will have been in vain.<\/p>\n

If you struggle with negative self-talk, affirmations can help you break unhealthy thought patterns and create a new belief system anchored in positivity.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unfamiliar with affirmations, they\u2019re positive statements that affirm how you want to feel or show up in the world.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick 10-minute affirmation routine you can do:
\n<\/strong>
\nStep 1:<\/strong> Think of a positive statement that aligns with how you want to feel\/be. If you\u2019re having trouble thinking of something, try Googling \u201cpositive affirmations\u201d or doing a search on Pinterest or Instagram.
\nStep 2:<\/strong> Once you have an affirmation in mind, recite it to yourself aloud at least five times (feel free to do more if your heart desires).
\nStep 3:<\/strong> Write the affirmation down at least five times (again, feel free to write it as many times as you want…the act of writing helps to ingrain the new positive intention into your brain).<\/p>\n

Affirmations are an especially useful practice to incorporate into your morning routine<\/a> to set the tone for your whole day. In fact, there are tons of affirmation decks available to buy (hello Amazon Prime) that you can place around your home and work space as mini-reminders to motivate, inspire, and center you. There are even mobile apps you can use if you prefer paperless options.<\/p>\n

Make affirmations a cherished daily habit and we promise, those words will soon become unconscious beliefs!<\/p>\n

2. Meditate<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mindfulness meditation is another practice that can be done in just a few minutes and can change the course of your entire day.<\/p>\n

Meditation focuses your attention on self-awareness in the present moment, making it an excellent self-care activity to help ease stress and anxiety and promote feelings of calm. In addition, research indicates that practicing mindfulness can improve sleep, reduce blood pressure, and even help manage chronic pain and certain health conditions.<\/p>\n

You can practice meditation anywhere you can find a quiet, distraction-free space to sit or lie down and be still. You can perform a self-guided body scan meditation<\/a> or if you prefer a little more support, there\u2019s a wealth of mobile apps that offer short, guided meditations you can do in just 5-10 minutes. (A few of our favorites apps are: Calm, Headspace, and Ten Percent Happier).<\/p>\n

3. Get Outside<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ever notice how much better you feel when you head outdoors? No, it\u2019s not just in your head. Getting outside, especially right when you wake up in the morning, has been said to help improve focus and mental clarity, and inspire you to make healthier choices throughout the day.<\/p>\n

Plus, soaking in some sunshine (and vitamin D) can do wonders for improving mood and boosting energy. Even 5-10 minutes of sun exposure can offer positive benefits. So put some sunscreen on, set a timer for ten minutes, and head outside to do some cloud gazing.<\/p>\n

4. Connect With a Loved One<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Social self-care is an important, and often overlooked, type of self-care. We humans need<\/strong> <\/em>connection and in this increasingly online world we\u2019re living in (hello, remote workforce!), many of us don\u2019t get nearly enough.<\/p>\n

Check out this NBC article to learn more about why we\u2019re wired for connection<\/a> and why being around other people makes us healthier.
\nThink of the people in your life who are comforting, supportive, and uplifting (stay away from toxic energy-suckers!) and take ten minutes to connect with them.<\/p>\n

Here are a few ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n