45+ Simple 5 Minute Self-Care Activities When You Have No Time

Last Updated on January 17, 2025 by Saskia Friedrich

Do you feel like you have no time for self-care? Is there always other work you have to do ‘first’ and do you think that doing self-care will take up too much of your time? Good news! Self-care doesn’t need to take long with these 5 minute self-care activities.

Check them out!

Whether you’re a parent, a pet owner, have a demanding job, or have a busy life in general, I’m pretty sure you usually think to yourself: I can do self-care when I have some ‘spare time’.

Well, let’s face the reality: we never have enough time. Our to-do lists are endless, and while doing something, we already think of the next task to do.

No one else will ‘allow’ us to take time to ourselves or tell us to do some self-care.

That’s why we have to do it ourselves. We have to break the cycle of never-ending tasks and squeeze in some self-care, even if it’s just a couple of minutes.

5 minute self-care activities are perfect for the moments when you feel like you have no time but desperately need to calm down and make yourself feel better.

Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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5 Minute Self-Care Activities

Do some stretches.
Do Yoga.
Freshen up – wash your face and hands.
Put on some perfume.
Apply some moisturizer.
Brush your hair and put it up.
Have a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Cuddle your pet.
Think about what you can do to treat yourself on the weekend.
Go for a walk around the block or in your backyard.
Have a super quick shower and put some fresh clothes on.
Apply a face mask.
Send a message to a friend and ask how they’re going.
Light a candle and put a diffuser on.
Tidy up and put things away.
Read a few pages of your book.
Have some water – maybe with a slice of lemon or lime.
Have your favorite snack.
Draw a picture.
Squeeze a stress ball.
Make dinner plans with a friend for the weekend.
Open the windows and let some fresh air into your place.
Brush your teeth.
Put some lipstick on.
Take a foot bath.
Take off your nail polish.
File your nails.
Take out your earrings, clean them, and put them back in.
Clean out your handbag.
Write a to-do list.
Declutter a draw.
Give yourself a hand, foot, or neck massage.
Call your hairdresser and book an appointment.
Make a plan about how you can surprise a loved one.
Look up a recipe to have for dinner.
Do a crossword puzzle.
Put on some fresh socks. (it makes such a difference!)
Listen to your favorite song.
What are the things you are grateful for in your life right now? Write them down.
Do some journaling (check out these anger journal prompts).
Lay down and do nothing.
Organize your thoughts.
Write down a plan for your personal self-love routine.
Close your eyes and remember your happiest memory.
Sit in the sun and close your eyes.
Meditate.
Read a few affirmations or self-care quotes.
Take some deep breaths.
Sit outside, close your eyes and focus on what you can hear: birds, traffic noise, people talking, etc. Don’t judge, just listen.
Daydream.
Work through a few self-reflection questions.

Want to get started with journaling? Try out these writing prompts for beginners!

Why Do We Need Self-Care?

We usually tend to turn to other people’s needs first. Our family comes first, our employer, our friends, pets, the house, etc. There’s always someone who needs your help or at least you feel like helping and pleasing them.

We rarely do something for ourselves, as most of the day is consumed by others and their expectations of us! Isn’t that shocking? Or we think we’re not worthy of self love and can’t overcome our barriers to self-care.

You need to start putting yourself first! It’s not a luxury to look after yourself, it is essential. You need to rest, physically as well as mentally, to re-gain your strength and master your busy life.

How can you be of any help to others, if you’re exhausted and overwhelmed?

Even if you don’t have much time on your hands, you need to MAKE time to squeeze in at least a 5 minute self-care activity. This can be during your morning or evening routine or any time that suits you throughout the day. It’s a good idea to do this consistently, minimum of once a day, so you get the rest you need and deserve.

These 5 minute self-care activities will make you feel refreshed and give you the power to keep going. Besides, it’s much easier to commit to 5 minutes here and there than to a full spa treatment.

What Are Self-Care Activities?

Self-care activities are things you do to nurture your body, mind, and soul. They are activities just for you to take a break from the busy life around you and to give you a chance to be mindful and listen to how you’re doing.

Self-care activities don’t ‘happen’ to you, you need to actively make time for them and choose what you would like to do. If you do self-care activities intentionally, only just 5 minutes of them will make a big change to your day and mindset!

There are 6 different types of self-care:

Physical self-care
Practical self-care
Social self-care
Mental Self-Care
Emotional self-care
Spiritual self-care

Find more details on these types below (under frequently asked questions)!

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5 Minute Self-Care Activity Ideas

These 5 minute self-care activities are perfect for you if you don’t have much time. They leave you rejuvenated, and happy, and boost your energy levels so you can deal with whatever is coming your way! And you finally feel like you’re doing something for yourself.

Sometimes, 5 minutes is all you need. You’ll be surprised what you can get done in this short amount of time.

Physical 5 Minute Self-Care Activities

Do some stretches.
Do Yoga.
Freshen up – wash your face and hands.
Put on some perfume.
Apply some moisturizer.
Brush your hair and put it up.
Have a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Cuddle your pet.
Think about what you can do to treat yourself on the weekend.
Go for a walk around the block or in your backyard.
Have a super quick shower and put some fresh clothes on.
Apply a face mask.
Send a message to a friend and ask how they’re going.
Light a candle and put a diffuser on.
Tidy up and put things away.
Read a few pages of your book.
Have some water – maybe with a slice of lemon or lime.
Have your favorite snack.
Draw a picture.
Squeeze a stress ball.
Make dinner plans with a friend for the weekend.
Open the windows and let some fresh air into your place.
Brush your teeth.
Put some lipstick on.
Take a foot bath.
Take off your nail polish.
File your nails.
Take out your earrings, clean them, and put them back in.
Clean out your handbag.
Write a to-do list.
Declutter a draw.
Give yourself a hand, foot, or neck massage.
Call your hairdresser and book an appointment.
Make a plan about how you can surprise a loved one.
Look up a recipe to have for dinner.
Do a crossword puzzle.
Put on some fresh socks. (it makes such a difference!)

5 Minute Self-Care Activities to Take a Mental Break

Not only your body needs self-care, but also your mind deserves a break from all the stress and drama around you. These 5 minute self-care activities are precious and help you clear your mind and give you a breather.

My tip: stay away from social media! 5 minutes pass way quicker when you watch a video or scroll through your feed and it won’t feel like you’ve had a break at all.

Listen to your favorite song.
What are the things you are grateful for in your life right now? Write them down.
Do some Journaling.
Lay down and do nothing.
Organize your thoughts.
Write down a plan for your personal self-love routine.
Close your eyes and remember your happiest memory.
Sit in the sun and close your eyes.
Meditate.
Read a few affirmations or self-care quotes.
Take some deep breaths.
Sit outside, close your eyes and focus on what you can hear: birds, traffic noise, people talking, etc. Don’t judge, just listen.
Daydream.

Related: Miracle Morning Routine

FAQs to 5 Minute Self-Care Activities

Is Self-Care The Same As Self-Love?

No, self-care and self-love are not the same thing. Self-care is about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Self-love is about accepting yourself for who you are, being kind and compassionate towards yourself and your values and beliefs.

What Are The 3 Rules of Self-Care?

Self-Care consist of 3 different areas: physical, mental, and emotional self-care.

Physical Self-Care

Physical self-care means feeding your body healthy foods, staying active by going for a walk or doing exercise, and also taking the time to rest when you need it. If you’re in pain, it’s your responsibility to see a doctor or someone who can help you. Also, going to the dentist is an act of physical self-care.

Mental Self-Care

Activities for mental self-care look different for everyone. The main aim is to unwind and relax. Take a break from social media and just be with yourself. Get creative, read a book, or start a veggie garden! Do whatever makes you happy.

Emotional Self-Care

Emotional self-care means listening to yourself and your feeling actively and intentionally. Write in your journal, meditate, or read some affirmations to find back to your true self and to see how you are REALLY going.

What Are The 6 Rules of Self-Care?

In addition to the physical, mental, and emotional self-care, there are 3 more self-care types to practice full self-care.

Practical Self-Care

This is probably something we don’t see as self-care, but it’s vital for you to have a good life and look after yourself. Practical self-care includes things such as:

Creating a budget so you don’t suffer from financial hardship
Working on your career or taking professional development classes
Cleaning and organizing your house/apartment, which will keep you healthy

Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual self-care means something different for everyone. Some see this as a time to pray. For others it means going for a walk, connecting with nature, and reflecting on themselves and the world around them. Meditating and Yoga are acts of spiritual self-care as well.

Social Self-Care

Social self-care includes activities that strengthen your relationships with others, such as your family and friends. Be sure to stay in contact with everyone regularly, check up on them, and make time to meet them for lunch, a walk in the park, or invite them for dinner.

5 Minute Self-Care Activities – Before You Go . . .

Have you written down a few of these 5 minute self-care activities or did you add some to my list that just came to your mind? I truly hope these ideas will make you take 5 minutes to yourself throughout the day to practice some self-care. You deserve it.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make us happy and give us the break we need!

Do You Have More Time Than 5 Minutes?

Try having a relaxing bubble bath or a rejuvenating self-care shower as part of your evening routine.

In addition, you can also try out some of these 100 self-care ideas to feel recharged and motivated again.

About The Author of 5 Minute Self-Care Activities

Saskia is a mom, blogger, and freelance writer. She loves sharing tips on self-care, personal growth, and productivity & organization. Find out more about her or get in touch with her here.

Simple 5 Minute Self-Care Activities When You Have No Time [+ PRINTABLE]