5 FAST Self-Care Routines for Busy Women

5 FAST Self-Care Routines for Busy Women

For busy women, finding time for self-care can feel like an impossibility. The way that self-care is often portrayed as long weekends spent at the beach, regular trips to the spa, or hours in the sauna at the gym can make women not even try because they simply don’t have that kind of time. In reality though, self-care can be anything (small or big) you do to give your body attention.

Which is why the following self-care tips won’t take more than 10 minutes of your time while still having big impact on your body.

1. Touch your toes and stretch

It’s easy to ignore the stress and tightness in our spines. But the truth of the matter is that when we spend long hours hunched over the computer, curled up on the couch or picking up after the kids, our posture and body take the brunt of it.  It doesn’t take more than ten minutes to step out of your chair and touch your toes (or as far down your calves as possible!), but the stretching will do your aching joints and body some long-lasting good.

While you’re at it, stretch the rest of your body as well. Perhaps you can look up a yoga posture, or you have a stretching routine in mind already. Whether it is advanced or basic, any kind of stretching will keep your body functioning well despite periods of inactivity. Touch your toes, extend your arms and gear yourself up physically and mentally for whatever task is at hand.

2. Massage and moisturize

Though we tend to link massages and fancy lotions to a day at the spa, not many of us have the time or budget to indulge in frequent spa trips. My girlfriends and I make it a once-a -year fun occasion, even though it would be nice to do it more! But that’s okay because no massage therapist or body worker will know your body and your preferences as well as you do!

Use a natural lotion such as organic coconut oil (my personal favourite) or avocado oil (don’t be afraid to indulge in your favorite) and rub it mindfully into your arms and shoulders, or even across your legs. Spread the cream or oil gently and thoroughly and use your hands to massage over your body across areas that you might not realize are aching. You might come across some sudden sore spots, it’s important to focus on those for a moment, rubbing in the lotion. You will find this relaxing and energizing and your skin will benefit greatly from the extra moisturizing.

3. Phone a friend

At a time where connectivity options are abundant, it’s funny how disconnected we actually are. The business of everyday life can be exhausting and drain us of all the time and will to socialize beyond what is absolutely necessary. During our free time there are personal things we need to tend to that make socializing take a back seat. But to truly care for ourselves, we need to nurture social and emotional aspects as well.

While it’s easy to pick up your phone and send a text, take ten minutes out of your day to actually TALK with a friend or family member. You benefit just as much as they do. Simply talking about your day and what is going on in your life maintains the feeling of being connected. Your support system can help relieve your stress and also helps you to maintain a healthy mindset through your shared bond.

4. Drink two additional glasses of water today

Water is that little magic potion we all too often ignore: it relieves fatigue, clears skin, detoxes your body, improves digestion, and prevents cramps. And yet we often forget to hydrate, or we hydrate so little we get headaches as a result. Not only will drinking two glasses of water help you hydrate, it will also give you much-needed time to get away from your technological devices and focus on your surroundings.

Drink the water slowly and savour the break from your work before you dive back into it. Take it in slow sips if you need to and be sure to follow this tip regularly to meet your daily requirement of water intake.

Not a big water fan? Add in a little squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to add a touch of flavor. Better yet, grab a jug of water and put some sliced fruit such as strawberries and mint for a delicious way to get your water in.

5. Play with your pet or go for a walk

Whether it’s a furry friend or a tank full of fish, scientists have proven the health benefits of animals at every turn. A pet of your own means a faithful companion. And in addition to that spending time with a pet is a proven way to lower blood pressure and increase oxytocin levels.

The enjoyment from pets can be calming and repetitive motion of petting your companion (or even staring at a fish tank!) will help soothe you. Don’t have a pet? Go for a walk to your local park or dog walking track, just taking in the sights of other dogs and animals has the same impact on your wellbeing.

So, as you can see, self-care isn’t just about facials, eating your greens and getting your hair done. It’s also about the soul food that fuels you and the small things that make big impacts on your overall wellbeing. By practicing these 5 tips, you get to spend 10 minutes away from whatever it is you do each day and you get to separate yourself from the chaos and stress of your daily life. Do you take 10 minutes out of your day for you each day? Share with me below!

References

^{https://www.confidentlife.com.au/20-quick-self-care-activities-can-10-mins-less/
http://time.com/4728315/science-says-pet-good-for-mental-health/
https://thegrowthstudio.org/blog/quick-self-care-10-ways-to-practice-self-care-in-5-minutes-or-less}

In Health & Happiness
Dr. Tara Clapp, ND