Self caring

3 self care activities that only take 3 minutes

As we make our way into the second month of the new year, it can be easy to feel like you’re already behind. I politely invite you to release any expectations that you might’ve set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Instead, sprinkle in some extra self care.

Self caring doesn’t have to look like booking a 90 minute massage after your one hour yoga class although that might very well be what you want to do in which case I’ve got you covered.

Self caring can look like just setting a timer for three minutes in your head and for those three minutes the only things you focus on are your breath and taking care of yourself by enjoying one of these three things:

Journaling, first thing when you wake up
Brewing a hot cup of herbal tea
Drawing a hot bath

Journaling, first thing when you wake up

One of the most powerful acts of self-care that you can do is to write. If you track your energy level in your journal over a long period of time, you strengthen your mind’s ability to transform the barrel of monkeys that is all of the thoughts that start swirling around in your head when you first wake up into a cohesive chain of events in order of your priorities, and in accordance with your energy level.

Brewing a hot cup of herbal tea

It doesn’t take very long to brew a cup of tea. In fact, I like my lemon ginger tea steeped for just two minutes, but most teas only take about three minutes to steep and as soon as your tea is ready, you can enjoy taking some nice deep breath smelling the aromatic fragrances of whichever tea is your favorite connecting with your breath and the smell and the feel of the warm cup is a great gift for your nervous system and a simple way that you can quickly practice some self-care.

Drawing a hot bath

A simple act of kindness that you can do for yourself is to start a bath and pick out your next outfit. Whether that means setting out your pajamas or a comfy pair of sweats, have whatever it is you’re changing into ready to go next to a fresh clean towel.

If you don’t have a bathtub, you can start the shower for yourself and give yourself three minutes to focus on setting up the perfect temperature of the water and the inviting feel of having your clean towel and clothes ready for you when you get out

Bonus 3 minute self care activity:

Hands on Breath

Hands on Breath is a pranayama exercise that gives you a good foundation of compassion for yourself. It helps relieve anxiety, brings comfort to the nervous system and is always available to you.

Start by giving yourself a hug.

Bring your right hand over your heart. Your left hand on the bottom of your right rib cage. Breathe into your palms. Feel how much expansion there is in the right lobes of your lungs. Feel ribs protecting lungs.

Feel the sheet of skeletal muscles as they expand and contract to maximum capacity. The trampoline of life bounces you through life’s ups and downs.

As you breathe into your palms, notice how that feels.

Inhale both arms out wide like wings.

Exhale left hand to the top of your right lungs, right hand to the bottom of your left rib cage.

You might notice that there are fewer lobes in your left lung. Do your best to expand into both hands, making lots of room for your heart.

Give yourself another squeeze.

Release