Welcome back! Recently, I’ve been trying to motivate myself to take part in those wellness routines that make me feel really good. Things like painting, yoga, reading, writing for my blog. It’s a common experience to have low motivation during quarantine. I think I ran out of steam as it seemed like this would never end. This week, I’ve been granting myself a lot of grace to do things imperfectly.
Today I wanted to share some wellness routine ideas that take less than 30 minutes and cost little to nothing. Sometimes wellness can be made out to be only for the wealthy who have time to spare. It only takes two minutes to take some time for yourself and start feeling a difference. There’s even a cute little printable version of this list at the bottom of this post for you!
Less Than 5 Minutes
This section’s for you if you’re not willing to put in a lot of time or money but still want to start taking care of yourself. The under 5 minute timeframe is underrated: we can accomplish so much in tiny installments either once or multiple times per day. Even if you take 15 seconds right now to take 3 deep breaths, it still counts.
- Think of something you’re looking forward to and get myself excited about it
- Write down what you’re grateful for and feel the warm feelings
- Take 5 minutes to stretch your back and legs
- Set an intention for the day
- Listen to your favorite song and dance to it
- Take your vitamins and drink a full glass of water
- Whether it’s first thing in the morning or right before bed, pick up or put away 3 easy things, it makes staying on top of cleaning a lot easier.
5 to 10 Minutes
This section is for those of you that have a little bit more than a minute or two but still are in need of a short wellness break during your day. 10 minutes of your day is minuscule compared to the time we spend doing everything else “important”, so make your little wellness routine important! Put it on the to-do list and check it off.
- Pick up your favorite coffee drink, smoothie, or tea at a coffee shop
- Grab your favorite snack. I picked up some Cheez-It Grooves and it made my whole day. I don’t do it often but when I do it brings such a smile to my face.
- Try to meditate (it’s hard)
- If you make your coffee at home, sit down and do nothing but sip it
- 10 minute power clean of your space: put away dishes, clear off the table, pick up the clothes off the floor
10 to 20 Minutes
These ones (all totally free) are my go-tos when I need a break from whatever I’m doing, whether it’s school work or work work. 20 minutes a day can make a world of difference and these are some of my favorite things to do when I can tell I need to put a little time in for myself.
- Try a short online workout
- Take a short walk
- Take some time to pick out and put on an outfit you feel really powerful wearing
- Have fun doing your makeup
- Have a snack including something fresh
20 to 30 Minutes
Finally, the most time-intensive category I have for you! Under 30 minutes is still a super approachable chunk of time. Every single day I try to do at least one of these to make sure I am consistently investing in my well-being.
- Take a long luxurious shower with your favorite album playing
- Cook yourself a good meal with veggies and a protein
- Do a face mask while you do something else on this list
- Draw something
- Write in a journal (here and here are some prompts)
- Try a quick yoga flow
I hope you found something that fits into your schedule on this list. Even spending 5 minutes on yourself can really feel like you’re investing in your well-being without spending a lot of money. Wellness can really seem unapproachable: if you don’t do everything, it’s hard to get going; if you don’t spend the money, you’re not doing it right. Neither of those things are true! Wellness can be approachable to anyone with any budget or any schedule. It’s highly personal to everyone and can fit into your life, even if you only have 2 minutes a day.
I tried to include things on this list that would not necessarily require any purchase above $5 to make sure we could all break away from that expensive, exclusive narrative surrounding wellness. Enjoy your weekend and leave a comment about which wellness routines you’ll be adopting!
