Making time each day for self-care is key if you want to avoid burning out.
You don’t need hours each day to care for yourself – just 10 minutes can be enough to feel recharged when you’re strapped for time.
Here are 100 self-care acts you can do in 10 minutes:
- Dance all out to your fave song
- Cuddle someone
- Read a poem
- Have a foot bath
- Get a massage
- Give yourself a head massage
- Do a mindful meditation
- Go for a quick walk in the sun
- Allow yourself to just be
- Yoga stretches
- Do a HIIT session
- Do a quick training circuit
- Call a loved one who makes you laugh
- Watch 10 minutes of something hilarious
- Do some colouring in
- Behave like a child. Be free
- Make a green smoothie
- Purchase supplements online
- Enjoy a herbal tea and daydream
- Read a chapter of a book
- Lie down with eyes closed and just breathe deeply
- Have sex
- Go to your nearest park and play on the swings
- Tell someone ‘No’ to an obligation you don’t want to do
- Delete emails from your inbox you won’t ever read
- Cuddle an animal
- Daydream about your best holiday
- Lie on the floor with legs up against the wall (this helps reduce adrenalin)
- Journal
- Acknowledge your achievements
- Write an email or a written note to a loved one to brighten their day. Tell them how much you appreciate them
- Write an email or note to yourself to brighten your day!
- Write out all the things you’re grateful for
- Light a fragrant candle and just be
- Book that hair, nails or beautician appointment. Block it out in your diary
- Do a mini facial – wash and exfoliate
- Do a mini pedicure
- Buy yourself something nice online
- Book theatre or event tickets
- Sing a song
- Make up a song
- Research your next holiday destination
- Play a musical instrument
- Read old letters from loved ones
- Read stories on hope and love
- Write as if you were creating a book – your memoirs or whatever you feel called to express
- Forgive yourself for something you’ve been holding on to
- Forgive someone else for what they’ve done
- Stand in front of a mirror and fully accept yourself. Tell yourself ‘I love you’
- Watch an old cartoon you loved as a child
- A guided meditation
- A walking meditation
- Be fully present with nature
- Accept the moment for what it is
- Appreciate your awesomeness
- Meditate with dark chocolate
- Have a cup of tea in your finest china. Make it a special occasion.
- Celebrate your life and all the gifts you’ve been given
- Make a decision you’ve been delaying to release some burden
- Watch a personal development video
- Reshuffle your schedule to allow for non-negotiable me time
- Plan out healthy meals for the week
- Contact an old friend
- Make amends with someone
- Throw out clothes that no longer serve you
- Organise your paperwork
- Look up your cosmetics on EWG’s Skindeep Database and throw out toxic ones. Find non toxic replacements
- Clear out your fridge of food past it’s use by date
- Daydream about achieving your vision and what that would feel like
- Play with children
- Organise your computer files
- Sit in the sun
- Buy yourself some flowers
- Delegate a task to a family member or friend
- Cross things off your to-do list that you’re never really going to do
- Gaze at the magnificence of the sky
- Pray
- Make a lunch date with your favourite friend
- Book a secret date with your partner
- Book an activity you’ve been dreaming of doing for ages
- Book a dental or medical checkup
- Have 10 minutes of silence
- Listen to something motivational
- Write a letter to your future self
- Write a letter to your past self
- Allow an old emotional pain to heal
- Watch baby animals on YouTube
- Choose to let go of unattainable standards
- Let go of controlling an outcome. Just do the best you can.
- Help someone in need
- Give someone else words of encouragement
- Share an inspiring story on Facebook
- Raise your vibration with essential oils (Rose or Frankincense)
- Drink some water
- Donate money to charity
- Unsubscribe from things that are no longer relevant
- Create a crazy dance
- Paint, draw, scribble
- Have a nap
- Read some jokes
Got any other self-care tips you can do in under 10 minutes? Share below!

ABOUT MELISSA SMITH
Melissa is a naturopathic nutritionist and health coach who helps people who are feeling tired all the time get their energy and life back. She consults with people worldwide via webcam (AKA telehealth) from Melbourne, Australia.
This is a great list! I’m going to save it and use it. Like minds.
Thank you Cherry! Enjoy 🙂