All too often I hear “I don’t have time for self-care”. Well, below or 10 easy ways to take care of yourself in a time crunch. As I have mentioned in previous posts, self-care is a vital part of maintaining your mental health. By taking care of our minds, our bodies are less stressed and less susceptible to illnesses.

1. Self-massage – This can be done at work, in your car while you’re stuck in traffic, or while you’re just sitting at home watching TV.
2. Breathing with essential oils – If you have a diffuser you can fill the room you are in with the calming sent of your choice. I do not have a diffuser but one of the ways that I breathe with my essential oil, which is peppermint, is I take the bottle and just take a few deep breathes. You can also dab essential oils on your temples if you are on the go.
3. Guided meditation – There are different ways that you can do this. If you have a partner and a script, have your partner read you the guided meditation in a calming voice. Another way to do guided meditation is by downloading an app or finding one on YouTube. My favorite app for guided meditation is called Calm.
4. Take a short walk – Even just 10 minutes walking can greatly improve your clarity of mind. Take a walk around the block, down the road, or find a park. If you don’t want to go outside in the sun to walk and you live in an apartment complex, try just walking around the complex in the shade of the first floor. If you’re at work, just step outside and walk around the parking lot.
5. Pet your animals – Many people find snuggling with their dog or cat can be very soothing. I like snuggling up with my Boston terrier and watching TV or taking a nap. Simply putting your animal in your lap or next to you and petting them give you something to absentmindedly do and relax.
6. Listen to your favorite song – Whether you’re in the car, at home, or sometimes at work, you can turn on your favorite song and listen. In your car or at home you can even sing along at the top of your lungs. I really like blasting music in my car and singing loudly.
7. Read Memes – Check out some funny or motivational memes to clear your mind from worries whirling around in your brain. Give yourself a laugh or give yourself a pep talk by checking out some of the awesome memes out there on the Internet.
8. Plan your next vacation – However far off it may be, planning your next vacation gives you a goal in planning your next big relaxation trip. I am not sure when it will happen but my next big vacation is going to be in New Orleans. Sometimes I go online and check out the local restaurants and shops that I may want to visit when I go.
9. Drink water – That’s right, just getting a glass of water and sipping it can calm you down. It can keep you full when you want to eat out of boredom, it can help you breathe if you work yourself into a panic, and it is just overall good for your health.
10. Make a list of five things you’re grateful for – Giving thanks does not have to be reserved for Thanksgiving. We can remind ourselves of the things in our lives that others may not have and that we sometimes take for granted. Remembering these things that we are grateful for can give us something to focus on besides the negative things that may be going on.

Now you have no excuses. Each of these can be done in different places including as I said at work or while stuck in traffic. Take a few minutes every day to take care of yourself. My self-care today is breathing with my peppermint essential oil. Comment below with what you did or plan to do today.