The idea for this post came from a few sources:
Firstly reading The Large Family- 5 Minutes Peace to my little ones. I loved this book as a child and my Mom gifted me an anniversary edition when I had my son. Reading it as a parent shed a whole different light on the story and I almost appreciate it more now!
When I sent my little ones for a time out because they were getting overwhelmed, they would often say Mummy why don't you take a time out? In my head I always thought, oh that sounds like a dream, but quickly I would think about who would do the work if I just took a time out.
As I was paying attention to how I spend my time, how I schedule my tasks as I would appointments, etc. I was amazed how little time I was intentionally taking for myself so....
BUT, where was I going to find 5 minutes?! I realized if I stopped overcomplicating meals and just using my meal solutions as they were intended on the pack I had at least 5 minutes to spare every meal time! Now I'm working on finding this kind of solution for other responsibilities so that there are more 5 minute windows of free time in the day!!
JUMP TO IDEAS
My first 5 minutes for me... I put my phone away; this time was for me not for mind numbing scrolling. I made a cup of tea, I set the timer and I sat down with my hot cup of tea. I told the kids I was taking their advice and Mummy was having a 5 minute time out so they needed to amuse themselves until the timer went. I put anything stressful out of my mind and just focused on me.
I stood up from those 5 minutes feeling like I had taken a vacation! It was actually amazing! The way that I carried myself changed, the way that I interacted with my children changed and I was teaching them how important self care was by taking that time for myself, it was not selfish.
I started this a few weeks ago, if you follow me on social media you might even have noticed a difference! But, the biggest difference I see is right within the four walls of our home, let's face it when mama is feeling upside down everyone and everything in the home ends up following suit!
I explained to my little ones that Mum needs a time out from time to time just like they do, I trust that with me leading by example they don't have the struggles with guilt that I had to overcome when I started taking me time.
I have found that, if I take those 5 minutes time out rather than trying to power through, I actually end up accomplishing more over all and I am more patient and focused. 5 minutes has led to longer periods of me time, but the key is to be intentional with that time or it will tick by and you will have wasted it! How many minutes tick by as we mindlessly scroll social media? How many minutes tick by as we contemplate which task we're going to check off our to do list first? How many minutes tick by as we wonder what we're going to cook for dinner? So, here are some me time activities that you can enjoy even if you have just 5 minutes! (I started out looking for 24- one a day as we counted down to Christmas, like an advent calendar of me time, but, the ideas just kept flowing!) This list will hopefully help you minimize time wasted pondering what to do with your 5 minutes, you time as you deserve this time!
Just select an activity, put your phone aside, set the timer for 5 minutes and get started... ENJOY! 1. Just Breathe
Breathing is something that happens so naturally for most of us, we don't really think about it. It's amazing the affect on our bodies and minds when we sit down and do nothing but focus on our breathing.
I like to think of how God created us and how every little detail is taken care of, there is huge reassurance that comes from this, appreciating the detail that He put in to us helps me to keep things in perspective.
2. Read
Have a few books on your interests ready so when you do have 5 minutes you can grab a book, set the timer for 5 minutes and just get reading!
3. Journal
Keep a note book specifically for journaling. I find journaling works great for clearing my head, prioritizing and keeping things in perspective.
4. Guided Relaxation There are lots of 5 minute guided relaxations available online. They generally play relaxing music and help you to focus on your breathing and to just relax every part of your body. The more you practice relaxation the easier it gets, these skills are really useful and you can apply them at any time, even during labour they work wonders!
5. Practice Gratitude At a pretty bleak stage in my life I started writing down 5 things a day that I was grateful for. At first it was really hard but, as I did it day by day it became easier and now I find I can fill pages with gratitude! At the time I felt pretty like Job where everything was crashing down and I couldn't see my way out of that pit, but as I started to write down what I was grateful for I could see God working despite the storm raging around me. 6. Crochet
Crochet is a super easy activity to learn, you can pick it up and put it down as and when you have time which is why I love it. If I can crochet, you can crochet too! Granted, I can't do anything fancy but blankets are fun place to start right?!
7. Cross Stitch
Grab a beginner cross stitch kit and get started, I've even seen these at the dollar store. Display your finished cross stitch somewhere as a reminder to take your 5 minutes (or more) me time even after the cross stitch is done! 8. Embroidery
Embroidery can be a simple or as complicated as you want it to be. All you need to get started is some fabric, a needle and thread and an embroidery hoop (although I actually started without a hoop and it still worked- it's just harder to keep the fabric flat). Search for a simple running stitch tutorial and get started with some text or an image that is meaningful to you!
9. Pray
This one should be far higher on my list but it is something I take for granted so often, yet time spent in prayer is time well spent, it's an investment with a guaranteed return!
As I spoke to my son about Christmas and mentioned that some people don't give thought to Jesus except at Christmas, he replied you mean some children don't give thanks for the food every day or read from the Bible. It's just something we do and I hadn't really given thought to it until my son mentioned this.
10. Reach out to a friend
Write a letter, pick up the phone and let them know you have 5 minutes and would like to spend it with them.
11. Make and enjoy a hot drink
This might sound simple but
12. Listen to music
Pick music fitting to your mood (or the mood that you would like to be in) and take time to just listen without distractions.
My husband has very different taste in music to me, I wanted some music for something for him (I don't even remember what I was doing). I ended up sitting listening to music by artists he enjoys listening to, I actually learned a lot, the music went a lot deeper than just the sound that I usually heard in my busy little world!
13. Play a musical instrument
If you don't already play an instrument try learning one and use your 5 minutes to learn or practice a little more! I started trying to learn the guitar a few months ago, using You Tube videos, it's hard! But, it also taught me to be more patient with my children, with others and with myself- when change happens we have to learn and learning is hard! We usually don't recognize change as a learning experience!
14. Go outside
Where I live it is very cold in winter so I often avoid going outside in winter but I notice on the days when I run out to get the garbage bins in etc. As the fresh air hits it's so refreshing! If you can't leave the house alone because of little people just step outside the door, in the summer I like to have a cup of tea on the back deck when I put the kids for quiet time.
15. Write a bucket list
Pick a theme for your bucket list, dream and write! Some popular themes are travel destinations, personal goals, life milestones, how to spend quality time with friends and family, financial goals, daring activities.
16. Listen to a pod cast
Podcasts are growing in popularity, find one that interests you. Some are specifically 5 minutes long.
17. Foot Soak
Search for 5 minute foot soak, several ideas come up.
18. Stretch
This is another one I just search for 5 minute stretches and lots of ideas come up with videos and with pictures depending on your preference.
19. Blog
Pick a topic that interests you then get sharing! You have a story someone needs to hear, just jot your thoughts down and share them! It's refreshing to get your thoughts down sometimes. 20. Take a nap
This may be pushing it in 5 minutes, I like to lie on the couch and doze for 5 minutes, it reminds me of vacation time when nothing really matters and you can just relax.
21. File or paint your nails
A investment in yourself goes a long way, pick a colour you like and do it just for you!
22. Adult Colouring There are lots of adult colouring books. On Sunday evening hubby and I actually spent a few hours colouring and catching up and it was wonderful, but very different from anything we've done before... it was actually hubby's idea!
23. Take a shower or bath
You may be pushing it to take a bath in 5 minutes, our bath tub seems to take forever to fill then it seems like a waste of water to let it all out right away but a quick shower is amazing!
24. Climb into bed
This is a nice one especially on those cold winter or gray rainy days. I enjoy watching out the window from the comfort of my bed, the hardest part with this one is I'm not ready to get up after 5 minutes!
25. Take a walk
If someone is at home to watch the kids take a quick 5 minute walk, alone!! I am always amazed how quickly I can leave the house when it's just me or me and the dog!
26. Brain Dump
This is the practice of writing down everything that's floating around in your head, it doesn't have to be pretty or organized just write it down. Then if you still have time organize it into these 4 categories. 1. Urgent and Important
2. Important but not urgent 3. Urgent but not important 4. Not urgent and not important, 27. Yoga
Search online there are lots of 5 minute yoga and stretching routines. If you need more information about meal solutions to free up time in your day, subscribe and I will be in touch.