Self-care often tends to be ignored in our western society while it’s instinctively built into so many others. Siestas, fiestas, tribal rituals, reverence for nature, gratitude practices, slow walks after long dinners. I find that many of my clients are mystified by this thought of self-care. “I don’t have time for spa days!” Or “ Oh that’s such a first world problem.” Well, the good news is you don’t need an entire day. You only need a single moment. And you don’t need a spa if that isn’t your thing or you can’t afford it. Many people in countries with far less resources take much better care of themselves than so-called affluent individuals. Here are some super simple ways to practice self-care in as little or much time as you have:

• Take a bath (bubbles or not)

• Keep a gratitude list

• Watch the clouds (or birds, or flowers, or anything naturey)

• Mold something with some play-doh

• Play with a stress ball (or some other tactile object)

• One-minute meditation

• Pray

• Take a nap

• Move (Walk/run around the block, do one yoga asana, 10 push ups, lift a weight, take the stairs, park in the back of the lot)

• Savor a piece of your favorite food (a piece, not the whole dang pie!)

• Feel the sun on your skin (or the rain if it isn’t sunny)

• Watch a funny youtube video (or other piece of comedy)

• Put lotion on your skin

• Look for beauty in your environment (no matter how ugly it may seem)

• Pet a friendly animal

• Smile at a stranger (and a loved one)

• Get a massage (or give yourself one with a foam roller, hand massager, or tennis ball)

• Sing and/or dance to your favorite song

• Cook

• Listen to a podcast

• De-electronisize (I believe I made that word up. Aka turn off your electronics for a bit.)

• Read a magazine article or chapter in a book

• Do one thing you’ve been putting off (not the most fun but it always leads to instantaneous relief)

• Call a loved one

• Sketch

• Write

• Share a joke

• Go to bed 5 minutes earlier than normal

• Wake up 5 minutes earlier than normal

• Have a cup of tea (or water or coffee)

• Say no (sometimes you have to in order to say yes to yourself)

• Hug someone (or kiss them if you really like them)

• Play a quick game

• Do a word or number puzzle

• Daydream

Now of course, if you hate any of these activities don’t do them. And there are kazillions of other ways to take care of yourself. The key is discovering the little things that make you smile and incorporating them into your daily life. They’re useful when you’re calm, about to lose it, stuck in traffic, waiting in line, when you wake up, before you go to sleep. There really isn’t a bad time to take care of yourself so for the sake of yourself and everyone around you get to it!