Life, Law, and a Library

I know you’re probably thinking “ugh not another self-care blog, but hear me out! I get having a little “alone time” or time to even just hang out with friends seems like a task that requires six months of planning, but I have found a some ways to carve out five minutes for me so I thought I would share!

1. Meditation. When I started exploring on my Peloton app for 10 minute workouts (don’t judge me), I found short meditations. I popped in my AirPods and laid in bed under my warm comforter, lights off and… WOW! It was great! Time to just breathe, close my eyes, and for 5 whole minutes not worry about work, kids, my husband, or the million things on my to-do list. Meditation can reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote focus and productivity! Here are some links to FREE 5 Minute Meditations: Noticing 5 Minute Meditation; Miracle Morning Meditation; Meditation Before You Sleep; 5 Minute Meditation to Reduce Anxiety.
2. Coloring. A few years ago a friend got me a coloring book called #MomLife A Snarky Adult Coloring Book (thanks Sara!). It is amazing and incredibly funny. Now you may not finish the page in 5 minutes, but just taking time to sit and color is incredibly relaxing. Don’t believe me? The Mayo Clinic has an entire article on how coloring is good for your health. They note that “coloring is a healthy way to relieve stress. It calms the brain and helps your body relax. This can improve sleep and fatigue while decreasing body aches, heart rate, respiration, and feelings of depression and anxiety.”
3. Writing a short card to a friend. I don’t know about you, but one thing that I constantly want to be better at is keeping in touch with my friends or following up when I know in the back of my mind they are going through a tough stage. Recently I bought a pack of small cards, with the intention of sending one note a week to a friend that I don’t regularly keep in touch with or someone I know could use a random letter in the mailbox that wasn’t a bill or junk mail. One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting cards with photos and updates from friends and family. Sending a short “hey I am thinking of you” card takes less than five minutes — assuming you have some stamps and cards at the house. So the next time you are at target grab a pack of blank cards and get a book of stamps at CVS– and you are good to go!
4. Let. It. Out. Have a good cry or scream if that is what you need. Sometimes we all just need to let it out. Blast your favorite angry song and don’t hold back (I find this incredibly stress relieving after a long day in court– or on the way to court to relieve some anxiousness). A few days ago both of my boys were in a mood. Everything was wrong and they were constantly yelling at each other. I finally had enough. I went into the room and said “Who is angry?!?” They both said “me!” So I told them on the count of three we were all going to yell– to get it all out. I counted to 3 and let out a loud and angry yell. After about 10 seconds of them looking at me like I had 3 heads and thinking “is this real mom?” or “have you lost your mind woman?” we screamed and yelled and soon after, we were all laughing and it completely turned the afternoon around for the better.
5. Moisturize. Grab some lotion– preferably some that has essential oils that relax your senses. I love Bath and Body Works’s Aromatherapy Collection. Aveeno also has some great options! The smells are very calming and no one hates having smooth skin! Recommended scents to reduce stress are lavender, eucalyptus oil, and chamomile.

I hope you find some time to try these easy ways to self-care. I recognize I am a bit of “pot calling the kettle black” when I tell you this but…

You are worth 5 minutes of ignoring everyone and everything else to practice a bit of self-care.