RETHINKING SELF CARE: Small moments, Real Impact

The focus is often on what looks good—what’s aesthetically pleasing, what performs well on social media, or what can be sold. Self-care gets framed as weekend getaways, spa days, or retail therapy. While those things can be enjoyable, they’re expensive, require planning, and aren’t accessible on a daily basis.

Self-care should be something that fits into the rhythm of your everyday life—repeatable, sustainable, and free (or close to it). At its core, self-care should give you moments where your to-do list is allowed to pause.

I also believe in thinking about self-care in tiers. Having a range—from small 5–15 minute resets to larger, more intentional experiences like a massage—allows you to integrate care into your life instead of reaching for it only when you’re already depleted.

Quick ways to decompress (5–15 minutes):

1. Take a walk and use songs as a timer (e.g., 3 songs ≈ 10 minutes)

2. Drink a glass of water, coffee, or tea and do nothing else (no scrolling)

3. Wash your face or do a face mask

4. Go to a coffee shop, sit outside, and people-watch

5. Drive around while listening to music or a podcast—no errands allowed

6. Have a mini dance party

Ways to decompress (1–3x a week):

1. Take an exercise class

2. Engage in creative work (draw, journal, etc.)

3. Spend time with friends in person

4. Call a friend

Planned ways to decompress (monthly, quarterly, or as time/finances allow):

1. Plan intentional time with friends

2. Get a massage

3. Travel

The goal is to build a range of options so self-care becomes part of your life—not something you scramble for when you’re already running on empty.