Self care is important for your physical, mental, and emotional health…but sometimes there just isn’t a lot of time for indulging in self care activities when you also have a job, a family, chores, etc.
So while self care might be one of the first things to go when your to-do list stacks up, the times when you are busy and overwhelmed are actually when you could benefit from self care the most.
That’s why I learned that self care is all about balance! Don’t try to overextend yourself and do all of the self care activities you can think of every single day. It’s just not realistic.
Instead, try committing to one aspect of self care each day if you can. And this can be something really simple that takes ten minutes or less – something you could even do during your lunch break.
This post is going to give you x self care ideas that fit into your lunch break.
1. Eat a healthy meal
Eating on your lunch break? Groundbreaking I know. But think about how often you either skip lunch or just grab an unhealthy granola bar because it’s quick.
Do yourself and your health a favor by choosing a healthy meal that will keep you full and focused the rest of the afternoon!
2. Meditate
Meditation is a great tool to reduce stress and anxiety, and you only need 5-10 minutes to do it.
If you are new to meditation, you might want to try using a guided meditation app like Calm or Headspace to help yourself get into the practice.
3. Moisturize
Keep some hand lotion on your desk to hydrate your hands before hitting the keyboard again for the rest of the afternoon.
4. Stretch
If you work in an office where you sit at a computer all day, your body can get really stiff and tense throughout the day. Take a few minutes mid-day to stretch out your muscles.
5. Sit outside
While it’s tempting to take lunch in front of the computer and answer emails while you eat, it can be really beneficial to your mental state to get some fresh air. Take your lunch outside and soak in the sunshine.
6. Make a cup of tea
Herbal tea can help soothe stress and anxiety, so why not brew yourself a cup to enjoy during lunch?
7. Listen to some music
Putting on some music during your lunch break can be a great way to de-stress and relax. Opt for some relaxing classical or turn on your favorite jam to pump yourself up for the rest of the day.
8. Hydrate
Dehydration can leave you with a headache, exhaustion, and dizziness. While you know it’s important to drink water, sometimes when you are on the go all day you might realize you made it to 3 pm and barely took a sip of water.
Take some time during your lunch break to get hydrated.
9. Turn off your phone for ten minutes
We are bombarded with digital noise all day long from notifications, emails, texts, etc. Give yourself a little break by putting your phone away for a few minutes.
10. List 5 things you are grateful for
When life gets busy and stressful, we can forget about the things in life that make us happy. Take a moment on your lunch break to list out the things you are grateful for right now.
It might be your health, your family, your friends, the weather…nothing is too big or too small!
11. Take a walk
Sitting all day long at work can take a toll on our physical and mental health. Opting for a walk during your lunch break will give you an opportunity to stretch your legs and clear your head.
12. Listen to a podcast
Tune into your favorite podcast during lunch to help your mind unwind from the morning’s many projects, meetings, and to-do list items.
13. Text a friend
If you’re on the go all day long, it might be difficult to connect with your support system regularly. Take a few minutes during your lunch break to reach out to a friend or family member for some social connection.
14. Fit in a doctor’s appointment
With a crazy busy schedule, you might find yourself pushing off doctor’s appointments because there’s always an important project or a meeting you just can’t miss. However, preventative doctor’s appointments are important to maintain your physical health and address any health problems you might be experiencing.
Take a long lunch and go to that dentist appointment you’ve been delaying for months.
15. Journal
Journaling is a great way to process emotions and reflect on your experiences. However, no matter how much you intend to journal before bed, it can be easy to push off after a long day.
Keep a journal at your desk and write down a few thoughts on your lunch break.
Those are the 15 self care ideas to do on your lunch break when you just don’t have time for self care.
If your to-do list feels like a never-ending burden, it might feel impossible to fit in self care on top of that.
We know self care is important, but then life happens.
However, there are a lot of self care ideas that will only take a few minutes so you can easily fit it into your lunch break.
Erin Amborski is a self care enthusiast and blogger. In her blog, Self Care Seeker, Erin helps women through their self care journeys by writing about physical and mental health topics such as exercise, skin care, anxiety, etc. In today’s world with life’s daily stresses, we could all use a little more self care. To embark on your own self care journey, check out https://www.selfcareseeker.com/ and subscribe to download free life changing self care resources: https://selfcareseeker.com/download-printable/
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