Mother's Day Special: Self-Care Rituals That Take 10 Minutes or Less

"Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve from the overflow."

- Eleanor Brown

Let's be honest—when was the last time you had a full hour to yourself? Between sorting the washing, making packed lunches, and trying to remember which day is non-uniform day at school, finding time for yourself feels impossible. But here's the thing: you don't need spa weekends or lengthy meditation retreats to refill your cup. Sometimes, all it takes is 10 minutes.

With Mother's Day around the corner (mark your calendars for Sunday, 30th March!) I wanted to share some micro self-care practices that have kept me sane while raising my boy in our busy household. These aren't your typical "light a candle and magically transform your life" tips—they're practical rituals I actually use when I'm stretched thin but desperately need to recharge.

Morning Minutes: Start Before the Chaos

The 5-Minute Cup of Tea Ritual

Stop drinking your morning cuppa while simultaneously packing school bags and signing permission slips. Instead, wake up 5 minutes earlier and sit at your kitchen window with your tea. Don't scroll through your phone. Just sit, sip, and watch the garden wake up. I've noticed the birds in my apple tree follow the same routine every morning—there's something calming about that predictability when the rest of the day feels so unpredictable.

If you can drink it outside and get some sunlight on your face to kick start your circadian rhythym then all the better!

The 2-Minute Gratitude Scribble

Keep a small notebook by your bed and jot down three things you're thankful for before your feet hit the floor. They don't need to be profound - this week mine have included "the leftover lasagne for lunch" and "finding that missing sock."

This tiny habit shifts your brain from what's going wrong to what's going right, and over time that will have a profound impact on your mental health.

Mid-Day Moments: Sneak in Self-Care During the Busy Bits

The 3-Minute Cupboard Clean

Hear me out - organising one small space can be incredibly therapeutic when everything feels out of control. Choose a drawer or shelf that's been bothering you, set a timer for 3 minutes, and sort it as best you can within that time. It's amazing how accomplishing one tiny task can make you feel more capable of handling the bigger ones.

The 7-Minute Garden Wander

When you feel your patience fraying, step outside for a quick garden walk. Touch the leaves on your plants, check for new growth, pull a couple of weeds if you fancy. During winter, I've even stood in the rain for a few minutes - sometimes you need the weather to match your mood before you can reset.

Evening Escapes: Before You Collapse into Bed

The 10-Minute Reading Retreat

Remember books? Those things we used to enjoy before scrolling took over our lives? Keep a book that brings you joy on your bedside table and read just a few pages before sleep. I'm currently revisiting Jilly Cooper romps - they're brilliant bite-sized escapes from mum-life.

The 6-Minute Stretching Session

After a day of hunching over projects or lifting shopping bags, your body needs attention. You don't need fancy yoga knowledge - just stretch whatever feels tight for a few minutes. I focus on my shoulders and lower back, the places where I hold all my "did I remember to sign that form?" tension.

Why These Small Moments Matter

When my son was younger, I felt tremendous guilt for taking any time for myself. I'd push through exhaustion, thinking that's what good mums do. But eventually I realised that my frazzled, depleted self wasn't the mum I wanted to be. The irony is that taking these small breaks makes me more patient, more present, and frankly, more pleasant to be around.

Self-care isn't selfish - it's essential maintenance. You wouldn't expect your phone to function without charging it, yet somehow we expect ourselves to operate indefinitely without a power-up.

Make Mother's Day About More Than One Day

Rather than waiting for your family to pamper you on Mother's Day (though I hope they do!), use this occasion to launch a new approach to caring for yourself year-round.

Promise me you'll try at least one of these mini-rituals this week. Your future self will thank you for it - and so will everyone who benefits from you being less burnt out.

Remember, you can't pour from an empty teapot. And speaking of teapots, I think it's time for me to take my own advice and have a proper sit-down with a brew.

What 10-minute ritual might you try first? I'd love to hear in the comments below.