There’s only 24 hours in a day, in which we spend half of the day working and if we’re lucky we get 6 hours of sleep, with the remaining hours doing house chores, taking care of the kids, elderly parents or pets, till we barely have any time left for ourselves. In the midst of how burnt-out we are attending to the needs of others, we forget about ourselves and neglect caring about our wellbeing.

Self-care is necessary because it means taking care of our mind and body so that stress doesn’t build up in us and burst at a tipping point, causing anxiety breakdowns or anger issues. Forget about manicure pedicure, taking a day off the beach or a high-tea buffet with the girls, because we know not everyone has the luxury of time to ditch our daily responsibilities. Here are some self-care tips that will only take you less than 5 minutes each everyday:

1. Check-in with your emotions
As grown-ups and working adults, so busy we are that we often put aside or brush off our feelings. Take a few minutes before you start or end your day to check in with your emotions-how are you’re feeling, what you’re feeling and why. Reflect on the good and bad things that happened throughout, rejoice and forgive whatever that has happened. Say empowering mantras to yourself “I’ve made it through the day”, “I’m so proud of you”, “I am courageous and kind with a beautiful soul”. Your feelings matter, so make time for your precious inner-self.

2. Look at greens

Indoor plants are great as it purifies the air, uplift our mood and makes us feel more connected to nature. Unfortunately, not all of us have green fingers to keep plants alive in our house. The least we could do is to step out of our house, look at the green trees, plants or even the grass in our surrounding area. Take a breath, inhale the good and let go of the bad. Rid the noise of thoughts in your head, instead listen to the sound of the birds chirping, leaves fluttering or rain drops.

3. Taste your coffee
Coffee is bitter. That’s all we know when we hardly take the time to taste what we drink. When you taste with attention and care, you will be surprised that even the simplest food provides a universe of sensory experience. Try sipping your coffee or any drinks slowly, and wake your senses as you taste, this is a form of making time to savour the simplest pleasure in life.