10 Minimalist Self-Care Ideas You Can Do Right in the Comfort of Your Own Home

A few weeks ago I took a free masterclass with Empowerment Coach, Kirsty Gladdis. It was titled, “THE Self-Care Masterclass.” During the hour, she discussed some minimalist self-care ideas. She didn't call them that, but that's how I interpreted them.

And none of them involve getting into a bubble bath.

Because let’s face it, while self-care has grown in popularity, it’s also become a trigger word of sorts.

Who has time for self-care? People are too busy with their homes, family, and career. But self-care doesn’t have to take hours away from your day. It can be as simple as a 15-minute win.

So today, inspired by Kirsty’s masterclass, I’m sharing 10 minimalist self-care ideas you can do.

Let’s break down this list of minimalist self-care ideas

#1 — Brain dump a gratitude list

One of the first things Kirsty had us do on the call was to write a list of 100 things that make us happy. Didn’t matter how big or small they were.

A hug from your mom, a day trip to the spa, a warm cup of coffee. If it made us happy it went on the list.

There’s nothing that brings an instant smile to your face than writing down things you’re grateful for. I hadn’t even written the third one yet and I was smiling.

Practicing gratitude has been proven to give us a quick dopamine hit. If you’re having a bad day, simply writing down three things you’re grateful for can turn the day around.

So start your minimalist self-care with a gratitude list. Set a timer and write down as many things as you can think of.

#2 — Create a calm space

I’ve talked about this in previous posts, but it’s important to reiterate here. Working and living in a calm space is vital to self-care. But you don’t always have to go on a decluttering/cleaning spree to get it.

Think of scents that make you relaxed. Burn a candle or diffuse essential oils that match that scent.

Mom Bun Candle has some amazing scents with hilarious, and relatable, names. You've got “Mama’s Clocking Out” and “Missing Socks," not to mention "Dad Bod."

Aromatherapy is a quick self-care win. The simple scent of something can relax you and get you to focus.

If scent isn’t your thing, then maybe lighting is. The right kind of lighting can create a calm space. Find what relaxes you the most and set it up in your workspace, bedroom, living room, etc.

#3 — Reduce caffeine after 3:00 pm

If you’re prone to drinking two to three cups of coffee in a day, make sure you drink them all before 3:00 pm.

Studies have shown that drinking caffeine after 3:00 pm can cause insomnia or an inability to wind down. And when I say caffeine, I’m talking more than just coffee.

After 3:00 pm you should look to eliminate all types of caffeine. Soda, black teas, iced tea, etc. Having a glass of it at dinner is fine, but no more than that. Instead, switch to herbal teas or lightly sugared beverages.

This will help you sleep better and allow your brain to relax as the day turns to night.

#4 — Read before bed

Endlessly scrolling through social media before bed is no good for your eyes. Or your self-esteem. Even with “night mode,” those pixelated screens are still stimulating your senses. They're keeping you awake rather than sleepy.

Opt to read before bed. Put your phone on a dresser or table across the room. Better yet, leave your phone in another room. If your phone is your alarm clock, buy yourself a cheap clock instead.

Reading before bed not only relaxes your eyes, but it stimulates your imagination. You can go to sleep and dream about being in the protagonist’s shoes. Or if you read nonfiction, you go to sleep with your mind expanding on the new things you just learned.

#5 — Make a vision board

A fun and creative minimalist self-care idea is to create a vision board. This is a great project to get you excited about goals and aspirations.

Don’t think you need to go crazy and cut out images from magazines or print pictures from the internet. A vision board can be a written list of things you want to accomplish or do.

Start with one big goal and write down all the smaller tasks you need to get there. Use a dry-erase board, a large poster board, or a notebook.

Whatever you use, making a vision board is a surefire way to get your heart pumping and your motivation amped up.

#6 — Paint your nails

I used to pick at my nails like crazy. Seriously, the skin would be raw and red. Then I started painting my nails and that nasty habit stopped.

Painting your nails is a quick minimalist self-care win. You’re forced to slow down because you want to make sure the polish is smooth and dry.

If you prefer to go to a salon that’s fine. It still counts as self-care. But doing it yourself can often feel like an accomplishment. So the next time you’re sitting there bored watching TV, pull out a polish you love and get to painting.

#7 — Go for a walk

You know exercise is important. It’s drilled into us by doctors, trainers, and more. But forcing yourself to do a workout you hate isn’t going to get you motivated to keep going.

A minimalist self-care idea that doubles as exercise is walking. Walking has been proven to be as effective as running or other cardio exercises. Especially when done consistently. I actually like running but I walk more in the colder months because of my asthma.

A daily 30- to 60-minute walk can reduce your risk of heart disease and keeps your legs strong. So the next time someone says, “Let’s go to the gym,” you can say, “Let’s go for a walk instead.”

#8 — Let natural light in

Natural light can instantly improve your mood. Think about how you feel on a gloomy, rainy day. You feel sluggish and don’t want to do much. Now think about how you feel when you open the curtains and it’s a bright, sunny day?

One of the first things you can do in the morning for a quick self-care win is open the curtains. Let natural light in.

If you find yourself fading as the day goes on, sit near a window. Step outside. Go for that walk I mentioned before. Feeling the sun on your face for even five minutes can greatly improve your day.

#9 — Do one task you don’t want to do

We all have that one task we dread doing. Whether it’s laundry, cleaning, or a big work task. But believe it or not, when you cross a big task off your to-do list, you get a massive dopamine rush.

So one minimalist self-care idea you can do today is to do one task on your list that you don’t want to do.

Set aside some time to get it done. Break it up into smaller tasks you can work on throughout the week. Whatever it is, just work on it until it’s done.

Then cross it off your list and celebrate. There’s nothing better than finishing something you don’t want to do.

#10 — Call someone you love

Finally, another minimalist self-care idea is to call someone you love. We spend our days communicating mostly via text or email. Hearing a person’s voice is quickly becoming a foreign concept.

So open that contact list and call someone. A parent, a sibling, a friend. You don’t need to have a conversation planned out ahead of time. Simply tell them you just wanted to check in and see how they were doing. Chances are they’ll be happy you called and you’ll have a lovely chat.

Remember that self-care doesn’t mean spending hours at the spa. Self-care can be as quick as five minutes. So long as it’s something that gives you peace of mind, you’re doing it right.

As for Kirsty’s masterclass, I was so inspired and moved by her authenticity and encouragement, I signed up to take her new 6-week coaching program. We start tomorrow.

I’m excited to learn new ways to overcome anxiety, implement minimalist self-care ideas into my life, and learn to be more confident.

If you’re interested in learning more about Kirsty, you can visit her website. And make sure you follow me on Instagram where I’ll be sharing my journey with Kirsty as well as posting weekly motivational messages.

What is your biggest hurdle when it comes to self-care?