As November marks the overwhelming start of the holiday season, it’s crucial to prioritize quick self-care. This content offers five simple practices, each under five minutes, to combat stress. Mindful breathing exercises, with 5-second inhales and exhales, quickly reduce tension. Creating a gratitude list of five things to reflect on throughout the day boosts perspective. A short burst of cardio, like a quick walk or jumping jacks, can instantly improve mood. Viewing puppy pictures is suggested for smiles and stress relief. Lastly, a five-minute hot bath calms the mind for better sleep. These brief activities significantly impact daily well-being without requiring much time.
November 1, 2025
As the calendar turns to November, it’s more than just a new month—it’s the unofficial start of the holiday season. The days grow shorter, and somehow the number of hours seem to shrink too (even though we know they don’t!). With to-do lists growing faster than ever, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all that needs to get done.
That’s why it’s so important to pause—just for a few minutes—and take care of yourself. Even the smallest moments of calm can make a big difference in how you move through your day. To help, we’ve gathered five simple self-care practices that take less than five minutes—perfect for those times when life feels a little too busy.
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Breathe
In yoga, instructors constantly remind us to ‘go back to our breath’ when the outside feelings start to creep in. The same can be done off the mat. Whenever those edginess feelings start to invade your mind, step outside, sit in the car or escape to a quiet room and simply breathe. Start by closing your eyes and then inhale for the count of five. At the top of your breath, hold for another five seconds, and then slowly, start exhaling to the same count in a controlled manner. When you’ve completely exhaled, hold at the bottom of your breath for another five seconds. Try doing this 3-5 times and you will be amazed at how quickly the tension begins to subside.
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Gratitude List
Make a list of five things that you are grateful for right at that minute. On some days, it’s hard to come up with five so you may need to stretch a little. Jot them down on a post it note and put it on your bathroom mirror, the car dashboard or on the cover of your planner so that you refer back to it throughout the day. Be sure to transfer the list, or just move the post it note, to your journal at the end of the day to remind yourself of all that you are grateful for.
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Get some Cardio
Even a short five minute walk in the fresh air, around the block, can do wonders for your mood and stress levels. Just get outside, take a deep breath and walk quickly. If you can’t go outside, try doing several yoga sun salutations or a few sets of jumping jacks or push-ups. Notice how quickly the burst of activity gets your heart pumping and clears your mind.
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Puppy Pictures
We can’t explain the scientific basis for this practice, but it works! Whenever one of our kids had a bad day, we would get on the internet and google ‘puppy’ pictures. Simply viewing the images always brought laughter and smiles to our faces. The stresses of the moment seemed to magically melt away
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Hot Bath
At the end of the day, this is one of the best ways to relax. Simply swirl in a few scoops of our Nectar Republic Lavender Chamomile Bath Salts in a hot tub for a relaxing soak (another benefit — it gives your skin a healthy glow!) Just five minutes in the warm, soothing water does wonders to calm the mind to prepare for a good night’s sleep.
As a side note, be sure to check out our complete collection of Bath and Body products. Many of these items are natural and plant-based and can be used throughout the day to bring you back to a clear-headed state.
Hope these simple ideas help to remind you that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be an all-day event. The quick activities, squeezed in throughout the day, can have just as much impact as an hour long workout. Your family and friends will thank you!
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