You Don’t Need a Retreat… Just Five Quiet Minutes (Here’s How to Get Them)
We’re sold the idea that rest needs to look like yoga retreats or weekends away, but for most mums that’s not the reality. The good news? You don’t need a getaway to feel grounded. Just five quiet minutes can reset your nervous system, shift your mood and reconnect you with yourself. In this post, we share simple, doable ways to find those precious five minutes… even in the middle of chaos.
How busy mums can recharge in small, powerful pockets of time, without leaving the house.
When Five Minutes Feels Impossible
If you’ve ever Googled “self-care for mums,” you’ve probably seen photos of luxury spas, peaceful yoga retreats, or sunset walks on a beach.
But what if you’re just at home, with unwashed hair, someone calling “Mum” for the fiftieth time, and a to-do list longer than your arm?
You don’t need a weekend away. You need five minutes.
And yes, that five minutes can actually make a difference.
In this blog, we’re sharing:
Why five-minute self-care rituals work
Where to find those moments in a full day
What to do in them to truly reset
The Myth of ‘Big’ Self-Care
Modern motherhood can leave you feeling like real rest is only possible with a childcare swap and a four-hour window. But the truth is: small moments count.
Studies show that even short periods of intentional rest can:
Lower stress hormones
Regulate your nervous system
Improve patience and emotional resilience
Boost your overall mood and energy
The key? Make it doable and consistent.
Where Do You Find Five Minutes?
Let’s be real—you’re not just busy, you’re probably already stretched to your edge. So these suggestions are about working with your day, not overhauling it.
First wake-up minutes: Sit with your tea before the house wakes up
Nap time / screen time: Resist the urge to scroll or clean—rest instead
In the car: Five minutes before pick-up? Stay parked. Breathe.
Before bed: Add five minutes of you-time before the evening Netflix
Toilet trick: Yes, even hiding in the loo counts (no shame!).
What to Do in Those Five Minutes
You don’t need to achieve anything. The goal is to reconnect, recentre and exhale.
Here are a few quick self-care ideas for mums that work:
1. Breathe Intentionally
Try box breathing (4 counts in, hold for 4, 4 out, 4 hold).
It tells your body you’re safe—shifting you out of stress mode.
2. Stretch or Shake It Out
Loosen up tight shoulders. Do a forward fold. Shake like a toddler having a tantrum (yes, really). Physical release helps the mental pressure too.
3. Do a Mini Gratitude Scan
Name three things going right. It might just be “hot coffee,” “sunlight,” and “no one is yelling right now.” That counts.
4. Sit in Silence
No music, no phone, no stimulation. Just you and quiet. It can feel weird at first—but also deeply restoring.
5. Name What You Need
Ask: What do I need right now? Rest? A cry? Fresh air?
This tiny check-in builds self-awareness and reduces emotional overload.
The Bigger Picture: Micro-Moments Matter
You don’t need a silent retreat to reconnect to yourself.
You don’t need to leave your house, or even your role as “mum,” to find yourself again.
You need:
Tiny rituals
Micro-rest moments
Permission to pause
These are the building blocks of feeling more like you, even when life is busy.
Final Thought: It’s Your Time, Too
Every time you give yourself five minutes of care, you’re telling your nervous system—and the world—you matter too.
That your wellbeing is worth protecting.
That you are more than what you do for everyone else.
And that?
That’s powerful.
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