In this post
Let me be clear, I do not lead a picture-perfect mum life.
I am a cold-tea, messy curls, “can you put your shoes away” kind of mum.
The kind who starts the washing and forgets about it for hours. The kind who sometimes just needs one thing to feel easier.
So, no, this post isn’t full of magic solutions that’ll turn your life around overnight.
This is just a list of tiny, five-minute things that have actually helped me breathe easier. Reset a bad day, or just stop the downward spiral long enough to remember I’m doing okay.
Because some days, five minutes is all we’ve got. And sometimes, five minutes is enough.
Enjoy and don’t forget to comment at the end, I love hearing from you and subscribe to get access to FREE printables, newsletters, the latest posts and more.
1. The “Put It in the Basket” For Later
This one’s a game-changer.
I keep a small basket in the hallway.
At some point during the day (usually when I’m stepping over soft toys for the 17th time), I chuck everything that’s out of place into the basket, toys, socks, chargers, random Lego pieces (why??).
Is it organised? No. Is it clean? Also no. Does the room feel instantly less overwhelming? Absolutely.
And no one said the stuff has to come out of the basket right away. It can live there. It’s fine.
I ask everyone to take what belongs to them and put it away. Naturally, it ends up on their floor, but I tried.
2. Open the Windows. The Ones that Open.
I don’t know the science, but something about a whoosh of fresh air makes my brain feel less… cluttered.
When things feel tense or sluggish or too loud, I open windows/backdoor for five minutes.
Sometimes I light a candle too, the wonderful scents just make me feel calmer.
It doesn’t solve the chaos. But it feels like a tiny reset button. And honestly, some days that’s enough.
3. The “One Thing” Rule
When I’m frozen in that spiral of too much to do, I ask myself: What’s one thing I can do right now that will make the rest of the day 1% easier?
Not 50%. Not perfect. Just 1%.
It might be:
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Making my bed.
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Washing up.
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Throwing snacks in the nappy bag for later.
It’s like giving your future self a tiny high-five. Future you will thank you. Five minutes now that saves you from a meltdown later.
4. Pick Up the Phone (Just for Connection)
Sometimes what I need most isn’t a clean kitchen (although that would be nice), it’s connection.
So I send a message to a friend. Nothing fancy. Just a “Hey, hope you’re okay. What’s new?”
Five minutes. Not even that, really.
You don’t even have to send it, just delete it and move on.
It’s reaching out, the reminder that I’m not doing this alone, that makes the difference.
5. Do Nothing. On Purpose.
This one’s hard, but hear me out.
Some of my best five-minute resets come from not trying to fix, clean, plan, or manage anything.
I sit down.
I drink my tea before it goes cold (rare, but possible). I stare out the window. I breathe.
No book, phone or music. No multitasking. Just stillness. And yes, a child will likely interrupt. But even two minutes of silence feels like a full reboot on some days.
Bee's Final Thoughts
These hacks aren’t groundbreaking.
They won’t make you go viral or turn your life into a Pinterest board. But they will give you those little glimmers of calm in the chaos.
They’re what I reach for when everything feels like too much, and what helps me remember that I’m doing okay.
So now I want to hear from you.
What are your five-minute hacks?
What’s something small that saves your sanity? Drop it in the comments, let’s build a survival toolkit together.
We don’t need to do it all. We just need to do the next kind, human, doable thing.
One honest moment at a time.
With you always, Bee 🐝
Bee’s Inspired Living
