Part 1 covered the basics of self care and Part 2 discussed the different ways you can take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. One way to care for your mental health is to take a break from stress by doing a DIY project. This post will cover how to put together a DIY self care kit for yourself or as a gift to others.
Getting Started
The first thing to consider when making a self care kit is to ask the question: who is it for? If you are making the kit as a gift to a friend, then you should start by considering their needs. Make sure to know if they have any allergies to foods or scents, and know what might be triggering for them. If the self care kit is for you, a good way to start is to imagine your happy place and consider all the things that would be there for you.
Step 1: Where to start
The first step is to find something to put your self care kit in. This could be a basket with colorful tissue paper and ribbon if you want something happy and frilly. It could also be something as simple as a box with some positive things written on it or a spare bag. Make sure to think about how many things you will need to fit into your kit. Once you have something to put your kit in, the next step is to fill it up!
Step 2: Stocking your self care kit
When putting together a self care kit, there is no wrong way to do it. If something makes you feel safe and relaxed at stressful moments, then that is something you may want in your kit. Your emotions and needs are unique to you, so your kit should be too. Here are some ideas to get you started on building your kit:
- Journal and Pens – a great way to help you get negative thoughts out of your head. You can use a journal to track triggers and jot down your thoughts.
- Stuffed Animal – something comforting and tactile to help you calm down. It can be beneficial to have something soft and soothing to focus on when you feel like you are drowning.
- Headphones – you could add noise-canceling headphones or headphones for music for when you start feeling overwhelmed.
- Essential Oils – calming scents like lavender and orange can help you relax and remind you to take deep breaths.
- Favorite Book – keeping a copy of your favorite book can help you take a break during stressful times. By taking a reading break, you can refocus and recollect.
- Water Bottle – staying hydrated has huge benefits for your health.
- Snacks and Tea Bags – by keeping snacks in your kit, you can remind yourself that you need to eat to keep your body fueled. Drinking tea can also keep you hydrated and provide calming scents when you start to feel overwhelmed.
Step 3: keep your kit somewhere easily accessible
Where you keep your kit is up to you. If you need it when you are on the go, you could keep it in your car or in your backpack or purse. If you’re keeping your kit at home, make sure it is somewhere you can easily get to it.
Step 4: keep practicing self care
A self care kit is only part of the process of practicing self care. If you want more DIY projects to help care for your mental wellness, consider signing up for Kynd Kits. Kynd Kits are a monthly, DIY activities designed to improve your community that are sent to your door. For other tips on self care, see Part 4: Best Self Care Apps.