25 DIY Self Care Kit Ideas That Are Simple & Soothing
This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you sign up or purchase products or services mentioned. Read the full disclosure here.
Last Updated on October 17, 2023
Thinking of making a DIY self care kit for yourself, your BFF, or someone you care about? These self care box ideas are for creating the ULTIMATE care package to make anyone in your life feel SO loved!
Ever wish you had an EMERGENCY self care kit? You know, on days where you’re kiiinda on the verge of a crisis and all hope feels lost? Filled with goodies that can make things at least a little better?
Then you, my friend, need to create a DIY self care kit to keep on hand!
Perfect for yourself OR as a gift for a loved one, making a DIY self care kit is invaluable during times of stress and chaotic emotions. We all encounter stress, so it’s best to have all your favorite items ready-to-go and up for grabs to take your mind off things.
Planning for a mental breakdown ahead of time, when you’re not in the middle of a freak-out, is a very proactive thing to do. Your self care box can be filled with items that calm you down, comfort you, help you process what’s going on, and make you feel good.
Having tools like this at the ready can really help you cope when you need it most. Or, if you choose to create a DIY self care kit to gift to someone else, they will also appreciate the heck out of it! You can make a big difference in their life and self care routine this way.
So, are you ready to hit the “pause” button on your stress and hit “play” on your relaxation? Let’s dive into creating a DIY self care kit and see how!
The Ultimate DIY Self Care Kit Guide
What Is a Self Care Kit?
A self care kit is a special box filled with all the things that bring you comfort and that support your emotional and mental wellbeing.
Self care kits can be used as a healthy coping tool in times of high emotions, overwhelming stress, or whenever you could use a pick-me-up. Adding positive uplifting coping tools to your toolbox like this will prevent you from resorting to less healthy coping tools, like ruminating or shutting down.
Why Do You Need a Self Care Kit?
Having a toolbox to turn to when you know you’re struggling is a healthy approach. It’s essential to have a plan in place for when things get out of control so you can better cope with unpleasant situations.
The goal is to create the association between “when I’m feeling negative, I’ll pick up my self care kit.” Sometimes, when we feel overwhelmed, we don’t even know where to start to soothe ourselves. Having a self care kit takes that guesswork out of the equation because you know exactly what you’ll turn to when times get tough.
By gathering a variety of items that help you feel grounded and relaxed and bundling them in a DIY self care kit, you can rest easier knowing you DO have a plan to turn to amidst the unpredictable!
How to Make a DIY Self Care Kit
There’s no right or wrong way to put together a DIY self care kit, and it is completely unique to you/the person you’re creating it for!
For example, if you love to pamper yourself, you may prefer more spa-focused items like skincare and bath bombs. If you know you struggle to process tough emotions, you might want to focus on items like journals that allow you to vent.
To help you get started off on the right foot, there’s a few things you’ll need to set up the process. Having a guideline in place if you have no clue where to begin will make things smooth sailing!
Step 1: Choose a pretty box or container
The box can be absolutely anything you want it to be. From something really dressed up and decorated, to an old cardboard box lying around your house!
If you want to take it a step up and really go for something beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, these pastel nesting boxes on Amazon are PERFECT!
Aside from looking clean and pretty, I love using nesting boxes because they are ideal for organizing your self care items into different categories.
The blue box could be for goodies to pamper yourself with, the pink box could be for creative self care items like markers, pens, coloring books, and journals, and the green could be for storing essential oils, candles, etc.! Just to throw some ideas out there for you. It’s nice to have a system in place and nesting boxes are great for that. 😊
Step 2: Consider your needs/the gift recipient’s needs
This is super important. Since your DIY self care kit is all your own, you want it to be the perfect match. Think about what YOU need most (or, in the case of gifting the self care kit, think of what your friend/partner/family member needs most).
Maybe you love fun snacks, maybe you love to read, maybe you could use a stuffed animal to cuddle. If those are comfort items for you, include them!
I’d say it’s also good to strike a balance between what you want and what you need. Snacks are a fun little joy, but you might also need something that helps you dig at the root cause of your stress, for example.
Consider therapeutic items that help you process your feelings, such as a journal or a self-help book about how to deal with something you struggle with.
Step 3: Gather the items to fill up the kit
Lastly, once you’ve identified your needs, here comes the fun part! Identify and gather the items you’ll put in your DIY self care kit! You can keep a running list of all the things that strike your fancy from this post and go from there.
Once you gather your materials, you can organize your items in any way you like. The nesting boxes I mentioned above make it suuuper easy to categorize and organize the different types of self care kit items, so I find that to be the easiest approach!
What Should You Put in Your Self Care Kit?
Alright, you know the why behind creating a self care kit. Now let’s dive into what you should put into your DIY self care kit.
This process is a personal one and the “right” items will vary from person to person. Here are some things to think about when deciding what to put in your DIY self care kit:
- Items that tune into the 5 senses – what would soothe you visually, auditorily, and so on? It might be your favorite CD album (yes, those still exist!), a relaxing coloring book, or a weighted blanket.
- Create variety across all areas of self care – aim for a mix of items that cater to mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual self care. Try not to stick to only one category!
- Make use of what you already have – making a self care kit doesn’t have to mean dropping hundreds of $$$. You probably already have a few things at your disposal to start building off of! Include some self care items you already own.
- Think about what works and what doesn’t – self care is so different for everyone. If white noise machines do nothing to soothe you, even though everyone is talking about them, don’t bother! This is all about personalized comfort.
Ultimate List of Ideas of Things You Need For Your DIY Self Care Box
Browse through all of these ideas to get a full spectrum of DIY self care kit inspiration! There’s something for everyone. These ideas cover all the areas that need the most attention, like your mental health, physical wellbeing, emotional support, self awareness, self soothing, and mood boosting! The options are endless!
Mental Self Care Kit Ideas
Your mental health is extremely important and enables you to feel good and function in your day-to-day life. Make sure you stay on top of it with these DIY self care kit ideas that target your mental self care!
1. Guided journal
Do you want to get into journaling but feel absolutely stumped as you stare at a blank page? This is a super common problem, and using a guided journal is the solution!
A guided journal lets you pick a certain focus or goal to write about. They usually have prompts and guided activities already made for you, so you don’t have to spend forever thinking what to write about!
I have a printable mental health journal that makes the perfect guided journal. It’s jam-packed with 33 pages of journal prompts and exercises for understanding your emotions, reframing negative thoughts, and overcoming unhelpful behaviors. It’s a great tool to unpack feelings of anxiety, depression, or anything you’re struggling with!
2. Self-help book
There are soooo many self-help books out there that touch on anything you could want to improve on. Mental health is a tricky thing, and luckily there’s books out there to help you with anything mental health related.
Some of my favorites that you might want to buy below are:
- For anxiety: Rewire Your Anxious Brain will show you how anxiety is created in the brain and how to manage it by changing the way you respond to fear.
- For trauma: The Body Keeps Score reminds you that trauma can happen to anyone. Not just war veterans. This book helps make sense of suffering and brings to light opportunities for healing in new ways.
- For depression: The Upward Spiral explains that there isn’t one big solution to depression. But there are numerous small steps you can take to alter your brain chemistry and heal. This book is very do-able and practical!
{RELATED: The Must-Buy Self Help Books to Read In Your 20s}
3. Art supplies
When’s the last time you picked up a colored pencil or did something creative?! We could all benefit from getting in touch with our creative side, and art therapy is actually extremely beneficial.
Art supplies that’s perfect to include in a DIY self care kit:
{RELATED: 15 Self Improvement Gifts Your Go-Getter Friends Need}
4. The gift of therapy
Therapy can be a sensitive subject, but most of us could seriously benefit from it. If you or someone you’re close with has expressed the desire to give therapy a try, giving them this gift is invaluable.
I can say firsthand that signing up for therapy has been the BEST part of my self care routine. And I’m so happy I gave Online Therapy a try because it is way better and more affordable than traditional therapy.
I always recommend Online Therapy because it’s a comprehensive, effective online therapy toolkit at an affordable monthly cost. Get 20% off your first month at the link below! You can always write a little card to someone with their subscription details on it to place inside the self care kit.
Physical Self Care Kit Ideas
Taking care of your body and tending to its physical needs is also a must! Try these ideas that target your physical self care so your body can feel its very best.
5. Weighted blanket
Weighted blankets can be amazing for easing anxiety and sensory overload. It’s like a full-body hug! This super cozy knitted weighted blanket from Bearaby will help you sleep so much sounder at night.
6. Therapeutic lotion
Sometimes our skin can get as stressed as we are! This is where a good therapeutic lotion comes in. This therapeutic repair lotion with macadamia oil from Amazon has over 14,000 stellar reviews and penetrates deep below the skin’s surface to replace depleted oils for max hydration.
7. An emotional support water bottle
Haha, half joking but keeping my water bottle with me 24/7 totally feels like emotional support! It’s 100% worth it to invest in a quality insulated water bottle that will keep your water cold for hours. I’ve had this exact water bottle from Walmart for a few years and it works great, keeps things cold for hours, and is always there for me!
8. Massage roller ball
If you’re frequently stressed, chances are you’re holding some of that tension somewhere in your body. Our mental stress can often translate into physical stress, so getting a massage roller ball like this one from Amazon will alleviate sore muscles and crack down on painful knots!
Emotional Self Care Kit Ideas
Identifying your feelings and honoring them, instead of pushing them down, is what emotional self care is all about. Supporting yourself enough to let yourself feel your feelings is what these items will help you with!
9. Feel-good playlist
A thoughtfully curated playlist with tunes that make you feel good is a great emotional self care idea. Either create your own and write down your fave songs on a note card inside the self care kit, or buy your favorite physical music album!
10. Stuffed animal
You’re never too old for stuffed animals. I have several sitting on my dresser that keep me company and you might enjoy the comfort of one too! Everyone needs a cuddle from a fluffy friend every once in a while–no shame there!
11. Stress ball
Stress balls are a great way to squeeze out pent up stress. They can also help with progressive muscle relaxation–where you focus on tensing and then releasing muscles, resulting in relaxation. Grab this set of stress balls for an inexpensive DIY self care kit item!
12. Better Than Therapy Gift Box set
If you (or a friend) has been having “one of those weeks…” they need the Better Than Therapy gift box as a pick-me-up! This gift box has everything they need to self-soothe: from herbal tea, to a mindfulness coloring book, to a fresh air & sea salt candle, to a bath cube, and more!
Self Awareness Self Care Kit Ideas
Turning inward and connecting with yourself is another important part of self care. These gift ideas will help you or your friend strengthen their sense of self-awareness to help their overall personal development!
13. Affirmation cards
We’re all our own worst critics. Chances are, you could stand to show yourself a little more kindness. Easier said than done though, right? But you actually can re-train your brain to choose positive self talk instead of negative self talk by practicing positive affirmations.
This desk of 40 printable positive affirmation cards serves as a powerful visual reminder of positive vibes! Use them as journal prompts, stick ‘em on your mirror for an everyday reminder, or get creative and turn them into a vision board or collage!
If you know someone who talks down on themselves, these cards will help them turn that mindset around.
{RELATED: 114 Powerful Affirmations for Letting Go}
14. Little book of mindfulness
What does it mean to be mindful? Mindfulness is all about staying grounded and connected to the present moment. However, that’s not always so easy when life gets crazy! This Little Book of Mindfulness allows you to slow down by bringing simple 5 to 10 minute exercises into your day to help you find more peace in your life.
{RELATED: 45 Mindfulness Affirmations to Immerse Yourself in the Present}
15. A mindful meditation app subscription
Meditation has many benefits like improved stress regulation, increased self awareness, and less negative emotions. Meditation is also a great way to practice mindfulness as the goal is to focus on the present.
But meditation can be frustrating for newbies. You try to listen to your breathing, but before you know it you’re thinking about what to make for dinner, getting gas later, or your project at work!
This is why guided meditations are a game-changer, because you aren’t doing it alone! I love Headspace because they have all sorts of meditations for sleep, focus, stress, and way more. Get 14 days free with my link below!
16. Gratitude journal
Coming at you with another fantastic guided journal idea is this printable gratitude journal! If you want to improve your mood and become a more positive person, this journal has everything you need to achieve that.
This guides you through creating a morning and evening gratitude practice, as well as weekly and monthly. You also get to dive into thought-provoking gratitude journal prompts to keep you focused and on track! And lastly, you can set gratitude goals for yourself and monitor your progress toward living a more grateful life.
{RELATED: 40 Helpful and Refreshing Gratitude Journal Prompts}
Soothing Self Care Kit Ideas
Self-soothing is a much-needed skill. It will greatly benefit you to be able to have some go-to self soothing tools in times of stress and overwhelm! These DIY self care kit ideas are suuuuper soothing.
17. Coloring book
Adult coloring books are a great way to de-stress and even let out some pent-up energy as you scribble away. This Secret Garden coloring book is a colorful and whimsical place to start!
18. Face masks
Who doesn’t love a good face mask? Having cool, soothing jelly or clay on your face is a great way to feel pampered. Everyone (even Khloe Kardashian!) has been raving about this Indian Healing Clay Mask, and the reviews totally back up the amazingness!
19. Essential oils + diffuser
Soothing your sense of smell is another fantastic way to get some relaxation in. There are so many peaceful and tranquil essential oil scents out there to suit anything you like. Grab these essential oils and this AMAZING super modern-looking diffuser from West Elm!
20. Fidget spinners
Remember around 2017 when fidget spinners were all the rage?! Those were fun times. They can be a highly useful tool for people with ADHD and anxiety because it gives you something to do to occupy your mind and senses. Grab these super cute fidget spinners on Amazon!
21. Zen garden
Zen gardens like this one are great for tuning into your senses and helping with mindfulness. Playing around with the sand is super therapeutic and allows you to focus your senses on the task at hand instead of your worries.
Mood Boosting Self Care Kit Ideas
We could all use a good mood booster! These DIY self care kit ideas are just the thing you need to lift your spirits and add a little dose of happiness to your day.
22. TheraBox Self Care Subscription Box
TheraBox offers such awesome variety and their products are professionally curated by actual therapists, inspired by neuroscience and positive psychology. How freaking cool! You can choose from a one-time mystery box or a recurring monthly subscription box. But rest assured, these products are GOOD for making you feel good!
{RELATED: 25+ Ultimate Self Care Weekend Ideas for Unwinding}
23. White noise machine
Some people cannot get to sleep in pure silence. White noise machines are here to help with that! This white noise machine doubles as a night light with expert-curated sleep content. You know the sound quality and functionality will be on point!
24. Fun snacks
I know that fun snacks never fail to bring a smile to my face! Pick at least one or two of your fave snacks (I always like a mix of sweet and salty!) to include in your DIY self care kit to give you something to look forward to.
25. Herbal tea
Winding down at night with some caffeine-free herbal tea is like joy and relaxation in a cup. I like these variety Tazo teas (chamomile, sweet cinnamon spice, mint, passion, and sweet orange) to mix the options up.
How to Make a DIY Self Care Kit as a Gift to Someone Else
A DIY self care kit makes for a super thoughtful gift to someone you care about. They’ll be happy to receive something so personalized and supportive. When making a self care package for a friend, family member, or anyone else you love, consider the following:
- How their interests and needs may differ from yours – this is one of the most important principles to consider when gifting anything to anyone! We often assume that if we like something, it means they must like it too. But this isn’t always the case. Think about the likes/dislikes your gift recipient has expressed to you in the past and base your decisions off what you know about them.
- Their style – is your gift recipient simple and sweet? Maybe they don’t need anything big or elaborate from you. Some people just appreciate that you were thinking of them in the first place. If so, keep the items minimal. Less is more!
- Opt for common, well-liked gifts – not super close to the person you’re gifting to? No problem! Sometimes it can be tricky to decipher what someone truly would like. In that case, keep reading below to see my top 10 ideas to include in your DIY self care kit that most everyone enjoys.
Top 10 Items to Include In Your Self Care Kit
Can’t decide what to get? These top 10 items are the most appreciated, practical, and ideal for any budget!
1. Gratitude journal
Expressing gratitude has been shown to help you feel more positive emotions! I love using my printable gratitude journal to make this process even easier because it gives me all the prompts I need! I highly recommend grabbing it to add to your DIY self care kit.
2. Face masks
Ending the day with a nice, soothing way is a surefire way to feel rejuvenated. Try this Indian Healing Clay Mask that’s highly loved and raved about all over Tik Tok!
3. Coloring book
There’s something so soothing about taking that colored pencil to the paper to create something vibrant! Snag this Secret Garden coloring book for beautiful nature-y scenes.
4. Water bottle
It’s highly likely that the person you’re shopping for could probably use a new reusable water bottle. I love my water bottle that comes with a straw. It keeps my water cold for hours!
5. Affirmation cards
We could all use a little reminder to love ourselves. The more you practice speaking, reading, or writing out positive affirmations, the more you actually begin to believe them! Don’t miss out on this deck of 40 printable affirmation cards for self love and confidence.
6. Stress ball
Using your muscles to release pent up anger and tension is a fantastic outlet! Grab yourself this set of stress balls infused with gentle fragrances to get one step closer to feeling stress-free!
7. Feel-good playlist
I know I could always go for some mood-boosting tunes! Writing down a list of your favorite happy jams is always an instant pick-me-up. This is a great way to share your music taste with a friend too, when crafting a DIY self care kit for them!
8. Fun snacks
I could always go for some chocolate, peanut butter crackers, or sour patch kids! Ending a stressful day with some yummy snacks has never failed to make me feel at least a little bit better.
9. Stuffed animal
Everyone has a favorite animal, so why not get a cute little stuffed animal version of yours? Cuddling a stuffed animal can be very physically relaxing, especially if you’re feeling down or lonely!
10. Therapeutic lotion
Stress can lead to breakouts and dry skin. Choosing a good quality therapeutic lotion like this well-rated one from Amazon will leave your skin feeling soothed, loved, and cared for!
Tips for Making a Self Care Gift Box
Here are my quick tips for making a self care gift box you and/or your gift recipient is sure to love:
- Add items you know you/they enjoy
- Your items don’t have to be expensive to get the message across
- Variety is great–opt for smaller, travel-sized versions of things!
- Aim for more than one aspect of self care, whether it’s mental, physical, emotional, etc.
- Add your own personal touch and make it unique!
This YouTube video features several additional ideas for what to include in your self care box if you need a little extra inspiration!
What’s In My Self Care Kit
Curious about what I have in my own DIY self care kit so you can get ideas? Here’s what my box contains that I LOVE! (click the links to check out these products for yourself!)
- Chocolate
- Guided mental health journal
- A regular journal + my favorite Pilot G2 0.7 pens
- Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer
- Essential oils
- Positive affirmation cards
- Coloring book + colored pencils
- My favorite self-help book Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Gratitude journal
Each of these items helps me self-soothe in a different, much needed way. As you can tell, I’m super big on journaling so I make use of a variety of journals (a few of which I created myself to offer you too!). But I also love to indulge in the fun stuff like chocolate and coloring!
Top Self Care Subscription Boxes
Don’t have the time to put together all your self care items individually? You might benefit from choosing a self care subscription box that’s already bundled for you! Here are the best ones.
Best for Mental Health Support: TheraBox
Being a self care subscription box that’s curated by REAL therapists makes TheraBox stand out as the best for mental health support because the products are backed by the experts.
The monthly plan: allows you to choose from 4 different monthly plans based on cost and prepayment. Each box comes with new self care themes monthly and 7-8 full sized products! You can expect products like bath oil, face masks, lip scrubs, and affirmation workbooks.
The one-time mystery box option: If you don’t want to commit to a monthly plan, TheraBox also offers a one-time mystery box featuring best sellers from past monthly boxes. And it’s always a surprise exactly what you’ll get! It’s like Christmas time!
Best for De-Stressing: Better Than Therapy Gift Box
The Better Than Therapy Gift Box is the best way to wind down after a rough day or week.
First things first, whip yourself up a cup of their herbal tea to ease your nerves. Set the mood with the fresh air & sea salt candle as you hop into the bath with the “unwind” bath cube. Then, when you hop out and get cozy in bed, lose yourself in the mindfulness coloring book for the ultimate stress-free night routine!
Best for Someone Who Is Struggling: Keep It Together Gift Box
The “overthinking” journal included in this gift set says it all! If you or someone you know is really struggling with their anxiety or negative thoughts, the Keep It Together Gift Box is a perfect fit.
The journal is a great reminder telling you, “hey, pick me up!” whenever you get into an overthinking spiral. Perfect for venting and brain dumps. Then there’s 30 pop-up “you’re awesome!” cards with inspirational quotes, an ocean-scented candle, and cleansing wipes to keep all your electronics squeaky clean.
Enjoy making your DIY Self Care Kit!
Let me know in the comments which of these ideas you love for your own DIY self care kit, or what you might decide to gift to your loved ones!!
More Self Care Ideas You’ll Love
24 Unusual Self Care Ideas You Probably Haven’t Tried
30 Day Winter Self Care Challenge to Beat the Winter Blues
15 Self Improvement Gifts Your Go-Getter Friends Need
Self Care for Introverts: 16 Ways to Recharge Your Social Battery
LIKE THESE DIY SELF CARE KIT IDEAS? PIN THEM FOR LATER!
