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If you ever feel like life is too much, have a DIY self-care kit ready to go for some serious relaxation. You need to have a kind of emergency kit to soothe yourself so you can recover from stress or a mental health relapse quickly, or avoid it altogether!
When emotionally distressed, it can be hard to be able to think of coping skills, and other support methods to use in those moments. This is why the mental health self-care kit is so helpful; because it is something tangible you can refer to anytime. It can also contain a lot of items tailored to your needs.
12 Items You MUST Have In Your Self-Care kit
1. Self-care item #1: Blanket
The first thing you need is comfort. Those feelings weigh a ton and they could break you as a person. Blankets are the most comforting thing ever, for most people, if it’s not for you, get what works for you.
It helps to keep warm and hug yourself, to feel safe. That’s what I do every single time. For a few minutes lay down and try not to think of anything, I let myself feel it instead of fighting it.
There are blankets specifically for helping your mental health called ‘weighted blankets’. They will serve you better than normal blankets since they are scientifically made to help with your mental health.
“Weighted blankets are a type of at-home therapy that can provide similar benefits to deep pressure therapy.
These blankets have shown positive results for several conditions, including autism, ADHD, and anxiety. They can help calm a restless body, reduce feelings of anxiety, and improve sleep troubles.
When choosing a weighted blanket for yourself, find a snug size that’s around 10 percent of your body weight.” – Healthline
When buying a weighted blanket, you have to consider your body weight as well, The Luna blanket has a weight guide as well as a great variety of designs to choose from.
2. Self-care item #2: Journal
A journal to write down your thoughts. It not a very creative time but you need to let your feelings out somehow. When you do that, the next time you read that journal and all the emotions you felt, will remind you of how hard it was but you still made it out, it’ll comfort you and you wouldn’t feel so hopeless.
3. Self-care item #3: A happy memory
Maybe a photo album, or just one photo of you, a place, and the most important people in your life. During a rut, we disconnect from our emotions, ourselves, and the people around us which makes us feel as if we are alone and no one cares.
When you feel that memory, it’s easier to reconnect with the good thing around you.
4. Self-care item #4: Flashcards
Flashcards are great for remembering short bits of information. When you’re in anxiety or depressed mode, or a burnout it’s really hard to process information.
These flashcards though rather contain quotes, motivational quotes, or inspiring quotes. You’re favorite.
Sure, you might not feel that rush you normally feel immediately, but when it’s just starting out, it’ll make you feel a lot better, it’ll make you look forward to something, a goal, and a dream, and looking forward to it will make you strive harder to faster to that goal
5. Self-care item #5: A scented candle or perfume
Scents make everything better. They trigger different moods and you have to find the right perfume for you or a favorite candle. Dim the lights and enjoy the peaceful serenity
6. Self-care item #6: A skincare mask and face mist
A skincare mask or a face mist provides an instant coolness and relief, and instantly lifts your mood, it brings back life and hydration to your skin.
7. Self-care item #7: A letter to yourself
Do this after you are out of the depressed state, the letter you write will empathize with you and provide the comfort that you so gladly effuse from others. Read here to read my letter and guidelines of how to make yours
8. Self-care item #8: A bottle of water:
Hydration is key. Dehydration will make you feel a lot worse and especially since food might not be appealing, keep a cool bottle of water and you won’t feel so dead anymore
9. Self-care item #9: A book
Depending on your preferences, whether it’s a novel, an eBook, a self-help book, or even a children’s book, anything that will take your mind to another reality, nothing that will stress you out though, keep a book inside your mental health care box
10. Self-care item #10: A playlist
There is a lot of soothing music used during yoga and meditation. Pick songs that will calm you down and stir up a better emotion. Don’t listen to sad songs, you’ll just absorb more sadness into you
11. Self-care item #11: A movie
Still, on taking off our mind of things and not having the energy to do something productive, I like to watch movies or a series, happy movies to feel better, it’s the best way for me to distress, and if swimming is your jam or drawing, do that.
12. Self-care item #12: A self-care kit
There are premade self-care kits with mugs, essential oils, basically, things that make you take care of yourselves in a minimal way that’s not a lot of work but still makes you a priority in your own life.
On a final note:
Having a self-care kit is as fun as it is helpful you can buy already made ones or create one yourself, even if you do buy one I suggest you add something personalized that helps you by giving extra attention to detail, like something you are attached to, a memory or a quote that has always helped you.
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