Are you feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, and all-around irritable? It might mean that you haven’t been taking care of yourself.

It’s normal to let our own mental health fall by the wayside when we have such busy lives, but self-care is important. If you aren’t keeping yourself afloat you won’t be able to do things to your best ability.

You need a DIY self care kit to make sure that you always have a little pick-me-up on hand when you’re feeling frazzled.

We’re here to help you get started with a few of our top DIY self-care kit ideas and items that you can place in a DIY self care kit so they’re ready to go. Keep reading to learn more.

DIY Spa Gear

We don’t always have time or money to visit the spa, but you can create a spa experience at home with supplies that you can fit in a box with your other self-care items.

Grab a few Bath and Body Works coupons and head online to find affordable lotions and candles to set around your bathtub. Find a colorful bath bomb full of moisturizing oils and watch it fizz while you sit back and relax in the tub.

Buy some affordable sheet masks, put on your favorite calming music, and take 45 minutes to yourself. If you’re so inclined, grab a glass of wine or sparkling cider for your soak.

When you’re done, use your scented lotion to keep your skin feeling soft and fresh. You can even incorporate a DIY manicure with a good set of nail-care tools and your favorite nail polish.

Create an at-home spa experience in less than an hour so you’re ready for the rest of the week.

Fidget Toys

Sometimes you need self-care that’s subtle and easy to take with you. Do you find yourself feeling antsy and nervous during the day when you don’t have time to get away from all of the stressors of your daily life?

Throw a few fidget toys in a DIY self care kit that you take around with you. They’re great for stuffing into purses or pockets and you can hide them in your hands so no one has to notice them.

Many people think that these toys are only for children or people with trouble paying attention, but this isn’t true. They’re great for soothing anxiety.

You can use tools that are made for fidgety hands or you can use something simple, like Silly Putty. This might not seem like self-care, but anything that keeps you comfortable through the day is a great addition to your DIY self care kit.

A Journal and Pen

Did you know that journaling is a great self-care habit? Getting your thoughts down on paper is a great way to process them and put them aside for later when you have the time and energy to revisit them.

There are plenty of ways to journal. The most classic way is to use a dated notebook to write down the details of your day and how you felt about them. These are great when you want to look back on old memories, old problems, and any progress that you’ve made since writing that page.

You can also use journals for drawing or creative writing. You don’t need to be an artist or a writer to use creativity as an emotional outlet. Your journal is private, so you don’t need to worry about impressing anyone. It’s a freeing way to write or draw without judgment.

Kit-Sized Hobbies

Let’s face it: you can’t fit all of your passions and hobbies into one DIY self care kit, but you can fit smaller ones.

If you love to draw, expand on the journal idea and bring an entire sketchbook. You can also bring along tiny watercolor kits for when you want to bring a pop of color into your day.

If you’re into photography, keep a small camera in your kit, or photography accessories for your cell phone. These things aren’t the same as your DSLR, but they can give you a self-care hobby break when you’re taking a break from work or school.

More into exercise? While you can’t always exercise anywhere, anytime, keep a playlist of exercise videos that are work-friendly, like short yoga routines.

Your Favorite Candy or Snack

Do you let dieting get in the way of eating enjoyable foods? You’re not alone. Plenty of people are cutting out sodium, sugar, and excess calories in the effort to get healthy.

This isn’t a bad thing, but when you’re feeling low, there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a quick treat to pick yourself up as long as you don’t make a habit of it.

If you’re not able to keep your favorite snack on hand, keep a small gift card somewhere that you can get it. For example, a $5 gift card to your favorite bakery or coffee shop.

Headphones

Whether you’re at home or on the go, a good set of headphones is always a must-have. Headphones tell the world that you don’t want to talk right now, making them great when you’re dealing with sensory overload. You don’t even have to listen to anything if you don’t want to.

If you do want to, put a playlist of calming music on your phone. Calming is subjective. Some people like relaxing instrumentals over the sound of rain, while others are calmed by heavy metal. It’s up to you.

When our music players are always on hand, why not keep our headphones nearby as well!

What’s in Your DIY Self Care Kit?

These DIY self care kit ideas are a great start, but what things would you add to make it personal to you?

You don’t need a full self-care day to give yourself a boost. Take care of yourself every day with the little things that make you happy.

Are you looking for more health, wellness, and lifestyle articles? Check out the rest of our site!