self-care ideas – Well of Joy

Want to make practicing self-care every day a little bit easier? Having a self-care kit wherever you spend your free time can inspire you to spend more time practicing self-care and bring you bliss, calm, and joy. You know how whenever you sit down on your couch, you're drawn to pick up your phone, laptop, or the t.v. remote? With your self-care kit there, you can pick up some self-care time instead. Building a self-care kit is simple. Find a box or basket and fill it with items like a journal, books, oracle cards, essential oil spray, or any other self-care items you enjoy. Then, store it where you spend most of your time to inspire you to practice more self-care. Keeping a self-care kit is helpful when you don't have space to leave all your self-care tools out. It's also convenient if you live in a shared space, travel often, and want your self-care items to be easily portable, or simply like everything organized in one place. Here you'll find a list of items I like to keep in my self-care kit to inspire you to create your perfect self-care box. Items to Include in Your Self-Care Kit Books Fiction – Having a fictional book that can transport you to another world can take you on a little adventure from the comfort of your own home. My favorites are the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, Looking for Alaska by John Green, and Shantaram and Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts. Personal Growth- I like to keep inspiring spiritual and personal growth books in my box as well. I recommend The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Be Here Now by Ram Dass, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, and A Course of Love first received by Mari Perron. Kindle – As much as I love 'real' books, having a kindle is so convenient. It fits right in my self-care kit (or my bag when I'm on the go) and means I can download any book, any time. Get the kindle from Amazon here. A Photo Album Make a small photo album filled with good memories to keep in your self-care kit. You can always see the pictures online, but having a physical album to flip through inspires that cozy, nostalgic feeling. Journal Lined for Writing There are so many reasons for keeping a journal in your self-care kit. You can use it to jot down your thoughts, express your emotions, keep a list of your affirmations, or make a to-do list to help you feel more organized. List of Self-Care Activities You can also write a list of self-care activities that you enjoy or want to try to give you some inspiration next time you have some free time. Some ideas might be a self-care bath, meditation, yoga, a face mask, or a new recipe you want to make. Unlined Journal for Art Coloring and drawing is a self-care activity that helps you reduce stress and express your creativity. Even if you think you're not an artist, I promise there is a creation inside you waiting to be born. Don't forget to buy some markers or colored pencils to go with your art journal. Coloring Book There are tons of cute coloring books with plants, mandalas, sacred geometry, and more out there these days. Coloring books are another calming and simple way to spend a couple of hours creating and relaxing. Yarn and Crochet Hook I find creating things to be such a fulfilling way to spend my self-care time. Crochet is a soothing self-care hobby and I like that it gives my idle hands something to do. If you don't know how to crochet, don't worry! There are so many amazing YouTuber's creating free how-to videos to help you get started if you want to learn how. A couple of my favorite crocheters you can find on YouTube are Katniss Everdeen and Maya Luna Corazon. Just find a tutorial you'd like to try, order some yarn and a hook, and get started! Crystals Crystals have a healing energy that can raise your vibration as you practice self-care. To discover which crystals you might like to include in your self-care kit, check out this article I wrote on 14 Crystals for Self- Love and How to Use Them or 18 Crystals for Anxiety, Stress, and Overthinking. Essential Oil Spray Essential oils offer aromatherapy and can uplift your mood, bring relaxation and energy cleansing, and so much more. Since you shouldn't use essential oils directly on the skin, I like to make my own spray. It's so simple you can make your essential oil spray in 5 minutes or less. You can use your spray as a body spray, room spray, or hydrating facial mist, and it makes a great addition to your self-care kit. -Get a 2 oz. glass spray bottle. – Add 10 to 30 drops of your favorite essential oil. -Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of witch hazel. -Fill up the rest of the way with distilled water. Optional: Add 1 to 5 crystals to the spray (Make sure they're water-safe!) To learn what essential oils and crystals to use to make an energy cleansing spray, check out the recipe I wrote for a DIY Smokeless Smudge Spray here. Inspirational Quote Cards Decorate a few small pieces of paper with quotes that resonate with you and help you feel inspired. Tarot or Oracle Cards Tarot and oracle cards help you to tune into your intuition and tap into your inner guidance. Doing a card pull can help you find clarity and inspiration. If you're unsure how to do an oracle card or tarot pull, check out this article from Mindbodygreen.com to learn more. Mini Vision Board Create a mini vision board to keep in your self-care kit to help keep you inspired. CDs I know, CDs are so old school. But I love that I can just pop them in and hear music without getting distracted trying to find a song on my phone. Singing Bowl Singing bowls are powerful energy cleansers that can help you reset. Read more about the healing effects of singing bowls from Interestingengineering.com. Noise Canceling Headphones If you live with other people or in a noisy neighborhood, noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver. Noise-canceling headphones can help you escape from the outside world into a blissful sound cocoon for an hour or two (...or three). Back Massager I got this electric shiatsu back massager for Christmas and it has been amazing to help release the back tension I get after a long day working at the computer. If you ever have back pain, you'll love being able to pull it out and have a massage anytime you want. You can find it on Amazon.com. Cozy Slippers or Blanket In the winter, getting cozy is essential. Keeping a cozy blanket or slippers in or nearby your self-care kit will remind you to get snug and warm before settling into some self-care time. Lighter for Candles and Incense For the most part, I leave my candles out and about, but keeping a lighter in your self-care kit means you always know where one is when your ready to light a candle or incense, which means no searching around wondering where you left it the last time. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate is good for the body, mind, and soul. Mindfully savoring a piece of dark chocolate is a yummy way to practice self-care and always lifts my mood. Now all that's left is to find a box, basket, or another container to stash your self-care kit in. Creating a self-care kit helps make self-care a little easier by keeping your self-care tools and ideas within arms reach. When you practice self-care every day, it has the power to transform your life, guiding you to feel more relaxed, rejuvenated, and centered. So put together a self-care kit and make self-care a priority every day. You are worth it. I wish you love and bliss on your self-care journey. Thank you for being here, Rebecca