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How thoughtful are you? You are taking the time to create a self-care basket for someone you love. That is amazing!
A self-care basket can have many names: self-care basket, self-care gift, mental health basket, or pamper gift basket. Whatever you lovingly call it, this post has everything you need to think about when creating your own self-care basket gift!
What do people put in a self-care basket?
I like to follow this rule: You will want to include:
- something yummy
- something fuzzy
- something helpful
- something thoughtful
- something hygiene product related
- & something personalized
Steps to Building a Self-Care Basket
- Start with a theme or a color scheme
- Pick and choose from self-care basket ideas below
- Select the right-sized basket
- Personalize it
- Decorate the basket
- Delivery
Self-Care Basket Ideas
1. Handwritten Note
Starting off with a simple but really adorable addition to your self-care basket, a handwritten note. Adding a simple note to let the person know that you are thinking of them is thoughtful and will already lift their spirits.
2. Journal
Sometimes on your self-care journey, it may be important to reflect on your emotions. Adding a cute journal to your self-care basket is just the item they need.
3. Water Bottle
When you are taking care of yourself, it’s important to stay hydrated. Why not add an adorable water bottle to your self-care basket?
4. Picture Frame
To remind the person you are giving this gift to of your friendship or love, add a photograph of the two of you in a frame. This is something they can keep for a long time and is an adorable addition to the basket.
5. Cup of Tea
This is always a good item to add to a self-care basket. A cup of tea and a cute mug can add so much warmth to their day.
6. Diffuser with Essential Oils
Who doesn’t love a good-smelling gift? It’s always a good idea to add something that smells nice to your self-care basket. Smell is one of our everyday senses. Having a nice-smelling essential oil in a diffuser can be the much-needed stress relief they need.
7. Candle
Similar to an essential oil diffuser, add a good-smelling candle into the mix!
8. Healthy Snacks
Adding something yummy to your self-care basket is a wonderful idea. Try adding homemade granola or a delicious trail mix with nuts!
9. Bath Tub Essentials
Taking a bath during a time you aren’t quite feeling like yourself, can improve your mood drastically. Try adding a good-smelling bath bomb or Epsom salt to make the experience that much more enjoyable. Plus, Epsom salt is known for relaxing muscles and relieving pain in your neck, back, and shoulders!
10. Affirmation Cards
How adorable are these affirmation cards? In every self-care journey, it’s important to take care of yourself and sometimes that means loving yourself. These affirmation cards have mindfulness, meditations, and positive words of affirmation quotes that make it easy to practice self-love daily.
11. Face Mask
A face mask may not be in their everyday routine so adding it to a self-care basket is a great idea! It’s a little something extra that they may not be buying for themselves. Plus, this dead sea mud mask is AMAZING!
12. Scalp Massager
When you are stressed or need a little self-care relief, having a massage is the best. Sometimes it is not easy to massage yourself so having a scalp massager can do just the trick!
13. Weighted/Silky Eye Mask
Adding a weighted eye mask to your self-care basket is a great idea! If someone is needing a little self-care, one of the best things to do for yourself is sleep. Adding an eye mask can provide a much-needed night of deep sleep. I also may be a little biased on this one because I am obsessed with eye masks (I have 8 of them that I cycle through)!
14. Acupressure Ring
Acupressure rings are great as a fidget tool and also to relieve some stress. They provide benefits such as reducing anxiety, improving mental focus, and stimulating circulation. It works similarly to acupuncture without breaking the skin.
15. Cozy Throw Blanket
Placing a cozy throw blanket into your self-care basket can take up some space and make for a great gift!
16. Book
Include a book from their favorite author! If you need a recommendation, my latest favorite read was Verity by Colleen Hoover.
17. Mani/Pedi Essentials
Sometimes all you need is a little self-care on your fingers and toes. This mani/pedi tool set is all you need for a fresh manicure. Add some beautiful gel nail polish to the basket as well! Cuticle oil can also be nice to include!
18. Crystals
Maybe your friend is into the healing powers of crystals. If that is the case, adding an Amethyst or Blue Last Agate stone into their basket is such a great idea!
19. Sound Machine
I can’t say enough about how important a good night of sleep is! Maybe adding a sound machine to your self-care basket is the perfect addition. We used this exact sound machine at an Airbnb earlier this year and loved it so much that we bought it for our own home.
20. Fuzzy Socks or Slippers
Warm fuzzy socks or slippers are an absolute must when curating the perfect self-care basket.
21. Skin Care Essentials
Skincare is a huge part of self-care – everything from a nice moisturizer, sunscreen, or lip balm is a thoughtful gift to add!
22. Lotion / Body Butter
Going along the same lines as skincare, a nice lotion or body butter may be the perfect addition to your gift basket.
23. Shower Essentials
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You may be thinking what should I add to my self-care basket that is shower related? Well, the next question to ask is: What makes for a good shower experience? Maybe you could add a sponge, an amazing shower steamer, or fresh eucalyptus for a spa-like experience.
24. Sweet Treat
Adding a sweet treat to a self-care basket can be a yummy surprise. Try adding things like homemade cookies, their favorite candy, or chocolate.
25. Fidget Toys
Anything from a stress ball to a fidget spinner can be a nice addition to a self-care basket! I know for me, whenever I have something to fidget with in my hand, my anxiety always calms a bit.
26. Pillow Spray
I have this exact pillow spray and it’s my favorite! You can just spray a little on your pillow right before bed and it makes for the perfect spa-like night of sleep!
27. Plant
Having a live plant around is known to reduce anxiety and stress. Adding a snake plant to the self-care basket is the BEST because it is an easy plant to take care of. It’s one of the best indoor plants.
28. Stuffed Animal
You are never too old for a stuffed animal friend, especially one as cute as this cow plushie that doubles as a heating pad.
29. Robe
A robe. It’s a classic! Do I even need to say more? 😉
30. Spices
Maybe their favorite self-care activity is cooking! Add these delicious spices to their self-care basket. Speaking of spices, we recently organized our spice drawer and it was like self-care for our kitchen!
31. Tissues
For that teary friend, adding tissues to their self-care basket can be a practical and thoughtful item to include!
32. Back Scratcher
I love the idea of adding a back scratcher to the self-care basket. It is definitely something that they wouldn’t think of for themselves but it is so nice to have when you have an itch you can’t seem to scratch.
33. Lip Scrub
This Burt’s Bees Lip Scrub is one of my favorites. It’s not too harsh on your lips and leaves your lips feeling smoother.
34. Hand Soap
Good-smelling hand soap is a must! Bath & Body Works always have the best-smelling scents! I especially love the Aromatherapy scents!
These next couple of suggestions are great ideas but can be on the more expensive side! I still wanted to include them in case you had a little extra cash and your friend needs a little extra ~stress~ relief.
35. Spa vouchers
Including a spa voucher in the self-care basket could be a really thoughtful surprise! They can choose if they want a massage or some type of spa treatment based on their preferences.
36. Massager
37. Heating Pad
38. Weighted Blanket
39. Yoga Mat
40. Body Oil
Personalize Your Self-Care Basket
By now you have selected all of your self-care items. This might include some more generic items that are perfect for self-care but make sure to add at least one item that is personalized to them.
For example:
Maybe they love coffee instead of tea – add a coffee mug!
If they love to play games – add a fun new board game!
If they love to listen to music – include a record from their favorite artist!
You know your friend the best so include something that is unique to them! They will appreciate it more than you know!
Select Your Self-Care Basket
Now that you have selected all of your self-care items, it’s time to package them up nicely in a perfectly curated basket! Use this guide if you are wondering what size to get!
If you have 4-5 items go for a small basket, if you have 7-10 items go for a medium-sized basket, and if you have 10+ items go for a large basket.
Extra Small Basket
This is a tiny guy – only 10″ x 6″ x 4″
Small Basket
This small basket is 12” x 8’ x 5.6”
Medium Basket
This medium basket is 13.6” x 9.5” x 5.6”
Large Basket
This large basket is 22” x 14”
Decorate The Self Care Basket
All your self-care items have been selected, you have found the PERFECT basket, and you have personalized it to them – now it’s time to decorate them nicely!
My favorite thing to do is curate the basket so it looks intentional. After you place the items, add tissue paper or cellophane with a ribbon to create a finished look!
If cellophane isn’t your thing, I like to add a tag with their name and place dried flowers in and around the basket to make it feel custom!
Deliver the Gift!
Last but not least, deliver the self-care basket. Your friend will be so happy to receive such a thoughtful and intentional gift! You will be sure to brighten their day.
What is self-care?
First of all, you may be wondering what self care really is. It’s simple. It’s the practice of taking action to improve your health (mental and physical)!
This could be anything from taking a long shower, taking care of your hygiene, reflecting on your emotions, setting boundaries, or doing yoga to improve your body and mind.
Sometimes we get into a space where taking care of ourselves can be difficult so having a little basket with self-care items can be the boost you need to start your self-care journey!
How many items should a gift basket have?
It’s really up to you but I would suggest anywhere from 4-5 items for a small basket, 7-10 items for a medium-sized basket, and 10+ items for a large basket. This is obviously just a range but it is a good place to start when you aren’t sure how many items to place in a self-care basket.
How do you stack items in a gift basket?
I like to start by placing the biggest/heaviest items in the back of the basket.
That way when you look at the basket from straight on you see the biggest items in the back AND you’re still able to see the smaller items in the front. The smallest items like lip balms or small chocolates should be placed in the very front!
The most important thing is to just play around with the items you have. However, the items that fit most organically are the way to go!
Your self-care basket is about to make someone’s day!
A self-care basket is an immediate way to make someone feel better, or just let them know you are thinking of them. These ideas are great to include for your favorite person who may need a pick-me-up!
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