B.Y.O.B- Build Your Own Basket: 20 Essential Self-Care Gift Basket Ideas.
Do you stop and take the time to care for yourself? Yes, self-care stems way beyond a spa day, but a good spa day doesn’t hurt. It’s an important step in the process of taking care of yourself.
I’ve been there. Complete self-neglect is not a positive road on which to be. Make the choice to prioritize yourself. It’s not selfish. It’s essential. If you don’t love and care for yourself, how are you going to get out there and conquer your day? Your life?
Self-care creates a sense of empowerment. When you love yourself, you gain the confidence to accomplish anything you want. It has also proven to have numerous other benefits such as:
Reducing stress
Enhanced mental awareness and well being
Improved relationships with yourself and others
Increase in resilience to challenges
Better physical health
Take a dive into creating your own self-care basket, whether it be for yourself or a friend, with hand picked favorite mind, body, and soul care items at a lesser cost than going to the spa. Here, you will experience 20 favorite items for these four categories:
Mind
Body
Soul
Senses
So, I said “I’ve been there.” I too have previously spent years neglecting myself and my needs. I went down a dark spiral path that turned me into someone I did not want to be. I became fed up with looking in the mirror at myself and seeing this person I didn’t recognize. I decided to make some necessary changes. These last couple of years I really took the time to self prioritize and take care of my mental and physical needs. As a result I have become:
More self aware
Happier
A better mother
A better partner
Physically healthier
These changes have created balance and added energy to my days making significant differences in my life!
What is a self-care basket?
A self-care basket is a personalized gift with hand picked goodies to uplift your spirits.
What makes them special is they are an assembled arrangement of items personally tailored to fit the needs of the mind, body, and soul.
With your favorite luxurious bath products and scents to an uplifting book, self-care journal and a gourmet beverage, you can thoughtfully create a basket to encourage relaxation and rejuvenation for whomever is receiving this basket, even if that person is YOU!
Small, medium, or large, these thoughtful gifts can truly inspire self-care in one’s life!
What to put in a self-care basket?
You want to be mindful when creating a great self-care basket. Include various items that cater to different areas of wellness to encourage a holistic experience for the mind, body, and soul. Keep in mind the five senses when creating your basket.
A few simple ideas:
Mind: Inspirational books, puzzles, or brain teasers
Body: Luxurious bath products, lotions, skin care
Soul: Self-Care journal, herbal teas, daily affirmations, chocolates
Senses: Scented candles/diffuser with oils, comfy robe, or cozy socks.
I tend to get extravagant and would fill a basket with ALL these things, but you can pick and choose to create the best basket!
Tips to create an amazing self-care basket that will uplift any spirit:
Think about the recipient. What are their needs? Do they have a busy and stressful life? Do they have any physical, emotional, or mental struggles?
List some helpful and fun things they like that will lift them and make them happy.
Get something they might not splurge on and get for themselves.
Add a personalized touch. A picture frame with a good memory, a handwritten note, or a customized item will add some sentiment and feeling to this basket.
Find the right basket! You can find just the right size basket, small, medium, and large, to meet your needs!
There is also the pre-made gift basket option for those who might not have a ton of extra time!
Mind Self-Care:
Start with something that is stimulating to the mind.
A self motivational book for those that need some inspiration: Designing Destiny: Heartfulness Practices to Find Your Purpose and Fulfill Your Potential
Brain teasers for those that like a thinking challenge: Brain Health Puzzle Book, Mixed Puzzler Book,
Sudoko for those who enjoy numbers.
Adult Coloring Book and Colored pencils. for the one that just needs to escape their thoughts for a bit.
Body Self-Care:
Some affordable and luxurious body care is next.
Dr. Teals Epsom Salt Soaking Solutions are a great way to soak and relax your sore muscles. They come in many different scents to cater to your bodies needs:
Soothe and Sleep- lavender helps calm the mind to promote a better nights sleep.
Relax and Relief- eucalyptus and spearmint relax the mind and reduce stress.
Restore and Replenish- replenish and recharge with mineral rich pink himalayan salt.
Restorative Minerals- magnesium, potassium, and zinc restore and invigorate for healthier looking skin.
Shea Butter & Almond Oil- help soften and smooth dry skin
Glow & Radiance- vitamin C and citrus essential oils uplift mood and promote glowing, youthful skin.
Hemp Seed Oil- deeply moisturize the skin and calm the mind and body.
Nourish & Protect- with coconut oil to moisturize and protect the skin.
Pair these soaking salts with some lovely foaming bath bubbles.
Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt are a great match for these soaking bath salts.
Lavender- soothe and sleep
Black Elderberry- vitamin D to boost and renew the body and uplift the mind.
Hemp Seed Oil-deeply moisturize and soothe the skin while calming the body and mind.
Eucalyptus & Spearmint-relax the body and relieve the mind.
A good sugar scrub, while you soak in your salts and bubbles, will ensure relaxation and radiance.
Shea Butter & Almond Oil- Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil
Black Elderberry-Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Avocado Oil
Hemp Seed Oil-Shea Butter, Hemp Seed Oil, Avocado Oil
Avocado Oil with Ceramides-Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Sweet Almond Oil
Citrus-Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Avocado Oil
Eucalyptus & Spearmint-Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Avocado Oil
Lavender- Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Avocado Oil
Prebiotic Lemon Balm-Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Avocado Oil
After you scrub, a hydrating facial sheet mask will help you to lay back and relax.
Essence Facial Sheet Masks- containing ingredients like: Collagen, Seaweed, Honey, pomegranate, Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, Acai Berry, Tea Tree, Avocado, Ginseng, Cucumber, Charcoal. You are sure to come out with hydrated and rejuvenated skin.
A Luxury Bath Time Body Pillow is absolutely necessary to create the best relaxing experience
Nothing is more important for your skin than moisturizing after you soak and scrub. These ultra moisturizing lotions will make a great addition to your self care basket:
Burts Bees Body Lotion- with milk & honey for normal to dry skin.
Burts Bees Body Lotion- with Cocoa & Cupuaçu for dry skin.
Encourage hand and foot care. We abuse these extremities and neglect them to the max. They need some love too.
Intensive Repairing Gloves- containing coconut oil, milk extract, and hyaluronic acid to heal and repair overworked hands.
Exfoliating Foot Mask- with lavender to moisturize, repair and renew those tired feet.
Once the muscles are relaxed and loosened up, a good massage will ensure to keep them that way. Since this is an at home self care package, try this:
Hand Held Personal Percussion Massager- a deep tissue, portable, cordless, and professional massage gun.
Soul Self Care:
Soothe the soul with some self indulgence. A Self Care Journal is a great gift to encourage routine and maintenance. Upkeep of self care is a step in the direction of better self confidence. While journaling, one might enjoy the comfort of a lovely mug of Herbal Blend Tea.
What’s delicious and ALWAYS great for the soul? Chocolates! With a box of truffles or gourmet chocolate bars for every mood, you can never go wrong adding these delights to a self care basket.
Daily Affirmations with “Affirmations for a Badass" are a great way to say “I care for you and your soul”.
Self-Care for the Senses:
There is nothing better than favorite scents, soft cozy things and a relaxing playlist to top off a serene self-care sesh.
Scented candles like this Mint Leaf + Eucalyptus or this Calming lavender will surely spark a relaxing vibe.
Not into candles? A diffuser with essential oils is a great choice as well.
Wrap it up in all the soft and cozy things that make you feel like you’re embraced in a warm, comfortable hug.
A Plush Robe makes for an ultimate self-care experience. Pair this robe with the fuzziest of socks and you will feel like you’re on clouds. End this wrapped in a cozy blanket with that cup of tea and stimulating book or brain teaser.
Don’t forget; A self care basket isn’t necessarily about what you put into it, but more of a reminder to practice self care with a cozy and comforting space that creates relaxation and peace.
In today’s hustle and bustle; pause, reflect, and recharge with your personalized self-care gift basket or a pre-made self care gift basket. Also, remember that, as important as an at home spa day is, it is crucial to practice that Daily Self Care Routine. Prioritize yourself and discover what you can accomplish.