Create yourself a 'Self-Care Box'
Make self-care simpler!
I know that finding the time for self-care is not easy - especially as a mother. You need to grab little pockets of time for yourself where you can. I often struggle with what I’m going to ‘do’ in these times, and can spend the time that should be for me instead searching for the thing to do - and then basically wasting this precious time. I know other mothers in my classes talk about this problem too. Before you know it the child has woken from a nap, or you’ve just mindlessly scrolled on your phone for half an hour! (yes I’ve been there too) - and that pocket of self-care has simply not happened.
So this is a simple yet brilliant idea to remind you to build a little time into your busy life for some simple self care practices and rituals, and to have lovely things to look after yourself ready at hand. By creating your own self care box.
Even though I do a lot of breathe work, yoga and meditation, which to me is definitely self care, I also need other practices and rituals to help me have time and space just for me. So I have a 'self care box' at home containing the things that uplift me when I need to have that little slice of me-time and well just feel better and more nourished.
You can put in it whatever your find nourishing and uplifting. For me it includes my trusty eye pillow, some essential oils, a book or two (currently poetry and inspiration), headphones to listen to music, plenty of art supplies to I can doodle and draw, a sketch book, a notebook and pen to journal, lovely candles, facial oil for a massage, lovely hand cream to do a simple relaxing hand massage, always some delicious chocolate, relaxing herbal tea, some nail varnish. I change it and add things to it, depending how I’m feeling. But I do find it really useful to have these items always at the ready in one place - like a “ritual in a box” if you like. It really helps me practice self care on a more regular basis. I can just dip into it and see what feels right in that moment.
So here’s my tips for you to create your own self care box. Of course everyone self care box will be different - you need to find what’s you find nourishing and replenishing, that’s the important thing. It’s not about what you ‘should’ do - it’s what makes you feel relaxed and good. Here’s some ideas to help you create your own.
Think about all of your senses, and appeal to them. So what you find a relaxing, lovely or uplifting smell. feel, sound, sight, taste etc
SMELL
I'm really big on scents , and it’s a great way to shift your state as it can have a powerful effect on our mood. If you have been to my Slow Sunday monthly workshops or pregnancy yoga classes you'll know they play a big part in my sessions. I use essential oils and floral waters a lot in these yoga session and also in my home. Some of my favourites at the moment include deep bassey scents like cardamon or vetiver, and more floral ones like neroli or rose. And I love Rosemary to focus the mind, energise and ease concentration. My self-care box always features essential oils, facial oils and candles for that scent fix.
SOUND
You might keep some headphone in your self-care box to remind you that you can escape into music, soundscapes, an audiobook or podcast. Maybe instead you like to get outside and listen to birdsong which can be wonderful for connecting to nature, so you might put in something to remind you to do that. You can find some free recordings I’ve done to help you relax (breath work, meditions and guided relaxations) over on my Insight time page here.
Or indeed some silence can really be golden, so ear plugs might be just the thing instead!
TASTE
Food never fails to bring a smile to my face. And experimenting with taste is a really interesting way to think about self care. You could have to hand your fave food snacks for a little fix (a bar of special chocolate is always a winner in my own self-care box). I also love a really yummy blended tea (I’m really into indian chai right now), so this can be a nice idea to pop in too. It´s particularly comforting if are away from home or in transit (did I mention that you can have a portable version of a self-care box for travel too). If you’re home it can be so nice to create a tea ceremony for yourself. Really savouring the aromas and tastes of your chosen brew. Oh and add cake where appropriate.....
SIGHT
What beauty do you have around you? Can you implement some emergency beauty? Perhaps you can pop out to a woodland or park. Maybe you live by the sea, which never fails to offer that idea of infinity from the vast horizon. As does simply gazing out of the window and up at the sky wherever you are - the changing lights, the drifting clouds. But you don’t need to be outside to get a fix of visual beauty - you can put it in the box. Just take a favourite photograph, image or postcard and keep it in the box. If they make you feel good, nourished and calm, pop them in.
TOUCH
We can find touch and textures really soothing. Get creative - look around your home for things that give you pleasure from touch. Maybe soft duvet feelings, or tactile wooden things or other textures you are drawn to and find soothing.
It may be smooth pebbles collected long ago from a beach, or shiny conkers that you gravitate towards. Or the smooth fur of a pet (but just don't keep that in a box!)
I like to have an eye pillow in my self-care box, the weight of it over my eyes or even forehead while I lie down and do a breath practice or a meditation. Gorgeous.
There are so many things you could have in your own self-care box. And it only takes a little bit of time to put together. Some more ideas:
A notebook & pen
Art supplies - coloured pencils, water colours, modelling clay, pens, whatever works for you
A great fiction book to escape into
Headphones
Poetry
Precious stones or crystals
Scented candle
Essential oils
Beauty supplies - Facial oil or mask, hand cream, bath oil, body creme, Facial mist
Photos of your favourite things or people or memories
Really good chocolate, mmmm
Some music or a soundscape that makes you smile
An eye pillow
A scalp massager
Anything sentimental that makes you feel good
You can also create “mini self care boxes” and place them in different places. For example, by by your bed you could add a self care snooze-ease box, containing say an eye pillow, some lavender, chamomile or frankincense oil, magnesium in various forms (spray or epsom salts for the bath), some body lotion for a little self massage. Other places to keep mini self-care boxes might be at the office, or in the car, or create one for a holiday.
There are so many ways to create a self care box - don´t be afraid to think *ahem* outside the box and bring some self care into your everyday environments as and when you need.
I hope this helps you feel inspired to create your own self-care box and use it as often as you can.
Take care of you. Susan x