
Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it's often overlooked or neglected. Self-care boxes are an easy way to take care of your mental health and also make great gifts for a family member or friend who could use a mood boost.
Mental health kits come in all shapes and sizes and typically include items such as candles, beauty products, journals, books, and other items tailored to make you feel good. Each box is unique and carefully curated with items that bring joy, encourage relaxation, and promote wellness. Self-care boxes can be one-time purchases or subscription services, and can range from simple packages containing only a few items to luxury boxes filled with expensive goodies. They make great gifts for yourself or someone special in your life who could use a little pampering.
In this ultimate guide to self-care boxes, we have done our best to organize a curated selection of the numerous options available so you can find the right mental health kit for someone you care about. We have mental health care kits for people with lots of different interests and folks from communities that don’t always get the support and affirmation they need from mainstream society. We have included items from small businesses and a few from Amazon if you’re shopping last minute and need fast shipping.
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Self-Care Boxes – Our Top 6 Picks
Need to find the right gift quickly? Here are 6 of our most popular and recommended options that will work for a wide range of people.
Self-Care Boxes for Mental Health and Chronic Illness
At The Ability Toolbox, we are all about supporting people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions to live their best lives. Self-care is so vital for our community, so let’s start the guide with some items geared toward our readers.
General Mental Health Kits and Self-Care Boxes
Self-Esteem and Affirmations Self-Care Boxes and Mental Health Kits
it’s easy to start feeling down on yourself in a society where people judge you based on how you look and where racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism are rampant. These self-care boxes and mental health kits are filled with affirmations to remind you that you are worthy and you are good enough just the way you are.
Depression and Anxiety Mental Health Kits and Self-Care Boxes
Whether you have depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, PTSD, or you’re simply stressed out by these uncertain times we live in, these kits will help you unwind and let go of stressful and intrusive thoughts.
Sleep and Relaxation Mental Health Kits and Self-Care Boxes
Self-care is all about taking time out of your busy schedule to look after yourself. And what better way to do so than with a mental health kit like these?
Autism and ADHD Mental Health Kits and Self-Care Boxes
It’s tough to be neurodivergent and live in neurotypical society where the way you perceive the world is frequently not understood. These self-care kits for people with ADHD, autism, and/or sensory processing disorder can help you cope with sensory overload, calm meltdowns, and allow you to let go of distractions and stop overthinking. All of the items featured in this section are from neurodivergent-owned small businesses!
Looking for more gifts like these? Check out our guide to fidget toys for neurodivergent folks.
Self-Care Boxes for Chronic Illness, Sickness, and Surgery Recovery
If you’re recovering from surgery or battling COVID, the flu, or chronic illness symptoms, these kits can help you pamper yourself. They also make perfect gifts for a loved one who is struggling.
Specialty Self-Care Boxes and Mental Health Kits
Do you ever feel like a lot of self-care boxes are designed for straight white women? Self-care is for everyone, and these kits can help meet the unique needs of folks from marginalized communities and others who tend to get left out of conversations about mental health.
Self-Care Boxes and Mental Health Kits for the LGBTQ+ Community
The Ability Toolbox is not only disabled-owned, it is also queer-owned. We know that self-care is essential for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in the face of rising discrimination and oppressive laws. These mental health care kits remind us that we can value ourselves even when society doesn’t show us the same respect.
Self-Care Boxes and Mental Health Kits for BIPOC Folks
The items in typical self-care boxes sometimes don’t meet the hair and skin needs of people of color, and may not address the unique mental health challenges BIPOC folks face. These kits are designed by and for people of color and have the cultural awareness other boxes may lack.
Self-Care Boxes for Men
So many mental health kits seem to be designed for women and feminine folks. But self-care is just as important for men and masculine people! These self-care boxes for men feature more masculine scents and beard care items.
Art and Crafting Self-Care Boxes
Engaging in creative pursuits is one of the best ways to let go of stress and care for your mental health. We have divided these self-care boxes into sections based on the type of arts and crafts so you can choose the right option for your interests and skill set.
Drawing, Painting, and Coloring Mental Health Kits and Self-Care Boxes
Drawing or using adult coloring books is a great way to process your feelings after a long day or week. Let those colors fly, or make angry black scribbles, it’s all up to you.
Sewing, Knitting, and Crochet Self-Care Boxes
There's something incredibly soothing about the repetitive motions of knitting a sweater or crocheting an adorable amigurumi toy. Several studies have shown that knitting, crocheting, and quilting can reduce anxiety and help stave off cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
Crafting Self-Care Boxes
You have an endless array of choices when it comes to crafting for mental wellness. Here are just a few we haven’t already covered, including origami and diamond painting.
Coffee and Tea Self-Care Boxes
Sometimes you just have to survive on caffeine and courage… And sometimes you need to chill with a cup of herbal tea. Whatever type of self-care drinks you need (nonalcoholic, of course!) you’ll find them in this list.
Hygge Self-Care Boxes
Hygge, pronounced “hoo-gah,” roughly translates to “coziness.” Hygge is a Danish lifestyle concept that focuses on enjoying simple pleasures and creating cozy vibes. Hygge is all about taking the time to slow down and savor life's little pleasures. It can include anything from sipping hot cocoa with a friend to snuggling up with a book in front of the fire. It’s about feeling contentment and creating an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort at home. Hygge is not only practiced in Denmark but has become popular worldwide as people look for ways to find warmth and joy amidst the challenges of everyday life.
Skin and Body Self-Care Boxes
Last but not least, these traditional self-care boxes are filled with items for skin and body care such as soap, facemasks, bath bombs, candles, beauty products, and journals to encourage relaxation and reflection.
If you are looking for an easy way to start taking better care of your mental health, give self-care boxes a try! They make perfect gifts too, so why not surprise someone special with a box of delightful goodies?
Coffee junkie. Spoonie. Writer about all things chronic illness and mental health. Friend of animals everywhere.