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35 Self-Care Gift Basket Ideas for Surviving Challenges

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All Scripture references come from the King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV)."

Who Wouldn’t Love a Self-Care Gift Basket?

Everybody needs a pick-me-up after an extremely vigorous bout of challenges in their life.  You may know someone who is going through cancer treatment, or who has lost a loved one.

Maybe they are the main caregiver for a family member and would loooove a self-care gift basket.  What a great way to show them how thankful you are for all they’re doing to support their loved ones.

What might work for you, may not work for someone else.  There are many different needs that people have. Self-care is described as, any activity that you do, or in our case here, somebody else does for you, to take care of yourself or others. 

But it encompasses so much. It could span from physical, and emotional health and mental well-being to spiritual self-care. Each person is different and their needs will differ depending on the struggle they’re going through.  Nevertheless, I have found some great self-care baskets that any woman would love.  I know this is true because all of these are items on MY self-care gift list!

What types of products would make a heartwarming gift, but still be budget-conscious for anybody to give? 

What type of self-care box ideas would help you rebound from your own challenge or comfort someone else?

Start Your Self-Care Gift Basket with the Right Container

The first thing you’ll need is a container to put all your goodies in.  Of course, you could put a couple of items in a plastic shopping bag. However, if you truly want to lift the spirits of somebody going through some difficult times, then consider that the presentation itself, is a great part of the gift.

Wicker baskets are a great start for putting together self-care gift baskets.  Baskets have so many functions and I believe it’s a great part of the gift. You may prefer these lovely colorful gift boxes that come in different colors.   I love that they have a lid and even come with the filling.

This large 7 1/4 x 5″ x 7 1/4″ is perfect for holding jewelry, candies, smaller clothing accessories, gift cards, small candles, perfume, or cologne.  It comes with a matching ribbon to tie the box closed and red shredded paper on the inside. 

But if you’re using a basket you’ll need something like this crinkle cut paper shred filler. It adds a nice touch. Consider your friend’s favorite colors and styles while gathering materials for her.  Remember,  personalizing her care package shows that you put some time and effort into her wants and needs.

Don’t forget, Amazon Prime has some great perks.  Why not save time and money while putting together your self-care gift basket?

What Should You Put in a Self-Care Gift Basket?

I have broken down this list of ideas for her gift basket into four main categories.  They are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.  These are the areas that are strained the most during the hardest times.

Be sure to save this post for future reference when you are looking for great self-care gift ideas any time of year.

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Self-Care Gift Basket Ideas

Regardless of the needs of your friend, for a well-rounded gift basket, be sure to include items from each of the following four categories.   We never seem to struggle with all things physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual at the same time.  By giving her a variety, you can meet each need at the time that she needs it the most.

Physical Self-Care Box Ideas

Physical self-care addresses helping the body feel better in a physical sense.  The goal is to relieve tension and simply relax and nurture her physical needs. You might remember the “Calgon Moment” which refers to the woman in the bathtub who calmly says “Calgon, take me away!” 

For those of you who are too young for that commercial, Calgon was and I believe still is, a bubble bath.  They have a whole line of bathing products.  In my research, Calgon, Take Me Away, is the brand name now.  I love it!

Chances are, you have a lot in common with the special friend in your life.  That really helps when choosing the products you want her to have.  Because if you choose items that you love, it’s a pretty safe bet that she’ll love them too.  When I think about pampering myself physically, the following self-care box ideas come to mind.

friends sitting on dock, self care gift basket

Korea Skin Care Moisturizing Face Mask Sheets These help diminish signs of dark spots, pigmentation, circles, and puffiness.

Pure Gold Facial Mask

These help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Pure Himalayan Salt Body Scrub

Exfoliating Salt Scrub to Exfoliate, Moisturize, and Deep Cleanse your skin.

Bath Bombs Gift Set

Infused with natural essential oils for a relaxing and fragrant aromatherapy experience from the comfort of home.

Burt’s Bees Classics Gift Set

This includes Cuticle Cream, Hand Salve, Lip Balm, Res-Q Ointment, Hand Repair Cream, and Foot Cream.

Emotional self-care gift basket ideas

Emotional self-care means that you’re caring for her emotional needs.  These could be related to sadness, frustration or stress.  When we fall short in the emotional self-care department, we tend to feel frustrated and burned out. 

However, by creating boundaries and not trying to be all things to all people, our emotions can heal.  When you see someone struggling in this state, here are some emotional self-care gift basket ideas for her.  By the way, remember to add the tissues!

Weekly Self-Care Planner

Packed with prompts and fields to track everything from your hours slept to your daily schedule.

Stress Balls with Motivational Quotes

These help you stay positive even in the most stressful situations.

Scented Soy Candles Gift Set

These help you pamper yourself to create an inviting, relaxing atmosphere for any occasion.

Stress Relief Variety Pack Sampler Bundle

These help soothe tension and support wellness.

Adult Coloring Books Set

This 3 book set is perfect for grownups to color in stress-relieving patterns.

Crayola Colored Pencils

These feature 50 rich, vibrant colors that highlight the details of every coloring book and art project.

 

Mental Self-Care Gift Boxes

Mental self-care helps declutter your mind to help reduce stress.  Cue those mental health days we take from work or the kids take from school.  Folks struggling with this mental strain simply need to get a clear head and a positive mindset.  Check out these care box ideas to help her focus and relax.

Everything is Figureoutable

Written by Marie Forleo, the host of MarieTV and The Marie Forleo Podcast, an indispensable handbook for becoming the creative force of your own life.

Deluxe weekly and monthly life planner

Hit your goals and live happier with this organizer notebook and productivity journal. 

Trust In The Lord Coffee Cup

This is a strong and powerful reminder of the Lord’s tender care and faithful promises to you found in His unchanging word.

Always remember you are braver than you think

This mini-table sign offers a sentiment of encouragement and hope.

Gourmet Coffee Sampler

This is a handpicked selection of 4 gourmet coffees from Seattle’s top small-batch coffee roasters.

Himalayan Salt Lamp

This provides a calming atmosphere to help create a sense of peace and relaxation.

Victory Over Affliction:  30 Mindset Challenges to Motivate You

I couldn’t possibly forget to add my ebook to this list.  I wrote this book to encourage women to overcome the challenges in their lives.  I learned that life goes on after my own personal struggles as a new quadruple amputee.  In this book, I paired my love of inspirational quotes and Scriptures with my experience to become your personal cheerleader.   This ebook offers wonderful encouragement to your struggling friend.  It’s a pick-me-up that would be a great addition to any self-care gift basket for you or your struggling friend.

victory over affliction ebook cover

Spiritual Self-Care Gift Basket Ideas

Spiritual self-care helps us to nurture our relationship with God.  We all need to get closer to the Lord.  Although there are some great resources on this blog for getting closer to God spiritually and learning how to grow your faith, the best gift for growing spiritually always starts with God’s handbook for living, the Holy Bible.

My Creative Bible

This journaling and coloring Bible is an exciting new way to creatively journal your favorite verses in the Bible. 

Prayer Journal for Women

This is a simple yet meaningful journal for women in all seasons of life. 

Strength and Dignity Bookmark

A wonderful way to inspire you each time you open a favorite book.

Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear

Wood Sign for your desktop.

Coffee & Jesus Jumbo Mug

A great way to start your day with daily inspiration.

Verses for Purses

These are Scripture cards, Fruits of the Holy Spirit Bible Verses, to encourage a fruitful spirit on the go.

For a most wonderful gift for anyone, you HAVE to check out God’s Fingerprints. It is labeled as artwork for those who love God. While they have many different varieties of artwork, my favorite, and the one I currently have hanging on my dining room wall, is the 16” x 20” Letterpress edition of God’s Fingerprint.  A truly unique piece of artwork, with one verse from every book of the Bible. Each verse is hand-drawn within a fingerprint.  Each print is printed with a unique letterpress style, creating a subtle indentation on thick fine art paper.  By signing up for their email list, you can receive a 10% off coupon. 

image of God's fingertprint artwork framed

One of my favorite items to put in any self-care gift basket is chocolate.  I believe that chocolate is the answer to whichever type of self-care category that you need help in.  Do you know of any woman who doesn’t get excited over chocolate? I sure don’t!  And if you ever wonder how to cheer me up, this is it.

Godiva assorted chocolate truffles gift box

Chocolate is a great treat that will lift any woman’s mood.

Great Ideas for Social Self-Care Gift Boxes

Social self-care nurtures the connections that you have with the people in your life.  I’m sure you can uplift them with a product or two. However, this gift is less of a physical gift and more of a grab the keys and visit kind of gift, or take them for coffee or out to lunch.  They need you and your love more than anything else.

While most of my recommendations here come from Amazon, it would be a great idea to save yourself the hassle and cost of paying for shipping.  Sign up for Amazon Prime  for a 30-day FREE trial for easy, 2-day delivery. 

Additional perks to your Prime membership include exclusive deals, grocery savings, award-winning movies and TV shows, free games (with Prime Gaming,) as well as free music (with Amazon Music.)  Huge savings for a low price.

Did you know you can also give the gift of an Amazon Prime membership?!  Everybody shops at Amazon and most of the items in this post come from Amazon.  So it’s a great idea to set up your own Prime membership, and then gift one to your friend.  Because truly, when you’re struggling, simplicity is where it’s at. Am I right? 

Don’t forget to save money and grab a whole lot of other perks with Amazon Prime.

What Else Can I Put in a Relaxing Gift Basket?

Homemade gift baskets are great.   But what if you are short on time and you need a great self-care gift basket idea?  Well, keep reading.  Because I’ve added 10 self-care box ideas that were designed by the professionals at Cratejoy.com.  I’ll tell you, having been the recipient of one of these subscription boxes, I’m a huge fan.  

Grab your bible verses here

What I love about subscription boxes, is that you can subscribe for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.  But you can also select a single relaxing spa basket.  A monthly subscription isn’t necessary.  How great is that?

The following are a few of my favorite subscription box gift ideas for friends who are struggling through different challenges in their lives.  These all offer relaxing products to help our overwhelmed friends unwind.  With these choices, you just can’t go wrong.

What Are Your Favorite Self-Care Subscription Box Ideas?

The following subscription boxes come from Crate Joy.  When you subscribe to their mailing list, you’ll receive a coupon for a discount coupon off of selected boxes.  If the option doesn’t pop up for you on the screen, scroll all the way to the bottom of the main page to subscribe and get your offer.  You’ll also notice that in the menu at the top of the site, there’s a link for coupons, which includes all the currently discounted subscription boxes.

The Believers Box is a monthly subscription box for Christian women who are inspired by giving back and supporting those in need.  For every box shipped, they donate a meal to the Christian organization, Food for the Poor.  These curated boxes contain Christian-inspired jewelry and accessories, and other handmade and handpicked items to celebrate her Christian lifestyle.

Fire and Nice is a self-care box handcrafted by talented artisans that are curated with a relaxation and fun theme.  Boxes include candles and self-care basket products such as soaps, bath bombs, and melts.

My Favorite Happy Box brings her self-care and happiness each month. Some of the happiness items include snacks, jewelry, lotions, soaps, candles, and special gifts like water bottles, headbands, facecloths, and more. Also included is a self-care challenge each month to keep her smiling and feeling pretty.

HopeBox – Care for Your Body, Heart, & Soul gives the gift of hope! This box includes wonderful monthly encouragement that includes books, aromatherapy, jewelry, candles, snuggle buddies, organic soaks, scrubs, masks, and more.  Each item is meticulously selected from super-talented artisans, who all have inspiring stories of hope and renewal.  I love that this subscription offers you 3 different size choices that will fit any budget.

Lather and Light Co’s Spa and Soap Boxes are self-care spa boxes that contain wonderful handmade vegan home spa bath goodies. This may include soaps, scrubs, bath teas, candles, body butter, bath salts, bath bombs, salves, lip balms, & surprises! Every month they offer 3-5 handcrafted items. Or you can pick and choose just one soap, one candle, or 3 candles. She’ll love it.

Prosperous Christian Surprise Box WOWZA!  I’m in love with this one.  If you’re a Christian blogger or business owner or your struggling friend is, this box totally hits the mark. This monthly subscription box offers 3-5 personalized super cool things that have your friend’s name and/or business logo. Plus, they add items with Bible Scriptures.  It also includes a marketing magazine, a members area with business training classes, and bi-weekly live webinar training.  Not only will this self-care gift box put a smile on her face, but it’ll help her grow her business too.

Bette’s Box of Blessings My children sent this box to me on my last birthday and I was super impressed.  Bette’s Box of Blessings helps share her love, faith, and God’s Word with wonderful, high-quality Christian gifts. Each box offers great value money-wise.  But more importantly, they offer spiritual value, as they are built around an encouraging theme.  This self-care box includes Christian books, music, greeting cards and more.

Butterfly-Box helps her to grow in her quiet time with God and helps her build intimacy with Christ, as she lives out her faith every day.  Each month’s box has a biblical theme to encourage spiritual growth.  Products include jewelry, artwork, books, decor, personal pampering items, faith-sharing cards, and more.  All products are faith-based or support small Christian businesses.  Be sure to use Code EXCEPTIONAL20 for 20% off her (or your) 1st subscription box.  I’m a huge fan of subscription boxes and this one does not disappoint. 

The Succulent Source I couldn’t resist including this monthly succulent club as I’ve been spending time lately nurturing and propagating new baby succulents.  Every month she’ll get 5 handpicked unique succulents that are part of their 2.5″ matured collection. There are no repeats in variety if you choose the subscription option.  Each succulent comes labeled with a plant name and all the care info she would need. 

Phivi Artisanal Desserts Box How excited would your friend be when she receives her Phivi Box subscription that has an assortment of 8 hand-made full-sized treats? Every month offers a new theme; think dessert pairings and holiday flavors. Her variety pack could include cakes, macaroons, cake pops, cookies and more.  What a great way to pamper her sweet tooth to indulge in her self-care needs.

This box is a bonus for our list of self-care gift boxes.  It’s called  ArtzaBox, the subscription box that follows the footsteps of Jesus and supports the people of Israel.  Each box includes up to nine artisanal goods from the Holy Land and the stories behind them, exclusively for Artza. It is truly a beautiful box that brings the Holy Land closer to home. The kind folks at ArtzaBox are offering our readers a 20% discount with the coupon code EXCEPTIONAL20 at checkout. 

Other gift guides you may be interested in:

Regardless of whether you take any of my self-care gift basket ideas or not, be sure to do something to cheer your struggling friend up. Inspirational items also make unique contributions to a self-care basket.  At the very least, make sure to send your friend or family member a gift card, a handwritten note, or a phone call letting her know how much she means to you and that you’re praying for her.  

Well, there you have it.  This list brings you a bunch of self-care gift basket ideas that you can refer back to for years to come.  I hope that regardless of whether you choose to put together your own self-care box, send her a subscription box or you choose another route, please just let her know that you support her and you care.

We all know that support during the hard times is really important.   Pray for her, reach out and call or text.  Most of all, listen to her needs. Sometimes, all she really wants is a friend who encourages her and shows her some love.  

Related posts: 

What other self-care gift basket ideas do you have for a friend who is going through tough times right now?

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