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How to make a self-care toolkit - tips from The Mix ✨
Gemma
Community Manager Posts: 605 Incredible Poster
How to make a self-care toolkit 🌻📚🎨🕯
Inspired by our young volunteer, we have put together the ultimate guide to help us face difficult emotions, such as loneliness and anxiety.
Tell us what you'd put in your self-care toolkit below or share this thread with a friend who it may help 💙
You can also view the post over on our Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/themixuk
Image descriptions in the spoiler below:
Inspired by our young volunteer, we have put together the ultimate guide to help us face difficult emotions, such as loneliness and anxiety.
Tell us what you'd put in your self-care toolkit below or share this thread with a friend who it may help 💙
You can also view the post over on our Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/themixuk
Image descriptions in the spoiler below:
Image 1:
The heading of the image reads, 'How to make a self-care toolkit'. Below this, the sub-heading of the image reads, 'Inspired by a young volunteer'. To the right of the sub-heading, there is an illustration of a self-care toolkit in the form of a box with The Mix logo on the front, filled with items such as a candle, two colouring pencils, two books, a flower, hot water bottle, and sensory toy. In the background, there are illustrations of clouds and a sun.
Image 2:
The image has a title that reads, 'What is a self-care toolkit?' Below this, there is text that reads, 'Exactly what it sounds like! A self-care toolkit is a box of games, comfort items and toys that will help alleviate difficult emotions, such as loneliness, anxiety, depression or disassociation.' There are illustrations of sensory toys and a flower. The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 3:
The image has a title that reads, 'How do I make a self-care toolkit?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'If you're crafty, you can decorate a cardboard box, or just use a tote bag. Make a big box to keep in your room, and a grab sized one that is small enough to carry in your bag/pockets. It should be chock-full of bits and bobs that will put a smile on your face. Personalise it to your individual needs.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 4:
The image has a title that reads, 'What do I put in my self-care toolkit?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Include stuff that will soothe, stimulate or ground you. If you struggle with feeling numb, you could have lots of grounding items. If you get anxious, you could have some soothing stuff too. If your mood gets really low, you could have a few things that you find sensorily stimulating as well.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 5:
The image has a title that reads, 'Ideas for your self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Touch: Slime, putty, stress ball, squashies, beanie toys, fidget toys, fluffy toys, bendy or tactile key chains, marbles. Taste: Sour candy, marshmallow treats, mints, gum. Smell: Scented hand cream, candles, body spray, essential oils, potpourri. Sound: Music box, foil, bell, tambourine, saltshaker. Sight: Fairy lights, Christmas decorations, bubbles, glitter, marbles, costume jewellery, beads, etch-a-sketch, crayons, colouring book, pictures of loved ones.'
Image 6:
The image has a title that reads, 'Ideas for a portable self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Strongly scented lip balm - you could dig out a peppermint lip balm if you like the tingling sensation. Fluffy key chain - A mini fluffy pom pom key chain is soft and soothing. Marble key chain - A smooth glass marble key chain is always cold and reflects light which you might find visually stimulating. Mini notebook - You can write down little things that you're grateful for, or made you smile during the day.'
Image 7:
The image has a title that reads, 'Top tips for making a self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Top tip: Promise you won't laugh? Ok good. A weird but affordable way to get your hands on stimulating stuff, if you don't have it at home, is to buy baby toys. Baby toys are cheaper and more widely available than specially made sensory toys.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 8:
The image has text that reads, 'If you struggle to make decisions, scribble down all the things you want to do on a piece of paper, tear it up and put the scraps in a jar. It's sort of like a lucky dip. Pop this jar in your self-care toolkit so you can refer to it when you get overwhelmed with options.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 9:
The image has text that reads, 'Top tip: You know those naff Christmas cracker presents you always chuck away by Boxing Day? Hang on to them. Christmas crackers often have mini tactile games and nostalgic dad jokes that you might just be thankful for next time you're under-stimulated.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 10:
The image has a title that reads, 'Looking for more self-care tips?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Head to themix.org.uk/mental-health/looking-after-yourself.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
The heading of the image reads, 'How to make a self-care toolkit'. Below this, the sub-heading of the image reads, 'Inspired by a young volunteer'. To the right of the sub-heading, there is an illustration of a self-care toolkit in the form of a box with The Mix logo on the front, filled with items such as a candle, two colouring pencils, two books, a flower, hot water bottle, and sensory toy. In the background, there are illustrations of clouds and a sun.
Image 2:
The image has a title that reads, 'What is a self-care toolkit?' Below this, there is text that reads, 'Exactly what it sounds like! A self-care toolkit is a box of games, comfort items and toys that will help alleviate difficult emotions, such as loneliness, anxiety, depression or disassociation.' There are illustrations of sensory toys and a flower. The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 3:
The image has a title that reads, 'How do I make a self-care toolkit?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'If you're crafty, you can decorate a cardboard box, or just use a tote bag. Make a big box to keep in your room, and a grab sized one that is small enough to carry in your bag/pockets. It should be chock-full of bits and bobs that will put a smile on your face. Personalise it to your individual needs.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 4:
The image has a title that reads, 'What do I put in my self-care toolkit?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Include stuff that will soothe, stimulate or ground you. If you struggle with feeling numb, you could have lots of grounding items. If you get anxious, you could have some soothing stuff too. If your mood gets really low, you could have a few things that you find sensorily stimulating as well.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 5:
The image has a title that reads, 'Ideas for your self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Touch: Slime, putty, stress ball, squashies, beanie toys, fidget toys, fluffy toys, bendy or tactile key chains, marbles. Taste: Sour candy, marshmallow treats, mints, gum. Smell: Scented hand cream, candles, body spray, essential oils, potpourri. Sound: Music box, foil, bell, tambourine, saltshaker. Sight: Fairy lights, Christmas decorations, bubbles, glitter, marbles, costume jewellery, beads, etch-a-sketch, crayons, colouring book, pictures of loved ones.'
Image 6:
The image has a title that reads, 'Ideas for a portable self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Strongly scented lip balm - you could dig out a peppermint lip balm if you like the tingling sensation. Fluffy key chain - A mini fluffy pom pom key chain is soft and soothing. Marble key chain - A smooth glass marble key chain is always cold and reflects light which you might find visually stimulating. Mini notebook - You can write down little things that you're grateful for, or made you smile during the day.'
Image 7:
The image has a title that reads, 'Top tips for making a self-care toolkit'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Top tip: Promise you won't laugh? Ok good. A weird but affordable way to get your hands on stimulating stuff, if you don't have it at home, is to buy baby toys. Baby toys are cheaper and more widely available than specially made sensory toys.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 8:
The image has text that reads, 'If you struggle to make decisions, scribble down all the things you want to do on a piece of paper, tear it up and put the scraps in a jar. It's sort of like a lucky dip. Pop this jar in your self-care toolkit so you can refer to it when you get overwhelmed with options.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 9:
The image has text that reads, 'Top tip: You know those naff Christmas cracker presents you always chuck away by Boxing Day? Hang on to them. Christmas crackers often have mini tactile games and nostalgic dad jokes that you might just be thankful for next time you're under-stimulated.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
Image 10:
The image has a title that reads, 'Looking for more self-care tips?'. Below this, there is text that reads, 'Head to themix.org.uk/mental-health/looking-after-yourself.' The Mix logo sits in the bottom centre of the image.
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