How to Make a Holiday Self-Care Survival Kit

With the holiday season just around the corner you may want to take a step back and make a list of all the events and activities you have committed to. You know you can’t afford to wing this and keep everything in your head. Stress is no fun. And it can be especially disastrous when stress starts to wreak havoc on your skin and body. Self-care survival kits are great reminders to practice more kindness and self-love and they also make great gifts

Why make a self-care survival kit?

A self-care survival kit is like this basket or box of things that will help you de-stress, relax, unwind, rejuvenate, energize and more. It’s more than just doing a home facial… You are purposefully taking actions to feed your mind, body and soul on a regular basis to avoid the horrible consequences of stress

When life gets busy it’s very easy to forget about yourself which is why you need to make self-care a habit. It is not just something you think about when you have time or when you are already overwhelmed with life. You must make “me time”. This doesn’t mean you have to take the entire day. It can be something as small as enjoying your favorite cup of herbal tea, or going for a stroll around the park or having a meal outside in nature during your lunch break.

If you haven’t been practicing self-care you may be a bit rusty but by taking small steps you will be on your way to having healthier and happier days

What should we include in a self-care survival kit?

Your self-care kit should include things that you love and ideas that you’ve been wanting to try. You can add them in a basket, a box, a bag, a jar, or whatever. Go on Pinterest and search for “survival kits” to see plenty of fun ideas. For this particular survival kit we will recommend nine products and ideas that are proven to heal your mind, body, and soul. Naturally you can add more!

Mind: Feeding your mind isn’t just about what you read. It’s also the things that you think about and things that you say. You need to have discipline to do this especially if you’ve been thinking negative thoughts or if you have surrounded yourself with toxic people. Think about what you like and want and not about what you don’t like and don’t want

1. Learn something new

Learn something new that challenges your thinking and stimulates your mind. It could be a playing a new sport, calling a friend versus texting, reading, or learning a DIY project. The brain can only hold one thought at a time so by doing something new and different you are able to forget about the bad day you had, or the things that are blocking your mind from thinking good thoughts. In addition, learning something helps with self-esteem and confidence

Here’s a great DIY Rose Beauty Mist to boost hydration and calm the skin

Ingredients/supplies

1. Glass spray bottle
2. Fresh roses
3. 2-3 drop of your favorite essential oil (optional)
   1. Lavender: This essential oil helps heal skin irritations and can be used for all skin types. It can Calming for stressed skin.
   2. Geranium: balances oil production, conditions skin and is great for all skin types.
   3. Basil: ideal for sensitive skin.
   4. Frankincense: tones the skin and helps with pigmentation.
   5. Ylang ylang: great for treating oily or acneic skin and helps stimulate cell growth to fight the effects of aging.
   6. Lemongrass: highly effective for acne and large pores.
   7. Cypress: help srepair capillary vein damage often found around the nose area, but it shrinks swollen blood vessels.
   8. Tea tree: has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Great for acneic and oily skin.
   9. Chamomile: helps with cracked, acneic, eczema, inflammation, sensitive skin and rosacea.
   10. Clary sage: fights the signs of aging and reduce puffiness, but it also regulates production of oil for both dry and oily skin.

Instructions

1. Pull the petals off of your roses.
2. Fill the pot with petals and add enough water just to cover them.
3. Let it boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.
4. Boil for a few minutes until the color leaches from the petals.
5. Remove from heat and let water cool.
6. Remove the petals from the water and discard.
7. Pour the water through the coffee filters.
8. Pour into spray bottle.
9. Add 2-3 drops of essential oils. If you have sensitive skin try 1 drop of essential oil and work your way up to 3 drops.
10. Refrigerate and discard after a week

2. Read

How you think is influenced by what you read and what you listen to. The more crap that enters your mind, the more your mind is weakened. Books that have a positive influence on your thinking can be a life changer. Have you read any self-improvement books in the last year? Remember that knowledge is power. Read one page per day over the holidays from a book called The Secret. It can be life changing and inspiring

Body: Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ, weighing in at about 6 pounds and covering a surface area of 18 square feet? What that means is making sure that your skincare routine is equipped with the right products for the season. That goes for what you eat too

3. Heart shaped blooming tea flowers

Start fresh with a tea detox or cleanse. Teabloom flowering teas are not just a drink, they are an experience. Loose green tea leaves are bound with natural edible flowers and hand-sewn into heart shaped tea flowers. They unfurl into beautiful exquisite flowers which steep your tea with healthy antioxidants once hot water is poured over them. These heart-shaped tea blooms are the perfect way to live in the moment

4. Eat foods high in antioxidants

According to Cynthia Sass, nutrition editor of Health Magazine, antioxidants act like little bodyguards to protect our cells from damage that can lead to premature aging and disease. They neutralize harmful free radicals, molecules that play a role in cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and more. Here are some of the best snacks hat are high in antioxidants that you can add in your survival kit.

1. Dark chocolate
2. Pecans
3. Dried cranberries
4. Kale chips

We also recommend Pure Fiji’s Hydrating Multi-Active Serum which is has an amazing botanical antioxidant blend (Virgin Coconut Oil, Diol Oil, Sikeci Oil, Macadamia Oil and Passionflower extract) designed to protect the skin cells from being damaged and slow down the aging

5. Pure Fiji coconut sugar rub

Use it in the shower after cleansing for a natural exfoliation and moisturizing treatment. From the pristine environment of Fiji, comes an extraordinary moisturizing body treatment. Coconut sugar scrub with fresh sugar cane crystals contain naturally occurring alpha hydroxyl to gently buff away aging skin cells, polish your skin clean and unclog pores. Added to this is the deep moisturizing richness of a blend of cold pressed virgin coconut, dilo, macadamia and sikeci oils to nourish, moisturize and protect your beautiful skin - leaving it glowingly healthy. Ideal for all skin types. This generous 16 oz. jar will give you 15-18 treatments. Natural skin care - The Pacific way.

6. Pure Fiji body butter

This super moisturizing cream will instantly revive dry skin during the fall and winter months. A unique blend of cold pressed coconut, dilo, macadamia and sikeci oils rapidly hydrate skin and lock in the moisture to keep your skin perfectly hydrated and nourished. Milk proteins provide an added benefit, setting in motion firming processes to reduce the appearance of fine lines - while soy and passionflower gently soothe and calm stressed skin. This is an excellent cream indulgence all year round

Soul: In order for the mind, body, and soul to be in total balance, it is important to create a positive influence on our state of being

7. Coconut wax candles

One of the more powerful ways to enjoy the beauty of candlelight is during a moment of stillness and solitude, when you turn off the world and tune into yourself. Find a place away from noise and distraction. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, and concentrate on your lungs. Inhale; exhale. Start with one minute. This can have a profound effect on your mood as well as your ability to stay focused on the game plan. Increase in two-minute increments until you reach 20. Don’t do more in one day than you’re willing to do every day. Consistency is key to long-term practice

We also recommend Pure Fiji’s Coconut Wax Candle. Made by gently cooling warm organic coconut oil from the Islands of Fiji, this candle will burn brighter for longer without adding any toxins to the air and leave nothing behind beyond a yearning for a hammock in the sunset and the feel of sand beneath your feet. Soot-free, toxin-free and with more than 50% more burning time... feel free to fall in love with candlelight once again. Approximate 34 hour burn time

8. Coconut milk bath soak

Taking a leisurely bath can go a long way in relaxing your fried and exhausted nerves. Luxuriously smooth and creamy, this hydrating coconut milk soak from Pure Fiji contains a bounty of nutrients essential to the support and good health of your skin. Fresh coconut milk with a blend of exotic nut oils rejuvenate, nourish and rehydrate dry skin leaving it supple smooth and revitalized. Add 1/4 cup to running water and relax in a wave of island magic. Available in the following tropical infusions; coconut, coconut milk and honey, frangipani, guave, mango, noni, orange blossom, pineapple, starfruit, and white gingerlily

9. Play your favorite CD

Music has the ability to affect our emotions, our physical and mental state. So pick a favorite old from your CD collection, dance and sing out loud.

Keep your self-care survival kit somewhere where you can see it every day and it’s easy to get to. The next time you’re having a bad day, head for your kit and see what speaks to you. Whatever you do, don’t hide it away. Your self-care survival kit is a way to remind yourself that you need “me time”. The more you see it, the more you will remember that you are important and eventually it will become a healthy routine. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season from Pure Fiji!