DIY Self-Care Jar (+ 100 Self-Care Ideas)

Looking to spice up your self-care habits? Creating a DIY self-care jar is the perfect way to add a new element of excitement to your routine.

Have you ever felt like self-care is something you have to do rather than get to do?

If we fall into the habit of making self-care activities just another thing on our to-do list, they start to lose their appeal.

This is what I call self-care burnout.

Instead of refreshing you and making you feel happier, your self-care routine feels stagnant, boring, and ineffective. Don’t worry… we’re going to solve that today.

If you’re in need of spicing up your self-care life, making a DIY self-care jar is the perfect idea for you.

What is a Self-Care Jar?

A self-care jar is a solo take on the popular date jars we see for couples.

Essentially, a self-care jar is a collection of fun, relaxing, or refreshing self-care ideas that you can pick from whenever you need a pick-me-up.

This is similar to creating a self-care kit, but requires fewer supplies, time, and effort.

A self-care jar can be put together using supplies you likely already have around your home.

It’s a simple, quick, and easy way to add a new spin to your self-care activities!

Why Make a Self-Care Jar?

As mentioned above, a self-care jar is a fun addition to your existing self-care routine. Additionally, creating this jar of self-care ideas can be a really helpful tool in starting a self-care practice.

Whether you routinely engage in self-care actions or not, this can be a great way to ignite refreshed passion and motivation.

This jar adds an element of excitement. In a way, selecting an activity from the jar feels like a little surprise. This game-like element may make you feel more inclined to actually follow through on caring for yourself often and consistently.

How to Make a DIY Self-Care Jar

This is such a fun and simple DIY project. Creating a self-care jar is quick and uses supplies you already have laying around your house. If you’re ready to get started, gather the items listed below and get ready to start creating!

Supplies List

• Clean Mason Jar
• Paper (Colorful for Fun/Color-Coding!)
• Self-Care Brainstorm List
• Pen/Pencil
• Stickers, Washi Tape, or Other Decorative Add-Ons

Optional Substitutions:

• Instead of a Mason Jar, feel free to use any container you’d like. This can be a bowl, mug, box, vase, old candle jar, etc. Anything works!
• Instead of using paper, you can write your self-care ideas on popsicle sticks.
• Instead of using a pen to write your own ideas down, you can print out or type up your self-care acts.
• Instead of creating a physical jar, you can create a digital list and use a random number generator to select an activity when the time comes.

5-Step DIY Self-Care Jar

Have your supplies ready? That’s the very first step.

Now, let’s dive into the 5-step process for creating your own customizable self-care jar.

Step 1. Create Your List of Self-Care Ideas

Below is a list of 100 self-care jar ideas for you to use, adapt, or make your own. This list can be copied directly or customized to your own desires! Get as creative as you want… this is YOUR self-care.

Step 2. Categorize Your Self-Care

If you choose to, you can color code and categories the ideas you put in the jar. Using different colored papers for different categories.

Color-code category ideas:

• Time – divide your ideas into how long they will take (10-min, 20-min, 30-min, 1-hour)
• Self-Love Language – categorize based on the 5 self-love languages (see this list of self-care ideas for each love language)
• 5 Senses – dedicate a color based on different self-care ideas for the 5 senses
• At-Home or Out-and-About – Divide your ideas into at-home activities or ones that get you out of the house
• Time of Day – Separate self-care ideas by the time of day they’ll take place (morning, day, or night)
• Free or Paid – Split the self-care acts into activities that are free and ones that will cost some money
• Solo or Social – Distinguish the solo self-care from the ones that involve socializing with others (there’s a time and place for both, but they’re very different moods!)

Step 3. Write Out the Ideas

Now it’s time to put those ideas into your jar!

Decide how (or if) you want to categorize/color-code your ideas. Choose if you’ll use paper, popsicle sticks, or something else to write your ideas on.

Then, get to writing them out. Feel free to get creative with some fun pens, a fancy font, or additional doodles/artwork.

Make this your own and have fun with it!

Step 4: Decorate and Customize

This is my personal favorite step. Really DIY-it-up here!

Congratulations! You have just completed your DIY self-care jar… and now it’s time to use it.

Select your first activity from your new DIY self-care jar and DO IT!

Set your jar somewhere you will see it and remember to utilize it. Refer back to this jar as much as possible or any time you need a little pick-me-up.

Remember, self-care is essential! Do it often.

100 Self-Care Jar Ideas

Read through this list of 100 ideas for your self-care jar to get inspiration for filling your own jar!

These activities are sorted into 5 different categories of self-care to better help you navigate this master list of ideas: free, quick, solo, social, and “treat yourself“ self-care ideas!

Free Self-Care Ideas

Free is my favorite number. Let’s explore these self-care ideas that won’t cost you a thing.

1. Take a walk
2. Listen to an uplifting podcast
3. Write a letter to a loved one
4. Plan for the upcoming week
5. Make a list of life goals
6. Take a nap
7. Turn off your phone for the day
8. Write something creative in your empty notebooks
9. Play with your pet
10. Get inspired on Pinterest
11. Make a manifestation list
12. Follow a yoga YouTube video
13. Rearrange your room
14. Binge-watch your favorite TV show
15. Detox your Instagram (see my positive Instagram tips)
16. Tidy up your space
17. Cuddle your significant other
18. Take a self-care bath or self-care shower
19. Listen to a happy song and dance around
20. Call a loved one

Quick Self-Care Ideas

Only have a few minutes? These ideas are quick, easy, and effective!

Solo Self-Care Ideas

In need of some alone time? These solo self-care ideas are going to be perfect for you!

1. Have a baking day
2. Do a guided Headspace meditation
3. Get into nature
4. Take yourself on a lunch date
5. Learn something new
6. Clean your house
7. Do a puzzle
8. Order your favorite dinner
9. Meal-prep some time-saving breakfasts or healthy snacks
10. Have a solo dance party
11. Go for a drive
12. Brainstorm your dream vacation
13. Go through your closet and get rid of old clothes
14. Decorate your home for the season/holiday/etc.
15. Do some gardening
16. Cross something off of your to-do list
17. Play a game (board game, phone game, computer game)
18. Color in a coloring book
19. Start a new book
20. Write a short story

Self-care doesn’t have to be done by yourself! Include some loved ones for some social self-care.

1. Call a family member
2. Make plans with a friend for the upcoming week
3. Go out and give someone a compliment
4. Take your work to a public place (coffee shop, etc.)
5. Write a handwritten letter to someone
6. Have a date night with your partner
7. Go to dinner with a friend
8. Send someone a kind text
9. Leave a positive comment on someone’s Facebook/Instagram
10. Reconnect with an old friend
11. Pay it forward at a store/coffee shop
12. Do a partner workout
13. Make time to see your grandparent/parent/family member
14. FaceTime someone who lives far away
15. Go for a walk and talk on the phone
16. Call your best girlfriends for a “girls’ night”
17. Grab coffee with someone you haven’t seen in a while
18. Hangout with your sibling
19. Learn your partner’s love language
20. Give a big hug

Treat Yourself Self-Care Ideas

You deserve to splurge on yourself from time to time. Here are some self-care jar ideas for when you want to treat yourself.

READ: 15 Expensive Things Actually Worth Buying

10. Pick up your favorite dessert
11. Take a virtual workout class on AloMoves
12. Rent a movie and have an at-home movie night
13. Have a couple’s date night with your partner
14. Buy yourself supplies to start a new hobby
15. Get your nails done
16. Go to Target and mindlessly wander
17. Get yourself a gift for your love language
18. Book a massage
19. Have a spa day
20. Get yourself at-home self-care supplies (face mask, hair care, nails, etc.)