Comfort Boxes: Simple Self-Care Kits
Described as “an emotional first aid kit”, comfort boxes are a mental health self-care
BY MAX PRITCHARD WITH ART BY BROOKE LAMBRECHT
As we barrel through November, entering a third month of constant classwork and commitments without so much as a day off, it’s fair to say that most students are feeling some degree of burnout.
I’ve certainly had some overwhelming nights this semester. During one of these, I took a break from my work and scrolled through my phone’s gallery. I found a kind video message sent by my Dad, a screenshot of an encouraging comment from a professor, and images of friends and I from the summer. Looking at these made me feel a whole lot better. An idea formed, and I created a small folder of similar good-feelings-inducing imagery, before taking things a step further and collecting any physical notes, papers, or items that bring me comfort. In difficult times since, I have turned to this collection for solace.
Now, I don’t consider myself much of an entrepreneur, so I figured this must be a preexisting trend. After some quick research I found that it is, in the form of comfort boxes, although this idea is not especially well-known, nor is the practice especially common. I would quite like to spread more awareness about these wonderful creations, as I believe they have a lot of potential.
An article by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center gives the best simple definition for comfort boxes, describing them as “an emotional first aid kit”. They can be any shape or size and include a wide range of items; whatever is most helpful to the person making them.
I find it helpful to include items that directly relate to frequent stressors. Schoolwork, for example, can feel overly daunting at times, so having a small collection of successful assignments and kind words from instructors can help, reminding me that, hey, I can do this. Loneliness, especially brought on by missing far-off friends and family, can be partially remedied with letters, birthday or graduation cards, and photo collections.
Beyond these sorts of keepsakes, filling a comfort box with items that appeal to each of the five common senses is widely encouraged. These items are helpful in times of distress for staying grounded - focusing on the present moment and your physical environment rather than being trapped by thoughts. The mementos listed above would count for sight, as would any comforting images or quotes. You can appeal to taste by including comfort foods, gum, or tea bags. Lotions, candles, perfumes, or oils can all lend a calming smell. For sound, you can include CDs or musical trinkets, and perhaps part of your ‘comfort box’ can be a grounding playlist on your phone. And lastly, your box can cater to your sense of touch by including items such as stress balls, modeling clay, or fidget devices.
All of the items above are only suggestions, of course, but the idea is that these boxes can include a variety of ways to calm oneself, which you can alternate using or apply all at once. For some, so many options and small objects may be overwhelming, so they may prefer to keep their box simple and uncluttered. For others, it may be preferable to appeal to many senses at once and have numerous items to switch between, in which case a more varied and filled comfort box would be ideal.
Mental health is immensely difficult to navigate, and overwhelming stress can often feel unmanageable, so having a simple system in place to navigate tough times is extremely useful. This project isn’t a cure to mental health issues, but rather a way to improve difficult moments. Comfort boxes also may not be effective for everyone that tries them, and that’s completely okay. Mental health resources can at times feel confusing, intimidating, or inaccessible, so it is very useful to have a simple and readily-available form of self-care.
As a result, I strongly encourage readers to adopt this practice in their lives, to whatever extent they find helpful. Comfort boxes have the potential to reassure, soothe, minimize distress, and provide relief, and this is absolutely invaluable.
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