27 Self-Care Gifts for Anyone on the Verge of Burnout

After a long day, sometimes all you need to quell your overwhelm is a foot massage. This vibrating, foot-massaging robot may be perfect for those after-work self-care sessions. It also heats up, which is a soothing plus!

Nothing says, “I care about you caring for yourself,” like some soup. It’s comforting! It’s warm! This package from Spoonful of Comfort includes soup (and/or mac n’ cheese), rolls, and cookies. (There are options for vegan and gluten-free folks too.) It also comes with a ladle because why not?! If you’re feeling generous, you can add other nice treats (think: fuzzy socks, tea, cough drops, etc.) for an extra fee.

Take your cozy era to the next level with every bed-rotter’s dream: a blanket that doubles as a hoodie. Being responsible is already hard, so why make it more miserable by being cold? Whether you’re reading for school, doing taxes, or paying bills, throwing this blanket hoodie on turns up the chill by warming you up.

Life can feel a lot more manageable when the chaos is organized, and this limited-edition planner box is made for that job. There’s a 90-page journal with three different inserts to help you plan, reflect, and write in whatever way makes sense for you. You’ll also get mood stickers, gel pens, and more to organize your schedule and your thoughts.

We all need a personal cheerleader to drown out negative thoughts and validate our internal struggles. This deck of affirmations, made to fend off crummy self-talk or imposter syndrome, does exactly that. Just give them a shuffle and pick a card to remind yourself who the eff you are. One of our favorites? “Listen B*tch, I know it’s not easy but you were not built to break.”

Phones are great, but they can also be a one-stop shop for disconnection and doomscrolling. With this lockbox, you can trap your device (literally) for minutes, hours, or days. That screen-free time makes space for you to connect with people around you, get things done without distraction, and do fun non-internet things. 

Preoccupying yourself with plotlines is a solid way to recover when reality feels like too much. If you’ve got a friend who loves this specific dissociation tactic, add this mystery book self-care package to cart. Just choose their favorite genre, and Beyond the Trope will send a highly-rated title and stuff to enhance the reading experience, like a highlighter, a bookmark, a tea packet, and stickers.   

For the person whose only time to decompress is in the shower, these cute cubes can make that moment count. Toss them in the tub, and they’ll slowly melt, releasing feel-good scents like rosemary lemon, orange grapefruit, lavender, or eucalyptus peppermint. 

That friend who’s always yapping about their terrible ex, sad salary, and lousy roommate could benefit from a lil gratitude practice. This journal from Papier has prompts for morning and nighttime reflection, encouraging users to list out a few things they’re grateful for. It also includes thought-reframing exercises, motivational quotes, and space to reflect on the past month.

Whether you’re a chronic people pleaser or you know someone who is, this book by therapist Terri Cole, LCSW, explains how to say, “No, thanks.” With helpful scripts and real-life stories from Cole’s clinical and personal experience, this is basically a masterclass in Boundaries 101. You’ll learn how to set limits and manage the guilt that can come after.

Tension can seriously crush your vibes—especially if it’s in your face. But you can melt it away with these goggle, which provide heated temple and eye massage once you slide them on. The massage targets eye strain, headaches, and stress—you know, the side effects of staring at a screen all day. 

The stress-magnet in your life could probably use an outlet for their anxious, fidgety energy—and this Bearaby stress ball is ideal for that. The knotted little guy (the smallest of the Hugget pillows) is made with squash-able foam and fits in their hand. So anytime they’re tempted to pick at their cuticles or tap their pen (ugh) they can reach for this cute desk accessory instead.

For the die-hard journaler, these scented pens will level up the self-care vibes of their favorite ritual. With scents like “walk in the woods” and “crisp mountain air,” they might wonder why they’ve gone this long without a pen that doubles as aromatherapy. Honestly, same! 

We all know somebody who hates their job, and those are the people who maybe need a self-care gift the most, right? Enter: this very affordable adult coloring book that will make them laugh and feel seen. Throw in some colored pencils, and let ’em at it. 

The idea of a daily mindfulness practice sounds cool and helpful, but it can easily fall to the bottom of your to-do list. If you can relate (or know someone who can), this breathing exercise guide is perfect. Pop it on your desk as a reminder to get mindful; then, when you’ve got a few minutes, press the button on the bottom to turn it on. It’ll change color to signal when to inhale and when to exhale—and you can choose from two different breathing techniques. Easy! 

For those deadline-trapped at their desk all day, taking a two-minute breather can make a big difference. When they’re feeling especially overwhelmed—or they’ve got a second in between meetings—they can pull a card for further instructions. From chair-friendly yoga poses to breathing techniques and meditations, there’s plenty to choose from. 

Sometimes you can’t fully get into relaxation mode because your roommate is playing Call of Duty behind paper-thin walls. These noise-canceling headphones will block out those sounds as you listen to your favorite audiobook, meditate, or nap with a nature-themed playlist on repeat. 

Another gift for your friend who loves to journal: writing prompt cards. This deck of 70 thought-starters focuses on finding ~balance~ to fight burnout. Love that! Whether they journal daily or just when they’re feeling off, these cards will help them reflect on making time for rest and their biggest accomplishments.

Ice baths are officially A Thing. If you know someone who agrees (or you’re the one who talks about cold plunge benefits to anyone who will listen), this personal cold plunge might be your new favorite self-care hack. Fill this insulated tub up, add ice, and jump in. Five minutes later, you might be feeling chiller than ever.

If you’re the kind of person who uses quote art from Instagram as your phone’s lock screen, you’re going to love this illustrated book. When you’re feeling uninspired or sad, crack open this collection of uplifting poems by IG superstar Morgan Harper Nichols for a quick hit of inspiration. 

The pressure of a weighted blanket can feel amazing to folks filled with anxiety. This one from Avocado comes in four neutral colors that’ll match any aesthetic, and its hand-knit texture looks as luxe as it feels. 

Know somebody who can never sleep comfortably? Do them a solid with this fancy pillow from Moon Pod. Because it’s made up of little beans, this pillow conforms to the shape of your head and neck. That’s a game changer for the squirmy among us (and the people they sleep next to).

If spending time with your people brings you back to life, this conversation-starter card game is for you. With deep questions like, “What motivates you to get up every morning?” and, “What makes you smile?” your hangouts are bound to go beyond the get-to-know-you small talk we’re all used to. 

Whether heated or frozen, this neck wrap has major self-care potential for anxious people. Pop it in the microwave for a warm compress that melts away tense shoulders, or keep it in the freezer for a mid-anxiety spiral cooldown.

If a free slot on your calendar gives you analysis paralysis, rolling these activity dice can help you make self-care moves without the decision fatigue. Just roll one of the nine dice (each representing a different self-care category: relaxation, connection, creativity, movement, mindfulness, nature, food, growth, and inspiration) and you’ll get a self-care assignment, like writing a gratitude list, cooking, or taking a bath.

If you’ve got a friend who is always complaining about their sore shoulders (and the micro-managing boss responsible for said pain), this one’s for them. Therabody’s handheld massage tool is small enough to toss in a backpack and quiet enough to bust out during the workday. Turn it on and roll it across sore muscles for a major release. For best results, pair it with a new employer. 

When you’re in the thick of life, it’s easy to forget to check in on yourself. This journal, which features one self-care question per day (hence the name), enables you to make time for that important habit. Each question focuses on how you’re feeling and what you need, so you can reflect and take action.