Calm Down Kits for Grown-Ups
May 29, 2025
Calm Down Kits for Grown-Ups
(Because Glitter Bottles Don’t Always Cut It)
When you were a kid, maybe you had a glitter bottle or a snowglobe. You know, the kind where you shake it up, watch the glitter swirl around, and somehow - magically - you get distracted and your tantrum turns into a manageable grumble. Fast forward to adulthood, and glitter bottles are... cute. But when your inbox is bursting, your kid is practicing the drums, and your brain is tap-dancing between anxiety and exhaustion? Yeah, glitter isn’t cutting it.
Enter: the Calm Down Kit for Adults. Because we deserve better than some kindergarten-level craft project.
Sensory Soothing Kits (For When Your Nervous System Wants to Set Itself on Fire)
Let’s start with the basics. A Sensory Soothing Kit is your pocket-sized "I-need-to-not-implode" rescue box. It should include something for each of your senses - sight, sound, smell, touch, taste - but can also include anything that helps ground your senses.
I have several things in my soothing kit and make sure I keep the ones I use the most available in my office, home, car, and travel kits. Here’s some ideas for what you want:
- Weighted Blanket or Lap Pad - Because nothing says "calm down" like feeling gently squished like a panini. The weight helps your nervous system chill out and remember it’s not being chased by rabid raccoons.
- Essential Oil Rollerball - Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint - whatever smells like peace and not your co-worker’s microwave fish lunch. Roll it on your wrists, breathe deep, and pretend you’re anywhere but here. Note: if your favorite scent is straight essential oil, you need to dilute most of them so they don’t ‘burn’ you.
- Noise-Canceling Headphones - Goodbye, relentless small talk. Hello, sweet silence or lo-fi beats. It’s like giving your brain a fluffy, soundproof blanket. My personal favorite is ‘pink noise’ but there are all colors of noise, so pick what works best for you. You could also make a ‘calm’ playlist or borrow someone else's - there are a ton of these playlists on Spotify and Amazon Music, etc.
- Silky Scarf or Fidget Objects - Because your hands need something to do that isn’t scrolling social media doom. There are a ton of fidgets out there - find one that you like.
- Fidget Jewelry - I like worry rings and bracelets. This can be any jewelry, really, since we all play with our jewelry at some point. Bonus if it means something positive to you or you get it for this purpose (like my crystal bracelets).
- Cold/Heat Pack - I like the ones that you can heat or cool - and whichever one works best for you! They can also be eye masks, or they are sometimes different shapes and colors.
- Lotion - Whatever smell soothes you - this one can count for both smell and touch. This could be things like lavender, which are generally seen as soothing, or something that has a positive association for you. I like BBW’s aromatherapy collection and Kiehls. .
Sensory regulation is about finding what works for you. Your calm down kit doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. The goal? To gently remind your nervous system it’s safe, even when everything feels like chaos.
Taste & Smell Kit (For When Your Brain Needs a Break)
Stress eating gets a bad rap. But the truth is, taste and smell are powerful ways to ground yourself. So, if you need chocolate or fancy tea to calm down? You do you.
- Dark Chocolate - Antioxidants and delicious. Who says self-care can’t be sweet?
- Spicy or Sour Candies - Sometimes, you need to shock your brain into paying attention to now and not every terrible possibility your imagination’s cooking up.
- Peppermint Tea or Coffee - Warm, comforting, and somehow better than just pounding water. Plus, it makes you look really thoughtful while you’re actually ignoring a thousand notifications.
"I can resist anything except temptation." - Oscar Wilde
Visual Comfort Kit (Because the World Is Too Bright and Too Loud)
If you’re the type who wants to launch their computer into a lake by 2 PM, visual overload might be the issue. Here’s how to soothe your brain without going off-grid.
- Soft, Warm Lighting - Think fairy lights or lamps that don’t scream prison cafeteria. Your eyes will thank you.
- Calming Pictures or Artwork - Whether it’s a serene landscape or a meme that never fails to make you snort, visuals matter.
- Blue Light Glasses - Because technology doesn’t care about your eyeballs, but you can.
Movement Kit (For When Your Body Wants to Riot)
Your nervous system’s jam is motion. You know it. I know it. Sitting still and thinking yourself calm? Rarely works.
- Stress Balls or Putty - Squish, stretch, throw at the wall if necessary. Zero judgment.
- Stretching Bands or Yoga Mat - For when your body feels like a coiled spring. Loosen up, feel human again. I also like Yoga with Adriene’s Office Break - it's all standing (though it is easier if you are wearing pants not a skirt).
- Mini Dance Party - Put on your favorite song and get ridiculous. No one’s watching. Or if they are, make them join in.
"Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order." - Samuel Beckett
Nature Kit (Because It’s the Original Anxiety Buster)
Turns out, fresh air is still free and incredibly effective. Whether you’re wandering the woods or staring out your apartment window at a half-dead plant, nature does something good to your brain.
- Houseplants or Flowers - They purify the air and make you feel slightly more put-together. It’s a win.
- Nature Sounds App or Playlist - No forest nearby? No problem. There’s an app for that. (Just avoid the ones that sound like axe murderers lurking in the bushes.)
- Walking Outside - Yes, I know. Revolutionary. But it works.
"The earth has music for those who listen." - Shakespeare
Build Your Own Calm Down Kit
The best part? Your kit is 100% custom. If you want to carry a rock from the beach you visited once because it feels cool in your hand, do it. Your kit doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you.
Stress and overwhelm are part of life, but suffering doesn’t have to be. Find what calms your storm and stockpile it like it’s gold.
