This week has been a challenging one – I’ve been physically, emotionally and mentally drained. My pain levels were high, my fatigue severe and I could only focus on my flaws. I lost my ability to smile. Talking to friends really helped me, they listened and offered advice and hugs. Thank you, I am blessed.
It got me thinking – what’s a life with no joy, positivity or self-appreciation? Sometimes we get lost in our health problems, in pleasing others, money worries, work demands and family and relationship issues, we often forget about those things in life that make us happy.
Spending time being good to yourself might help you discover a more positive, peaceful and happy you.
It’s important for our health and well-being to take time out to relax, taking time out for yourself is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Focusing on putting others first in your life often leads to you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and tired. Giving yourself some time alone can destress and revitalize you. Being in constant pain and feeling fatigued is a challenge and sometimes Fibromyalgia fighters need a ‘cuddle’ day/evening/hour – that time when you need to retreat from the world, take care of yourself and recharge your batteries until you are ready to re-emerge and fight again.
A friend of mine, Lyndsey, has chronic back pain, this morning we talked and giggled about what we would put in our chronic pain cheer up kit, we eventually called it our ‘cuddle basket’.
I was inspired by our chat and in preparation for any future much needed cuddle time I fetched an unused basket from storage and filled it with my cheer up kit. Here is my overflowing Fibromyalgia cuddle basket…
- Kindle
- Chocolate
- Scented candle
- Comfy blanket
- Tea tree face mask
- A good movie
- Family photos
- Sanctuary body lotion
- Lavender pillow mist
- Coffee
- Homemade lemon scrub
- My favourite perfume: Gucci Guilty
- Art therapy colouring book
- Comfy PJs
- Clinique liquid facial soap
- Homemade foot scrub
- Sleep balm
- Homemade soap
- DVD boxset
- Sensuous body scrub
- Microwave wheat bag – my owl
- Hot chocolate
- Jellies
- Thick comfy socks
- Deep repair for my hair
- Heating oil treatment for my hair
- Strawberry and raspberry herbal tea
- Satsuma body mist
- Fragrance oils for my aroma diffuser and humidifier (I love Satsuma and also sandalwood and ginger)
As you can see I’m more than ready for some cuddle time.
What would you put in your cuddle basket?
Keep smiling :)
Claire
x
What an adorable idea. Wishing you the best of happiness and health!
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Thanks x
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Lovely idea ! Much the same as my cuddle basket would be, but I would have to have my newly acquired electric under blanket. It relaxes me and the warmth is amazing for helping to lull me into sleep. Pure bliss ahhhhhh!!!!!!
PS Maltesers or so comforting & yummy !
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An electric blanket is bliss :) x
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I love the idea of a cuddle basket. Mine would have some lovely Liz Earle products and some good quality dark chocolate.
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Oooh I love Liz Earle products :) Good choice x
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What a lovely idea!! I would probably put little pot with succulent as I love looking at plants and needle felting set… shaping wool with a needle relaxes me a lot ;)
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Good idea :) x
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Sorry you have had such a rough week. It’s nearly half term so hopefully you get a chance to use that delightful cuddle basket and recharge your battery! Just looking at your basket makes me smile😀 great idea x
I would add sheepskin slippers!
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Great add Caroline :) x
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I love the idea of a Fibro cuddle basket! Filling it up with some favorite things and ways to make yourself feel a little bit better is such a nice boost. This is a great idea for friends who are battling any kind of chronic pain!
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Yes, it would make a lovely gift too :) x
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Thanks for mentioning our chat and idea and I’m glad that they helped you! In my cuddle basket, I would put:
1. A big galaxy bar.
2. my iPad
3. My 3DS and fave games.
4. A pack of Morrisons/M&S choc chips cookies.
5. My fave Lush bath bombs.
6. My family (so I can hug them gently when in pain).
7. My Alexandra technique teacher (so that she can get rid of what’s left of my pain when the spasms pass and because she makes me laugh).
8. Photos of cute dogs and cats.
9. A photo of the seaside.
10. My thick fleeces (to snuggle up in).
11. You (or print outs of your blog).
12. My they think it’s all over dvd.
13. My fave book.
14. My loom band kit.
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Lol I’m giggling at number 11 :) Great list! I love lush products xx
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Sorry to hear you have had a tough week, That looks like an amazing basket. I think I would have kindle, chocolate, my husband (for foot massages) more chocolate, and a colouring book and pencils. And probably a lot more things too
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You had me at Miranda!😄
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I love Miranda, I’m quite clumsy like she is x
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Love the idea! wishing you all the best <3
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WOW! What an amazing basket that is. You literally thought of everything!
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I sure am ready for the next time I need it :) x
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Thank you x
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That cuddle basket is a good idea! I’m not diagnosed with fibro, but think I could be dealing with it right now. I’ll need to remember this post!
Amanda | thedeerandthewolf.com
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Ooooooooooooooh. This is such a good idea. I should put one together for when my boyfriend wonders what he can do to help and I don’t have any ideas for him. :)
He always makes me some jasmine tea though. That seems to help quite a bit. ;)
Hope you have a better week. Last week was a really rough one for me as well. Here’s to better weeks for all of us!
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Definitely put one together. Your boyfriend sounds like a keeper :) Here’s to a better week xx
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I am glad I found your blog. I too suffer from fibromyalgia. It’s something that friends and family do not understand. I was reading your blog checking off (in my head) that I suffer the same pains. Thank you for writing about it.
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Thank you :) I think you only really understand if you go through the pain and fatigue every day. Keep fighting and smiling when you can :) xx
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Sorry you are going through this. Thank goodness for friends and loved ones to help you through it!
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Friends are fab x
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Oh my gosh this is such an amazing idea! I wonder if I could get someone to swap one with me hmmmm. x
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Hope you are feeling better soon. I know many of us could use me time and one of these amazing baskets!
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What a fantastic idea and I love what you included too. This isn’t restricted to Fibro sufferers either. I think most people would benefit from a cuddle basket. Mine would contain chocolate, bubble bath, a scented candle (one of those cool ones with jewellery in them), a chick lit novel, a classic novel (Little Women or Anne of Green Gables), a movie (something funny), some real life magazines and a notepad.
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I agree everyone should have one :) I love your list, especially the candle with jewellery! I wish I could afford one x
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Great post. Loving the goodies in the basket.
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That is more of a trolley than a basket!! What would I put in my basket? Bottle of Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Sex & The City box set, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Mint Matchmakers… iPhone and Chromebook
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It is overflowing! lol! :) x
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I think they are awesome ideas. People with fibromyalgia definitely need cuddle baskets like these from time to time.
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I like the idea of a cuddle kit – such a fab idea. I’d have to have one of those giant choc chip cookies in mine, or maybe a bag of them :)
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Oooh that does sound good :) x
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Lovely. Great tips. My friend has a lovely blog that you may find inspiring about chronic illness. It’s chronicallywhole.com Enjoy!
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Oooh I’ll have to check it out :) x
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I hope you feel at least a little bit better soon Claire, your cuddle basket is totally adorable :D
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There’s not one thing I would change from your basket! I would love to receive that when I was feeling low or in pain. x
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Thanks x
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This is such a great idea! I don’t have fibromyalgia, but I do have lupus, which is somewhat similar. The pain is not nearly as bad as fibromyalgia, but it is close and unbearable at times. I think I’ll create my own lupus basket! Thanks for sharing! (And I hope you feel better soon!)
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Thanks :) Definitely create your own cuddle basket xx
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II love the cozy socks and book! Those are must items for when you aren’t feeling great. I’d say a Redbox gift card would be nice!
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I love that idea! I’ve not been diagnosed with fibromyalgia though I do have symptoms (they’ve diagnosed me with things like IBS and depression so basically they don’t know / won’t confirm what’s wrong) but a close friend is diagnosed and struggles like all sufferers do each and every day so this is something I’ll definitely consider doing.
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I love the idea of a cuddle basket to help get through difficult times. As well as all the great stuff everybody else has mentioned mine would have knitting needles, yarn and a pattern complicated enough to require all my attention.
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Yes distraction is a good thing x
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All of those things sound lovely and would make for a peaceful rest!
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I love this idea I need a Me time too! Because of the cold weather here I need to have my snuggie, hot cocoa my ipad playing yoga music ,a book that’s all and it completes my day.
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Sounds lovely x
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I’m not sure what I’d put in my basket because my fibromyalgia pain is extreme today and I can’t think lol. thanks for the great cuddle basket ideas.
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Sending you a gentle hug, I hope your day gets better xx
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So sorry you are not feeling okay. The cuddle basket is a nice idea. Such a nice thing to do if my daughter ever gets sick.
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Hope you feel better soon. That’s lots of stuff in your basket. :)
Mine would be my cellphone, graham crackers, a good book, comfy socks, facial cleanser….etc. :)
Mhar Sefcik
http://www.brightbundles.com/
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Good list x
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What an amazing idea! I love your basket!
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Thanks x
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What a lovely idea! I’m so sorry it was a rough week too… A good book in bed and some quiet time would be in my basket! ;)
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Sounds good :) x
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Wonderful idea really! Taking care of yourself when you feel so badly is very important, i love the items you chose for your basket.
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Thanks x
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Your list is filled with items to make one happy. Sending you warm wishes and all the strength you need.
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This is such a great idea of Cuddle Basket & Loving the goodies in the basket.
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That’s a pretty amazing cuddle basket! I would have chocolate, rich face cream, a good book, film and a scented candle.
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I love the idea of making a basket just for yourself! I just put up a blog post all about self love today and I’m going to have to add “make a cuddle basket” to my personal list. What a super idea!
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This is such a great idea, helps a person stay positive in their ordeal. Nobody needs to suffer all their lives.
And I really love what’s in your basket. Thanks for sharing:)
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Oh bless you I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell but well done for remaining for positive and I love this cuddle basket idea. As someone who suffers with chronic pain and fatigue among among other issues this would be perfect for making me feel more positive x
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I think that a cuddle basket sounds like a brilliant idea, and I love your selection – it looks just about perfect!
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Spending time being good to yourself is so important! Just yesterday I had a night off from blogging because I had a really bad mental health day. Feel so much better for it today :)
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You should get into doing Cuddle Hampers!
I’d have a lavender eye mask, my iPod, and I’d lather myself with lavender oil and lie there and sink away into bliss.
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Sorry to hear you’ve had a tough week. I love this idea of a ‘cuddle basket’ and can be used for many different things I think. I don’t know much about Fibro so I’ll be reading some of your other posts to find out more.
Laura x
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So sorry you are in pain. Being in chronic pain really does influence your mood and the relationships you maintain with others. I would pack my green tea and lavender scented oil!
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What a really lovely idea. I always want a soft fleece blanket for extra warmth when I am in need of some TLC x
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