DIY Get Well Soon Care Package

This Get Well Soon Package is just one of the gift ideas we have on Drugstore Divas.

If you want some other great ideas for gifts for your friends and family, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

DIY Get Well Soon Care Package

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You know your friend best, so you know if they’re someone who wants to read when they’re sick or if they just want to sit in bed, scrolling through their favorite streaming service to find a series to fall asleep to. So, you’re going to want to add your own personal touches to your gift.

However, you need to include the essentials: over the counter medications, fluids, snacks, self-care items, and things to do. So, make sure you include a couple items from each of those categories.

Over The Counter Medications

Any OTC medications and other wellness items that you buy are going to depending on what your friend is sick with. Cough drops for a sore throat, cold medicine and tissues for a cold, cola syrup for an upset stomach, etc.

Personally, I’m a big fan of taking Vitamin C tablets when I’m not feeling well, so I would include some of that. I had a former coworker who swore by zinc lozenges and he almost never got sick, so maybe toss a pack of those in as well.

And, there’s a very good chance you have a ton of lip balm in your stockpile because it’s always free with coupons. Grab one of those and add it to your gift as well.

Travel-Sized Tissues

I don’t care what sickness your friend has, add travel-sized tissues to their get well soon gift. Because honestly, no one ever has small packs of tissues. So, if you gift a pack to your friend, even if they don’t need them right now, they’ll throw the pack in their purse or car and have them handy when someone else needs them.

I say this as someone who currently has a stuffy nose and was gifted two 230-count packs of tissues — and then asked if that would be enough when my father-in-law saw how many I needed.

Soup

A warm bowl of chicken soup is so soothing when you’re not feeling well. Honestly, any home cooked meal that you don’t have to cook yourself is perfect.

Make a large pot of soup in the morning. Let it cool to room temperature, then pack it in an airtight container. If the soup has any specific directions to reheat it, be sure to include those. Quick note: A container that’s disposable so your friend doesn’t have to worry about returning it is good. The soup above is in a mason jar because it actually does last longer that way. But, if you don’t know how to preserve soup in cans, go with a regular container.

Adding a sleeve of crackers is good too because crackers and soup go together so well. Plus, crackers are good for upset stomachs.

Fluids

Staying hydrated is so important when you’re not feeling well. So pick up some drinks for your sick friend.

Water is the best. Sports drinks are okay if they’re mixed with water. If not, they actually have too much sugar to be of benefit. Tea is really soothing on a sore throat, so adding a box of tea bags is a good idea.

Snacks

When you’re sick, you hardly want to eat. So I always feel like whatever calories you can get in your body are good ones. That’s not medical advice. That’s just how I feel. So, when I’m making a get well care package, I’m sticking in a couple mini chocolate bars and some other special treats.

But, you also want to add fruit too. If you’re not sure that your friend will be able to eat all the fruit in time, we love fruit jerky. It’s a full piece of fruit in a really easy to eat form. Plus, it’s wrapped in plastic and keeps for a while.

Self-Care Items

People get run down with life. We don’t take enough time to pause. But when you’re sick, life forces you to slow down. So, it’s a good time for your friend to take a bath with bath bombs. Remind your friend that’s good for sore muscles. And tell your friend to relax with a sheet mask — which also helps with dry skin and your friend’s red nose from using tissues all day.

​So add a bath bomb and sheet mask to your gift.

Maybe your friend wants to throw on some pajamas and cozy socks, get under some soft blankets, and take a nap. So include some fuzzy socks and a lavender eye pillow. And maybe a nice candle that’s scented with calming essential oils. 

Figure out what will help your friend relax and be sure to add a few of those items into your basket.

Entertainment Ideas

Being sick is a good excuse to read a good book or just color in those adult coloring books.

You could stop by the dollar store and pick up a book of crossword puzzles or a sudoku book. Anything to help pass the time.

And, if you’re buying everything else at the grocery store, look for your friend’s favorite magazine at the check out line. They’ll love getting the latest issue.

Assembling A Get Well Soon Basket:

Quick tutorial on how to assemble your get well soon gift.

Start with a cute basket. Honestly, anything can be a basket. You can even upcycle an Amazon box if you really are going frugal. It’s fine. Your friend will be so happy no matter what.

​Line the bottom with some tissue paper or paper shred. Do you have to do this? No. But it looks more like a present this way.

Then, start putting your items in the basket. The best way is to put the larger and heavier items in the back followed by the smaller items near the front. You want to distribute the weight evenly so the basket doesn’t topple over.

Fill out a card and stick that in the front of the basket.

When you have everything where you want it, wrap it in a large cellophane bag and add a ribbon at the top. I personally love the bags shrink wrap when you blow a hair dryer on them. That makes the basket look super professional even though you made it yourself. Do you have to do that? No. But it’s a nice touch.