DIY Eco Stressless Advent Calendar

Part of our Less Stress Series

April is National Stress Awareness Month, so help a loved one chill out a bit with this stressless advent calendar. Each day a gift is opened that helps promote relaxation and calm. You can use this calendar and change the theme for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.

What You’ll Need

• 30-inch tree branch
• Brown paper bags, drawstring bag, wrapping paper or scrap paper
• 1 standard hole punch
• Ribbon, twine or string
• Scissors
• 1 nail
• Hammer
• Chalkboard paper (available at craft stores)
• Chalk or a paint marker
• 1-inch circle hole punch
• Black Sharpie
• Double-sided sticky tape
• Various stress-reducing gifts. We included the following:
• Lavender deodorant
• Relaxing mineral bath salts
• Homeopathic Moon Drops
• Natural Calm travel packets
• Vegan foot balm
• Calming eye mask
• Candles
• Sunflower seeds to plant a garden
• Tulsi Lemon Ginger tea
• Honey Lavender Stress Relief tea
• Lip Rescue Ultra Hydrating lip balm
• Yes to Cucumbers soothing facial wipes

Instructions

1. Find a 30-inch tree branch.
2. Cut a 3-foot piece of twine or ribbon and tie a knot on each end of the tree branch.
3. Find a place to hang your calendar, locate the center point it will hang from and hammer in a nail.
4. Lay out your gifts and wrap them in scrap paper, or insert them into a brown paper bag or drawstring bag.
5. If you used wrapping paper or paper bags, punch a hole in the top and cut a 12-inch piece of twine, ribbon or string and thread it through the hole. Once it’s threaded, tie it around the tree branch. If you used drawstring bags, tie a bow and thread the drawstring or ribbon through the bow and tie it to the branch.
6. Punch circles out of the chalkboard paper with the 1-inch hole punch. Using chalk or a paint marker, write on the circles the numbers corresponding to the days of the month on which each gift will be opened. Use double-sided sticky tape to attach the circles to the drawstring bags, wrapping paper or paper bags.
7. Now you’re ready to hang your gifts for 30 days to a calmer you.