Why should teens and young adults practice self-care?
Teens should practice self-care because it
- Reduces anxiety and stress
- Builds self-love and self-awareness
- Improves mood
- Strengthens emotional health
- Boosts energy levels
- Improves sleep quality
- Strengthens the immune system
- Promotes healthy eating habits
- Enhances good relationships with family members
- Improves focus and attention
The endless array of social media, technology, on demand entertainment, and 24/7 news can be overwhelming for anyone. Add in the stress of school, work, and relationships, and it’s no wonder that so many young people today are struggling to take care of themselves.
Self-care is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for teens and young adults who are still developing their identity and learning how to cope with life’s demands. By taking care of themselves, young people can develop the strength and resilience they need to deal with whatever is thrown their way.
Is self-care important for a young person?
Yes, self-care is not only important, but also vital because
- Many young people in their early adulthood feel pressure to conform to society’s expectations
- Teenagers face fears and pressures about their future
- They may feel unstable emotionally because of hormones and insecurity
- Social media can overwhelm them with unrealistic expectations of beauty and success
Because of this, many struggle deeply with mental health issues. When teens and young adults neglect their own needs, they are more likely to experience problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, poor self-care can lead to physical health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Self-care is so essential for young people, because it helps them to not only cope with all these pressures but sets them up to establish a practice that they can maintain into their adult years, when the demands of life tend to only become greater.
How should teenagers take care of themselves?
Teenagers should take care of themselves by
- Getting enough sleep
- Staying hydrated
- Eating healthy foods
- Exercising regularly
- Spending time outdoors
- Limiting screen time
- Taking breaks from social media
- Practicing meditation or mindfulness
- Developing a hobby
- Finding a support system
- Writing a self-care or self-discovery journal
- Finding a creative outlet
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how teenagers should practice self-care, as different people will have different needs and preferences. Below we have elaborated on our favourite self-care tips and we have broken them down into categories for ease.
Physical Self-Care Tips:
Get enough sleep.
This is probably the most important and underestimated self-care tip.
Many biological processes happen during sleep: The brain stores new information and gets rid of toxic waste. During sleep many biological processes take place. Sleep allows the brain to grow and learn new information.
A sleep study published by the National Library of Medicine confirms that sleep is essential for many vital functions including development, energy conservation, brain waste clearance, modulation of immune responses, cognition, performance, vigilance, disease, and psychological state.
Things that can get in the way of good sleep
There are many things that can prevent good quality sleep for teens such as:
FOMO: The fear of missing out can make it hard for teens to relax and fall asleep at night.
Anxiety and stress: Teens may have a lot on their minds, which can make it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
Screen time before bed: The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep.
Poor sleep habits: Teens who don’t have a regular bedtime or sleep routine are more likely to struggle with sleep.
Cultural expectations: Being active and busy is valued more than resting.
How can teenagers get enough sleep?
There are a few things that teenagers can do to make sure they are getting enough sleep. Go to our establish a good bedtime routine post for more information, but some key things to keep in mind are:
Keep a regular sleep schedule
Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime
Limit screen time before bed
Create a calm and comfortable sleeping environment
Staying hydrated.
Water is essential for all aspects of health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s no surprise, then, that staying hydrated is one of the most important self-care tips for teenagers.
Teens need to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. The recommended daily intake is 8-10 cups per day.
We recommend the following to keep hydrated during the day.
- Invest in a water bottle you LOVE. Having a water bottle near you at all times will ensure you drink enough water throughout the day
- Set reminders on your phone or computer to drink water every hour
- Add fruits or herbs to your water for extra flavour. This will make it more likely that you’ll actually drink it!
Eating healthy foods
Another important self-care tip for teenagers is to make sure they are eating healthy foods. Eating a balanced diet helps the body to function at its best and can improve energy levels, mood, skin, and hair health, and overall, well-being.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise is another important self-care tip for teenagers. Exercise has many benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and boosting energy levels.
There are many ways to make exercise fun, such as joining a sports team, going for walks or runs with friends, or taking up a new hobby that involves physical activity.
Emotional Self-Care Tips:
Finding a support system
Having a strong support system is important for everyone including young adults and teens. Close relationships with family and friends can contribute to a sense of well-being, security, and self-confidence.
A support system can provide emotional support, offer advice and guidance, help make a connection with resources and services and equip a teen to solve problems independently.
Young adulthood is a time to develop stress management skills and a good support group can make all the difference.
Some ways to develop a support system are:
Find a mentor or role model
Join a club, group, or team
Attend community events
Volunteer
Writing a self-care or self-discovery journal.
Discussions about mental health and self-care are becoming more mainstream, but it can still be difficult to talk about these topics openly. Writing in a journal is a great way to explore thoughts and feelings in a safe and private space.
Here are some prompts for writing a self-care journal.
What makes you feel calm?
What makes you feel powerful?
What makes you feel in control?
Who do you enjoy being around?
Making time for fun and relaxation
It’s important to make time for things that make you happy and relaxed. Doing things you enjoy can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and give you a break from everyday life. Relaxing can be as easy as finding time for some deep breathing or some of your favourite leisure activities.
Young adulthood should be a time to explore and discover new things about yourself. Relaxation and self-care should be a part of that journey. Try out different things and find what works best for you.
Remember, self-care is different for everyone. Experiment and find what works best for you. Have fun and enjoy the process!!