Each teen constantly forgets how important self-care is. Self-care can go a long way, from having a great day to feeling like staying in bed. Teens experience lots of feelings each da as their hormones change. Self-care helps manage those feelings and ensures that teens don't burn out. Sometimes they are so busy that they forget to take a breather. Relaxing and relieving the pressure of school or family is significant to mental health. Self-care is a very effective solution for more teens to be happy and live their best moments.
Self-care can come in many forms, one being reflecting on how you feel. Being able to recognize your feelings and accepting that it is okay to feel what you feel is so important. Reflecting can lessen stress since it allows you to identify the problem, and now you can take steps to relieve it. Reflectiveness helps teens feel like they can overcome any challenges. With all the busy schedules of teens, writing a few sentences of reflection in a journal can significantly improve their time management and attitude.
Funny enough, most teens don't know what self-care looks like. A common misconception of self-care is that you should put a lot of money into yourself. While it is good to treat yourself once in a while with a purchase, this is not at all what self-care should be about. In fact, self-care comes in many simple forms, from jotting down some notes of self-thought on your phone or notebook to going on a jog and reflecting on your day. If you find it hard to talk to yourself or others around you, then therapy is a great alternative. You and your therapist can work together to come up with solutions to any problems you may be facing.
Listening to music is a great way to relieve stress and let yourself relax. Do keep in mind the lyrics because they can affect your mindset. Another way to destress is meditation; it is a great way to reflect, and you can do it in your home, at a park, or even at a beach. If you find it hard to sit in one place to meditate, then you can consider dancing. It is a great way to loosen up and just let your thoughts be free.
Also, connecting the mind and body is a part of self-care. A main component of giving both your mind and body time to recharge is sleep. Most teens pull all-nighters, and the effects are seen throughout the day. It makes them tired and unmotivated to accomplish anything. Just sleeping for at least 8 hours can make you feel so much better. Sleep helps increase focus and attention span, which results in increased performance in school and extracurriculars.
A fun way to relieve stress is hanging out with your friends. It's a great way to self-care and to get motivated. Friends can help support you through hard times and help you feel good about yourself. Knowing you are not alone is very important. Friends remind you that even when things get hard, you will be able to handle it.
Sometimes, though it is easier said than done, all it takes is turning your phone off. Take a moment to look outside the window and see your future. Reflect on the good and bad to take a moment and feel grateful about the things you have in your life. I hope reading this article inspires you to do self-care. You deserve it, and remember, even when it may seem like it, you are never alone.
**Resources for Self-Care**
- "Self-Care Examples." *Medical News Today*, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/self-care-examples.
- "Understanding the Mental Health and Self-Care Connection." *Psychology Today*, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202302/understanding-the-mental-health-and-self-care-connection.
- "Self-Care." *Active Minds*, www.activeminds.org/about-mental-health/self-care/.
- "Self-Care: What It Looks Like and Why It's Important." *Best Care*, www.bestcare.org/news/self-care-what-it-looks-and-why-its-important.
- "Self-Care Tips." *Real Simple*, www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/emotional-health/self-care-tips.
- "Self-Care Tips for Mental Health." *BetterUp*, www.betterup.com/blog/self-care-tips-for-mental-health.
- "Self-Care Ideas." *Forbes*, www.forbes.com/health/mind/self-care-ideas/.