spark | discover
Self-Care Tips for Teens What is self-care? The World Health Organization defines selfcare as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider.” Self-care looks different for everyone because we are all unique!
We can suggest some ways to take care of yourself, but always remember that this looks different for everyone, and you can alter and change the ideas to best fit your personal self-care needs.
Here are some ideas to consider when making an action plan to take care of your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing:
Give forgiveness When we forgive people, we start to let go of hurtful feelings to heal on our own. Remember that just because we forgive someone, does not mean we have to continue spending time with them.
Physical Wellbeing
Social Wellbeing
Rest your body Create a bedtime routine to allow yourself at least 8 hours of sleep per night. It is recommended that teenagers get up to 10+ hours of sleep per night to rest your quickly changing bodies!
Interact with people who brighten your day Your social circle has an influence on you whether you realize it or not. Be sure that the people you spend the most time with are creating positive and healthy relationships with you!
Eat nutritious foods Every food is good in moderation! Find the foods that make you feel your best and balance your meals with fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.
Set boundaries It’s okay to say “no” to optional activities if it means conserving your time and energy for other things that make you happy.
Emotional Wellbeing Practice mindfulness Create ways to be more aware of how you use your time. Think about how you can bring more joyful moments into your life.
34
That means the ways we manage our stress, energize our bodies, and find ways to rest look different too!
Discover much more online at gsep.org!
Spiritual Wellbeing Spend time in nature Spending time outside gives you the opportunity to connect with and nurture your inner self. Practice self-reflection Give yourself moments to think about what your passions and values are and how you will align them with your day-to-day actions.
