Self Care Tips for High School Students
The best way for parents to teach their teens about the importance of taking care of their physical and mental health is by modeling what it looks like. Parents can also incorporate habits into their high school student’s daily routines to help make them more self-aware. When thinking about self-care tips for high school students, think about the things that help you feel better. Chances are, young adults will benefit from several of the same wellness activities that you do to take care of yourself.
It is common for young people to face mental health issues, so we must help them put their emotional health and mental wellness at the forefront by teaching them to establish and create strategies for self care. As adults, it is our responsibility to provide teens with the tools they need to get through stressful situations and recognize when they need to take a break.
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How do teens learn to focus on themselves more?
The teen years are a great time to foster behaviors that will help young adults live healthy lives. Learning to take care of their emotional needs and being skilled in stress management are the goals of promoting self-care at an early age.
Being a teenager is hard. High school students are faced with so much pressure to fit in that they almost lose sight of themselves sometimes. Finding subtle ways to teach teens to have a strong sense of self is important. It’s also important to be intentional about teaching them the difference between having a sense of self and being selfish. Little things can make a big difference when helping teens establish a self-care routine, so be very intentional.
Asking teens questions and having conversations with them regularly is a great way to teach them to focus on themselves. It’s a positive and encouraging way to help them explore different activities and hobbies so they can learn what they enjoy. At the end of the day, the important thing is to get them thinking about the activities that truly help them to be their best selves.
What are some activities to help teenagers learn to focus on their own needs and take good care of themselves?
Choosing activities to help teenagers learn to focus on self-care does not have to be difficult. Here are some self-care tips for high school students that will help them learn to put themselves first:
Limit time on social media
Social media can be a great source of information and can provide hours of entertainment, especially for teenagers. However, too much screen time can have a negative impact on a developing teen. The teenage years are difficult enough without the added stress that can come along with excessive unsupervised time on social media.
The Mayo Clinic talks about the harms that social media can do to teens, including sleep disruption, exposure to bullying, and peer pressure, to name a few.
Get enough sleep regularly
Teens grow and develop so much during this stage of life. For this reason, they need lots of sleep. The CDC recommends that teens between the ages of 13-18 get 8-10 hours of sleep every 24 hours.
Getting adequate sleep is important to a teen’s physical health and is an important habit that should be encouraged consistently.
Write in a gratitude journal
Writing in a gratitude journal is a great way to reflect on the things in your life that you have to be grateful for. Teens sometimes struggle with being grateful, so it might be a good idea to provide them with prompts to encourage them to think about the people and things in their life that they take for granted.
Journaling is one of the best ways to practice self care and is an easy way to encourage them to practice gratitude. They can write about the good things going on in their lives or things they are grateful for. It’s a great way to declutter your mind and express yourself without interruption.
Take deep breaths
Another healthy self-care habit is deep breathing. Teens can use breathing techniques to help them feel calmer when they are overwhelmed or anxious. Simple techniques like breathing in slowly through your nose, counting to five, and then slowly breathing out can be very effective.
Eat healthy foods
Our bodies get the vitamins and minerals it needs to thrive from the foods we eat. Encouraging healthy food choices as often as possible is beneficial for young adults. When our bodies are well-nourished, our immune system is improved, keeping us in better health. Help your teens make healthy food choices as much as you can.
Hang out with your best friend
Friends provide so many positive benefits in our lives. In addition to the companionship and support that good friends give, it’s just plain fun to hang out with great friends. If your teen has good friends in their lives, encourage them to spend time with them. If they don’t have friends, encourage them to try to make friends.
Participate in school activities
School activities can help teens improve their social skills while engaging in activities that they enjoy. Most schools have different clubs and organizations tailored to specific interests. Archery, chess, student council, debate, theater, and music are just a few of the activities that are offered at some schools.
If the school doesn’t offer these types of opportunities, check your local listings to see if these types of special interest groups exist in you rare.
Have a DIY spa day
A do-it-yourself spa day is a fun way to share a self-care day with your teen. You can take turns painting each other’s nails, doing face masks together, or simply relaxing while diffusing essential oils and sipping fruit-infused water. A spa day is a fun way to spend time together while taking while relaxing at the same time.
Set personal goals
Everyone needs goals, right? Help your teen set age-appropriate, realistic goals and work together to develop a plan to reach those goals. Not only will that give your teen something to work towards, but it will also help them find a sense of purpose. Don’t overwhelm your teenager by encouraging them to set too many goals.
Repeat positive affirmations
Positive affirmations are a great way to speak positivity over your life. Help teens think about areas in their lives that need some positivity and then help them choose appropriate affirmations to help build their confidence in those areas.
For example, if your high school student lacks confidence, they might use this affirmation: I am confident, happy, healthy, and powerful.
Equipping your high school student with self-care strategies will help them learn to manage stressful and difficult situations. These effective examples of self-care activities will help your teen learn to prioritize their physical and mental health.
