Self-Care for Teens: The Art of Disconnecting & Thriving

I recently participated in an event created by UnMazed at the SWFL Community Foundation, which was solely focused on Teen Success. There were numerous colleges, universities and community providers there sharing their expertise and resources for teens in our community. I spoke on the importance of self-care for teens. While some people aren’t even sure what self-care means, others think it is limited to getting a pedicure or a massage. Those activities may be included in someone’s self-care practices, but only represent a small part of what it means to engage in self-care.

Self-care is the regular active practice of taking care of one’s own well-being, health, and happiness. This is particularly important during times of stress or major change. The most important practices are those that are performed as a consistent routine and daily practice. They are responsible for taking care of one’s mind, body and spirit.

We are one whole person and each aspect of ourselves requires care and maintenance. It is a balancing act. When we engage in too much of one thing, it prevents us from being available to care for ourselves in another area. We function best in a state of balance. Self-care is not something you do once a year. Ideally, we are doing a little self-care everyday by making sure we get enough sleep, take time for reflection and creativity, exercise, spiritual practice (this is different for everyone), feed ourselves with healthy nutritious food, and make sure we get enough water to drink. These small things make a HUGE difference in our physical and mental health and well-being. How do you feel when you haven’t eaten all day? I know for me, I get a headache, feel exhausted and become really really MOODY. This can totally be prevented, with a little proactive preparation. It isn’t always easy, but it is always well worth the effort.

I have attached a PDF of the presentation given at the event for you to download. It includes various activities that connect to caring for one’s mind, body and spirit, and tips for creating balance.

What are your self-care routines and practices? We would love to hear from you!