When it comes to managing mental health, self-care can be essential. As a teen, finding ways to practice self-care can be a great way to boost your mental health. However, you might not know where to start or even what self-care is. 

Well, we can help with both of those things. Self-care is a term that is widely used, but it means different things in different contexts. When we talk about self-care in this blog, we mean intentional acts that promote better mental and emotional well-being. This type of self-care can take many forms. If you want some help figuring out how to practice self-care, this guide can help you find ideas you can use every day.

Ways you can add self-care into your daily routine

• Unwind every day — Daily life for teens can be hard. After a long day of school and extracurricular activities, unwinding is important. Take the time to come up with a daily “unwind” routine. This routine doesn’t have to be complex. It might simply consist of taking 15 minutes at the end of the day to relax and listen to music alone. By building your own relaxation routine, you can train your brain to relax at the end of each day. This routine offers a clear signal to your brain that the studying/working part of the day is over and that it’s time to relax. This may help you avoid persistent stress and anxious thoughts.
• Journal your thoughts — Writing in a journal can help you process your thoughts and feelings. It can also help you prepare for conversations with others about what you’re feeling or thinking. Putting something on paper is often a good step toward vocalizing it in words. Teens often want to tell their parents about self-harm and other mental health challenges they face. However, starting this kind of conversation can be scary. By journaling, you can get an idea of what you want to say. You can even write down practice scripts for conversations about mental health. If you are having a hard time thinking or talking about your mental health, journaling can be a great step in the right direction.
• Connect with others — If you feel lonely or isolated, consider reaching out to the people you like spending time with, such as your friends or family. You can talk to your friends and help plan a fun activity or outing where you can all have fun and spend time together. This can help you feel more connected and less alone. However, you should keep in mind the fact that social connection doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone. If you experience social anxiety, for example, planning to go to a party might not be helpful. Instead, tailor your connections to your own needs. If you get stressed out at big social events, plan a small get-together with a few friends in a more comfortable environment. Even calling up a single close friend can offer valuable social support.
• Stay rested — Rest is essential, especially for teens. Experts recommend that teenagers aged 13-18 years sleep eight to 10 hours per 24 hours. Yet many teens do not get enough sleep. This can lead to fatigue, mood dysregulation and other challenges. One potential negative outcome of insufficient rest is burnout. One 2023 study found that more than 1 in 10 high school students experience burnout. Burnout happens when someone feels so overwhelmed and exhausted that they lose motivation. To prevent burnout as well as worsening mental health, do your best to follow a healthy sleep schedule. Encourage yourself to get to bed on time each night so you can get the rest you need to be your best mentally and physically.

Lightfully Teen provides tailored mental health treatment for teens. We’re committed to helping each client get the help they need. Our approach is multifaceted, incorporating self-care strategies along with group support, psychotherapy and more. Our approach is designed to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the needs of each individual teen we work with. 

Change is possible. If you think you might need professional support beyond your self-care routine, contact us. We’ll provide an assessment and help you and your family understand the best options for moving forward. Then we’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.

Want to get more self-care tips and strategies? Watch our blog for the next part of our “Self-Care” series.