Self-care and self-compassion
Self-care and self-compassion are components that build strong mental health and overall well-being. This is true for all age groups, but particularly true for teens and young adults, strong self-care and compassion practices can play a large role in stress management, resilience building, and keeping up a balanced lifestyle. The following is a synopsis of why these practices matter and some actionable self-care strategies.
Stress reduction
In our teen and young adult years, we can be faced with academic pressures, uncertainty of career, and personal life challenges. Self-care helps with managing stress, preventing burnout, and keeping mental health in check.
Strategy: Incorporate stress-relieving practices like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or others into your normal daily routine.
Mental health maintenance
Self-compassion is linked to improved mental health. It looks like treating ourselves with kindness and understanding while reducing our negative self-talk and criticism.
Strategy: Focus on your self-talk and take note of whether it is positive, negative, or neutral. We want to overall have more positive and neutral self-talk to maintain strong mental health. A good check-in is, “Would I speak to my closest friend this way?”. Practice noticing how friendly you are to yourself.
Increased resilience
Resilience is the top predictor of success and happiness. It is crucial to be able to navigate life’s ups and downs. Taking care of ourselves contributes to our ability to bounce back from any setbacks that come our way.
Strategy: Find and practice activities that promote a sense of accomplishment and ones that you can work toward mastering. Whether that is learning a new skill or setting achievable goals on skills that you already have, challenge yourself with skill building and mastery.
Balanced lifestyle
Keeping a balance of work, social, and personal time. Choosing not to incorporate self-care creates an imbalance in our lives, leading to a negative impact on our overall well-being.
Strategy: Establish clear boundaries for work and personal life. Keep “off” time on the calendar and unplug from work or obligations when you are choosing to rest. Schedule regular breaks and time into your week for hobbies and relaxation.
Improved physical health
Our physical health is directly impacted by our mental health, and vice versa. Making self-care our priority contributes to better physical health, sleep, and immunity against disease and environmental factors.
Strategy: Incorporate regular exercise and sufficient sleep. This can look different based on your stage of life and circumstances, and it is important to remember that sometimes we go through seasons where our needs ebb and flow. Exploring this with a licensed mental health professional can help with figuring out what is right for you and where you can get support in areas where it may be needed.
Enhanced productivity
Taking breaks is a great way to enhance focus and overall productivity. Breaks create a buffer that helps prevent burnout and supports work habits that are long-term sustainable.
Strategy: Implement something like the Pomodoro Technique or a similar method to break work into doable, focused intervals, followed by short breaks for relaxation.
Social connection
Social connections bring us a sense of belonging and emotional support. Nurturing those relationships is a key aspect of our well-being.
Strategy: Plan activities with friends and family that are meaningful and help you stay connected. Whether it is a scheduled video call or meeting up at someone’s house, spend time that is intentional and life-giving.
Mindfulness and presence
Being present is essential for creating moments that contribute to a sense of fulfillment and it is helpful in reducing anxiety about the future.
Strategy: Practice mindfulness and healthy coping skills like those listed in my blog “15 coping skills for anxiety”.
Keep in mind that self-care Is a journey. Different strategies work for different people. This is why it can be incredibly useful to work with a licensed mental health provider to find exactly what works for you and how to implement those practices effectively. With a dedicated partner, like a therapist, you can regularly assess and adjust self-care techniques based on how your life changes and the individual needs you have.
Halle Crutch is a therapist in Southlake, TX, serving teen girls and young adult women navigating how to take care of themselves and better interact with others. With a tailored plan fit for your needs, Halle can walk alongside you and keep you accountable to the goals you have for self-care and self-compassion. Ready to get started? Request an appointment.
