The term self-care is misunderstood nowadays. Whenever one hears the term, they
automatically think about indulging in a green-smoothie or getting oneself an expensive
manicure. In reality, however, self-care is, or at least should be, much simpler. It is about meting the basic needs of your body so that one remains physically and mentally healthy.
Teenagers often overlook the importance of self-care and indulge in behavior that isn’t great
for them. This may not be an issue when one is young, but it can cause problems in the future.
Which is why it is important for teenagers to learn about self-care at an early age.
This, however, does not mean that one should not get that manicure or smoothie. Those things can be pleasing, and indulging in enjoyable behavior every now and then can be a part of self-care. However, the following acts of self-care are more important and should be performed on a regular basis.
Exercise
It is no surprise that teens today are almost deprived of physical activity. The rise in digital
platforms and social media is a direct cause behind this.
An average teenager requires about 45-60 minutes of vigorous physical activity at least 5 times a week for optimal health. Yet, teenagers hardly get even a small percentage of that amount. To continue exercising on a regular basis, it is important to find an activity that you enjoy. There are many different kinds of activities that will move your body which you can also enjoy at the same time. Some of these include:
Taking part in sports
Swimming
Dancing
Zumba
Bike-riding
At-home workouts
There are also some other ways you can sneakily incorporate physical activity into your
schedule, including:
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Walking to certain destinations instead of riding an automatic vehicle
Doing chores around the house
Walking a dog
Regularly taking part in physical activity can reduce the risk of various diseases, increase
concentration, increase confidence, make you overall healthier and even reduce depression
and anxiety.
Well-Balanced Diet
Maintaining a well-balanced diet is very important for a healthy lifestyle. Since teens are still in their developing stages, they need extra nutrients to support their bone growth, organ and
tissue development, and hormonal changes.
To maintain a healthy diet, it is important to limit processed and sugary food and drinks.
Include vegetables, fruits and healthy protein to your diet. Maintain the habit of eating a
healthy breakfast on a daily basis. And drink about 2 to 3 liters of water every day.
Sleep Well
An average teenager needs about 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Not being able to attain
this goal can contribute to many problems, including mental health issues.
The problem however is that the body clocks of teenagers tends to naturally keep them up until late night and make them want to sleep in late as well. So it can be difficult to sleep well.
This is why it is important to actively make sleep a priority. Make a proper sleep-schedule. Try
to finish any activity that requires physical or mental exhaustion at least two hours before
bedtime. Try not to use your phone before sleep, as the light emission can make it difficult to
fall asleep. Some light stretching before bed can make falling asleep easy.
How are you going to take care of yourself today?
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