Life is busy—even during this crazy time.
Between the holidays, traveling, school, tests, friends, trying to sleep well, eat well, juggling your part-time job with academics, college applications, keeping your room tidy, extracurriculars and being a good friend/daughter/son…chances are you’re pretty darn exhausted lately.
Sleeping well, eating well, and working out are great ways to take care of your body, mind, and soul. But honestly, sometimes you just need a break from it all—a mental health break. Listen to your body if you’re exhausted. Too much stress is never healthy, at any age.
You’re human, and can only handle so much. Cut yourself some slack. Here are some helpful and healthy ways to unwind after a long, long week. After a ‘pause’ you’ll return to “life as you know it” feeling refreshed and ready to go!
Act like a kid
Kids are fun—you know, because you were one once. Whether it’s a young cousin or a young sibling, spend some time—preferably outside—with kids under 12 and really, really zero in on them, and give them your full attention. Make a snowman with them, or push them on a sled and smile wide and THEY laugh with joy. Bring your 7-year-old cousin on a walk with your or paint some flat rocks with a super cool kid and hide the rocks around the neighborhood to brighten someone’s day. Just keep in mind—this requires real focus to be relaxing, so put your phone down and give the child your full attention. Acting like a kid again and spending more time with a special kid is a mood-booster for sure. Plus, they’ll be so excited to spend time with YOU in return. It’ll mean a lot to them.
Take a warm bubble bath
Do you have a pile of bath crystals someone randomly gave you that you’ve been meaning to use—but haven’t yet? Guess what. Now’s that time? It’s cliched, but it’s true…baths can be pretty relaxing. Fill up a tub with bubbles, a touch of baby oil to make your skin super soft, a touch (drop or two) of essential oils such as relaxing lavender….
Engage in yoga
Yoga is something some teens love or hate. If you give it a shot, you may find it very relaxing to stretch the body and focus on your breathing. First, throw on comfy clothes and go barefoot. Roll out a yoga mat or a very thing towel as a back-up, although therapists prefer yoga mats for sure. (It’s OK if you don’t have one.) Sunday morning or evening, before the work and school week starts again, pull up a YouTube video on your iPad and follow along with a teen instructor. We like these particular YouTube instructors/videos: Yoga For Teens | Yoga With Adriene, Yoga For Kids with Alissa Kepas, and Yoga for Teens: Energizing Flow Yoga Class. Once you try some at-home yoga, you may want to enroll in a local yoga class at the gym or a studio.
Get a massage
Honestly, it may seem bougee or ‘fancy,’ but some massage chains or day spas offer gentle body massages for teens—just ask a ton of questions before if you’ve never had one before and let a parent know you want one so they can ask questions as well. (Editor’s note: I started getting massages in high school with a licensed female masseuse my mom went to, and trusted. At 17, I found massages very relaxing and I still get them today!) Make sure it’s a reputable spa, and clean. Full disclosure: You will have to lay naked under a sheet on a massage bed, but the therapist is a professional who will just lower the bedding to work your back ONLY, shoulders arms, and legs. (They’re not looking at, or touching, your private parts.) Massages aren’t for everyone, but can be quite relaxing, and since my mom went for them I wanted “in” as well.
Get organized
Wait, excuse me? We said NO MORE STRESS. But hear us out. Let’s say for example, your closet is a pigsty and needs to be cleaned out. Set aside just ONE hour on a Sunday afternoon, grab a HUGE tote bag and a garbage bag, and be prepared to tackle that darn closet. Put a party playlist on YouTube and put your phone far away from the closet so it doesn’t distract you as you work. One by one, remove the items inside the closet, and try not to get wrapped up in the memories of that item. If you freakin’ love it, keep it and put it in the tote bag. Don’t like it anymore? Toss it with no hesitation. (Trust us, in 6 months you won’t be missing the chipped Hello Kitty bracelet you tossed.) Try to move fast, but also go one-by-one. Neatly stack clothes to donate or give away, put small items like mint-conditional, unused journals in the big tote bag. Old, wrinkled, and stained clothes and shoes get tossed. Tell yourself over and over organizing and tossing is good for your mental health and shows maturity as well. Once the closet is empty, wipe it down with gentle soap and washcloths, maybe even vacuum the inside, and neatly put back the items to keep. And yes—hang up the clothes. Voila! Don’t you feel great? You did it! Feeling accomplished reduces stress levels.
Photo credits: Gustavo Fring, Rodnae Productions