Self-Care: The Trend That Makes You And Everyone Around You Happier

5 Self-care strategies that will keep you and your friends going.

Self-care isn't selfish.

First let's define self-care. You hear the word a lot these days. It seems that everyone is talking about it, and many people are actually doing it. You may want to join them.

It's important to know what self-care is in order to implement it in your life. Self-care is basically what it sounds like: taking action to take care of yourself.

Some people think that self-care is selfish. They think that in order to be a good person, we must constantly be working and helping others. They think that taking the time to do something for ourselves takes us away from that all-important task.

That is not true. In fact, self-care is essential if we are to continue helping and lifting those around us. The better you take care of yourself, the more energy and clarity you will have for others. As Kerry Washington puts it:

You can’t really be present for the people in your life if you aren’t taking care of yourself. 

Find what relaxes you.

Let's talk about some ways that you can jump on the self-care train so that you can be the kind of person that you admire in others.

1. Make sure you take the time to eat healthy meals each day, sleep for at least 8 hours every night, and exercise for at least one hour per day. These are the recommended levels for each activity for teenagers. This is the most important aspect of self-care, and yet it the aspect that most often gets neglected. Don't let anyone talk you out of taking care of yourself by influencing you to stay up late, eat mainly junk food or skip meals, or avoid exercise like the plague. If you have friends that are encouraging you to be unhealthy, it is time for healthier, more inspiring friends. You'll also be a better friend if you are physically healthy yourself.
   
   
2. Pay special attention to your inner self. Checking in with your mind and body are important aspects of self-care. Do you know how you feel about things, exactly? Do you know how much energy you will need to complete that task? Do you take the time to breathe deeply, or do you ignore your breathing? Do you try to be grateful, even when it is difficult? The things that keep you happy on the inside will help you through anything that might happen on the outside. 
   
   
3. Find what relaxes you. Life can throw some pretty difficult things our way, which can cause us to become so worked up that we can't think clearly. It is important to make it back to our relaxed state as soon as possible so that we can think logically about our situation. Do you know what it takes for you to calm down? Find what relaxes you. Then make it something that you do on a regular basis. What relaxes you will also strengthen you.
   
   
4. Try something new. Trying something new is a good way to come to know yourself a little bit better. The better you know yourself, the more relaxed you will be. Trying some new strategies for self-care is a good way to get better at taking care of yourself while learning more about yourself at the same time.
   
   
5. Focus on being yourself. As you learn more about self-care, try not to compare yourself to others. Be yourself, no excuses. Do what works for you without worrying about what everyone else is thinking about what you are doing. Only do what everyone else is doing if it is good for you to do for yourself.  

Take action to take care of yourself.

Self-care is a big deal, but it's especially a big deal for teens. Think about it. During the teenage years we make some of our biggest decisions that will affect the rest of our lives: what to study in school, what to do for work, who should be our friends, what kind of person will we be, etc. 

It's important to understand what self-care is and how to use it early on. Besides, if you can get it down now, it will create a great habit that will benefit you forever. What will you do to take better care of yourself?