Self-care Isn’t Selfish: Teaching Youth The Value Of Mental Health

Young people today face pressure from academic expectations, cultural norms, and social media, making it challenging for them to manage their relationships and everyday lives. As a result, they often feel overwhelmed emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In this context, understanding and practicing self-care is more important than ever for youth mental health.

Despite these pressures, self-care is often misunderstood as indulgence or selfishness, rather than as a crucial practice for preserving one's well-being. However, self-care means purposefully nurturing emotional, physical, and mental health. Teaching youths about self-care gives them the tools to build resilience, manage stress, and thrive. The main argument is that self-care is an essential, not selfish, life skill for young people. Let’s examine how we can help them embrace its value.

How can we teach young people to prioritize self-care?

Define self-care

Self-care as a narrative needs to be reframed. In this way, the youths need to understand that self-care is not a luxury but a much-needed necessity in their lives. Young people need to understand that when we talk about self-care, we don’t mean spa days and lavish treats. It means even the simplest forms of practice can keep young people healthy. It doesn’t have to be expensive or lavish to be labelled as self-care. It means getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food to help our bodies, and even simple acts like setting boundaries.

Physical health can be achieved through simple practices like brushing your teeth or exercising. When it comes to mental health, youths can proactively take care of themselves by taking walks, listening to their favorite music, or engaging in their hobbies. All these are simple forms of self-care that young people can engage in without overexerting themselves.

Identify signs of overwhelming.

Feeling overwhelmed is common when self-care is neglected. Youths should learn to identify signs of stress, anxiety, or burnout. They should recognize physical and emotional cues, such as fatigue, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, or altered eating habits. These small cues often indicate neglect of self-care. Reminding young people to notice these signs gives them a tool to step back and recharge. Doing this helps manage self-care before a crisis arises.

Create a self-care practices toolkit.

As stated earlier, self-care doesn’t have to be complicated; you can create a simple list of activities that young people can do when they feel overwhelmed. For example:

• Breathing exercises help calm the nervous system.

• Journaling – this is a way to express emotions or process thoughts.

• Drawing pr playing instruments, or writing is a way of stimulating creativity.

• Taking screen breaks and time off social media as a form of digital detox

• Spending time outdoors or with friends.

Boundary setting

The simplest form of self-care is knowing how to say ‘NO’. Youths should be taught that declining invitations is okay, and it doesn’t mean they are bad people. Saying NO is just a simple way of declining extra responsibilities. Setting boundaries helps protect the youth's time and energy, preventing them from becoming overcommitted to other people’s activities that could lead to burnout. It is a critical act that enables one to prioritize their own well-being over the demands or requests of others.

Creating healthy relationships and communication

Young people should build relationships with people who support their mental health and respect their boundaries. Knowing how to communicate effectively helps young people express themselves and articulate their needs and ideas clearly. Self-care is not an isolated act; it also involves support from others. It is worth noting that emotional resilience stems from strong support systems.

Summary

Together, these approaches emphasize the main argument: self-care is not selfish but essential for helping youth prioritize their mental health in a challenging world. By recognizing signs of stress, teaching healthy boundaries, and fostering supportive relationships, we empower young people to develop resilience and emotional intelligence. Empowering youth with these tools helps them navigate life's challenges and thrive.