Whenever I work with teenagers, I’m reminded that it wasn’t that long ago that I was one too. Juggling school work, a part time job, family, friends, and anything else that will fit in between can give anyone a headache, let alone when a change is thrown in the mix.
I think being a teenager can be a particularly challenging time to go through. We are faced with topics such as puberty, friendships, love, sex, careers, drugs and alcohol, and a lot of other things that seem positively ‘adult’. Teenagers often go through a whole lot of change in such a short period of time.
For a lot of us, experiencing change can have us feeling a little bit lost and isolated. When you’re a teenager, a big part of life is trying to work out where you stand in the world. It’s not so surprising, then, that having your world turned on it’s head can leave you feeling a little shaky.
When we do get shaken in life, the feelings that come with it can have us forgetting how capable we are. We tend to gravitate towards our problem story, and focus so much on the issue that we can be too overwhelmed to see any solutions.
This can trick us into believing that we have no solutions at all. We start seeking advice from our parents or friends, or we may even accept the idea that overcoming our losses is impossible.
If, however, we start constructing alternative stories, we can begin to see our futures a little more clearly. When we stop focusing on what we can’t do, we open ourselves to the opportunity of seeing what we can do. We know ourselves better than anyone, and deep down, we know what the right options are for us.
So how can we shift our focus? We have 10 quick tips for teenagers:
1. Meditate. This can be very helpful in clearing out the mind.
2. Don’t give up on your hobbies. The things we enjoy not only act as a great point of distraction, but help us to build skills to stay strong.
3. Chat to someone. Sometimes our thoughts can spiral out of control, and simply vocalising them can get them out of your head.
4. Write it down. A diary can be an awesome tool to reflect on your experiences and make you more self-aware.
5. Change your thoughts, one at a time. Whenever you notice a negative thought in your mind, try to think of a more positive way to reframe it.
6. Art it out. Sometimes, if you can’t find the words, sketching, collaging, or painting out your emotions can be just as therapeutic.
7. Stay social. Even if you don’t want to share your experience, try to stay social with others. This can reduce the feelings of isolation you may experience.
8. Keep a routine. Sometimes having a little bit of structure to our days gives us one less thing to worry about.
9. Sleep. Teenagers need more sleep than most, and this can reduce stress levels significantly.
10. Eat healthy and exercise. Like sleep, diet and fitness can have a huge impact on our energy levels. This can give us a bit of a clearer mind.
Need extra help? Pop over to our Counselling Services page to see how we can help.
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