Looking after myself

Taking Care of Myself

Whether or not you are experiencing mental health problems, it’s always important to stay mentally healthy and there are lots of ways that you can look after your emotional wellbeing and mental health.

 

Eating Healthy

What we eat most certainly can affect our mood; there is a link between what we eat and how we feel so it’s important to have a healthy, balanced diet for both your body and mind. Change4Life have lots of easy tips and recipes for eating better and you can find out more about healthy eating for teenagers on the NHS website: Healthy eating for teens.

Get Active

 

Getting active and taking regular exercise is really great for your emotional wellbeing. There is evidence to show that exercise can help raise self-esteem, help sleep problems, improve memory and concentration, take your mind off negative thoughts, as well as reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.

Take time to relax

Regular relaxation is very beneficial for your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Take some time to find out what you like to do that helps you relax, this might include:

• writing in a diary or journal
• watching TV
• looking after a pet
• listening to music or playing a musical instrument
• having a bath
• cooking
• reading
• gaming
• going for a walk
• going to see a friend
• meditating
• practising mindfulness.

It’s good to share

Sharing what’s bothering you, with your friends and family can help you feel better and make your problems feel more manageable. However if you are worried about talking to those close to you or if you feel that the problems you’re having are too big for you to deal with by yourself, you can speak to a teacher, school nurse, doctor or someone else you trust.