Your health is much more than just not being ill. Your health is the state of physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being. It is the key to being productive and being happy.
Your physical health
Exercise regularly. Teenagers should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. That could be running, dancing or just going for a pacey walk.
Eat a healthy diet. Your body hates sugar! Ditch sugary snacks and sweets and instead each plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, proteins and low-fat dairy. It will make you feel good and look good. It will also reduce your risk of obesity and the problems that stem from that such as diabetes.
Get enough sleep. Most teenagers need between 9 and 9½ hours of sleep. So, don’t go to bed too late because if you don’t get enough sleep you will struggle to concentrate at school the next day and your mood will be negatively affected. Try to avoid looking at screens for an hour before you go to bed.
Consider your personal hygiene. Shower every day, wear deodorant, make sure you wear a clean shirt every day. Brush and floss your teeth; you will have those teeth for the rest of your life and dental care is expensive!
Don’t participate in harmful behaviours. That includes drinking alcohol, vaping, smoking, illegal drugs, etc. Don’t be pressured into behaviours which are going to harm you.
Your mental health
There is lots of advice in this section of the website about your mental health but here are a few top tips for how to take care of your mind:
Learn ways to manage stress. You are probably not going to be able to avoid stress so learn ways to manage it. This will help you stay calm and perform at your best in stressful situations.
Work hard at school and do your best. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself by getting behind with your work.
Don’t take on too much. If you overextend yourself and commit to doing too many things you will may experience stress, frustration and exhaustion. Be kind to yourself.
Your emotional health
Take care of yourself and your feelings.
Know the signs of mental illness. They include: anxiety, depression, excessive tiredness, low self-esteem, lack of interest in things, loss of appetite, weight changes.
Pay attention to your feelings. Don’t assume that your feelings are just part of being a teenager. If something is worrying you ask for help.
Accept yourself. Be proud of yourself. It is easy to think that someone else is better than you or happier than you but comparing yourself to others can negatively affect your self-esteem and isn’t beneficial.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There is always someone at school to talk to if you’re struggling. Find an adult you can trust and talk to us and we will support you.
Look at the Mental Health pages on this section of the website for further sources of support.