Whether we realise it or not, looking after our mental health is of great importance, and young people are no exception. Given the difficult times the world has recently faced such as the pandemic, this is truer than ever before.
When you are growing up and working through high school it's perfectly natural to feel stressed or anxious. Therefore, it is important to find healthy ways to boost teen self-esteem and look after your mental wellbeing. Having a positive view of yourself is an important ingredient in the recipe for a positive mental attitude.
May is National Teen Self Esteem Month so here at Movement in Thyme, where we promote the importance of looking after our wellbeing, we wanted to share some tips to help teens (and adults) boost their self esteem.
Be aware of your social media use
Whilst social media can be a great way to connect with friends, it's important to remember that an overuse or over reliance on social media could potentially lead to feelings of exclusion or inferiority. Growing up with such easy access to social media platforms is unique to this generation of young people and we should remember that no one’s self-worth should ever be defined by what you see online. Only you yourself know how social media affects you but we should stay aware of its potential negative impacts.
Sharing the love
Feelings of self-esteem can largely come from those around us. It is important to make time for the friends and family who make you feel good about yourself. Being kind and giving compliments to people will likely be reciprocated and create a positive social environment.
Stay creative
This could involve working on things you're good at or enjoy such as cooking, writing or drawing. You could also take the opportunity to try something new like learning a new language or instrument. Being creative and having fun with it could help spark feelings of accomplishment and allow you to feel rightly good about yourself for the things you have achieved.
Connect with nature
Movement in Thyme run workshops especially for children and teenagers that set out to improve mindfulness and establish a connection with nature. ‘Re:wild your child’ includes foraging, bush craft, heritage arts and herbal workshops for school groups that can be a fun and relaxing experience for young people to work on their self-esteem.
We also have ‘Garden to Medicine’ programmes providing opportunities for young people to work in a group growing medicine herbs that can then be sent to places that need this medicine such as Ukraine. These workshops are positive experiences that can improve mindfulness and promote happiness!
Practice yoga
Yoga is a great activity for the mind and the body. Several of the Movement in Thyme team are qualified yoga instructors. We offer yoga to children and teenagers that can help reduce stress and anxiety and can also help improve focus and confidence.
Click here to learn more about workshops for your school!
This blog was contributed by Movement in Thyme volunteer Jodie Murphy.