Looking after your wellbeing and fitness is the best way to keep a well-rounded lifestyle and routine. Sometimes this can be difficult for youth as they face different battles to adults as they tackle adolescence, school, and coming of age. I had a look at some of the struggles that young people have as they are growing up, as well as reflecting on my own time back in high school and currently as a university student.
Wellbeing is the collective health of the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of life.
Increased social media use is one of the most obvious trends over the past decade. This has created some challenges for youth to overcome as they are exposed to so much of it. Social media often provides a sense of community for young people, as they can turn to it on their phones at any time. It has created a space for people to share their lives and interests with others, but it is easy to fall into the trap of relying on it too heavily and damaging wellbeing as a result. Research shows that some teenagers can develop negative feelings about their self-worth and symptoms of depression and anxiety if they are on social media for long periods of time. There are definitely competitive features of applications such as Instagram, and as a teenager I felt the pressure of wanting to be as ‘pretty’ or as ‘perfect’ as others because of what they looked like or how they portrayed their lives. It is important to educate your kids on how much is too much, and that the platforms can be fun and beneficial if they know when a break is needed. I’m not saying that social media is all negative either; it can definitely be a positive way for youth to connect with their friends and family. Teenagers just need to understand that it is not healthy to continue using it so frequently if it gets to the point where it is damaging their mental and emotional well-being.
The stresses of school paired with being in an environment where everyone is still growing can be tough for young people. It is important that teenagers remember to look after themselves and have techniques in place to overcome struggles that may pop up during stressful periods like exam weeks or even just life events that can be challenging. Parents can help with this by urging their teens to have in place plans like studying schedules and well-needed breaks to relieve pressure during difficult times. It really helped me when I was younger to know that I was welcome to talk to my parents anytime something was bothering me, and they would listen and be there for me without judgement or punishment. A lot of young people don’t feel comfortable confiding in their parents when things are hard at school, whether it be studying, issues with friends, isolation or just generally feeling down. Being able to create a safe space for kids at home can make these challenges less difficult. Talking about whatever is getting them down can be enough to relieve stress. However, try not to push your teenagers to tell you what is going on; just let them know that you’re available to talk and listen when they are ready.
Teenagers can also find it really daunting to try and find a part-time job while they are at school. It can be stressful to attend interviews and put themselves out there for the first time, especially when dealing with rejection during the process. Once they have a job, there can also be heightened stress as they need to focus on themselves, work, study, family and friends and other commitments while also looking after their wellbeing. It is crucial for young people to recognise when they need to spend more or less time on certain activities, so they can make the most of their free time and eliminate stress.
Fitness is a great way to enhance overall well-being, but sometimes it’s a struggle for any of us, including youth, to prioritise fitness. School sports teams provide an excellent way for youth to commit to fitness, but not everyone wants to be involved in school teams or they don’t have the time for all the practices and games. It’s good for teenagers to have some sort of fitness incorporated into their routine if this is the case, such as walking or cycling to school, going to the gym, or swimming for example. Fitness can be a great way to have a break from studying or even just to clear the mind, so encouraging young people to get outside and get moving is a great way to improve their wellbeing.
As a young person, experiencing the stress of so many things for the first time and trying to develop ways to juggle everything can be a challenge. It is important for your teens to know that they need to look after themselves, and continuously reflect on their wellbeing and fitness to see where they are lacking something, so that they can overcome challenges. Being able to adapt and grow while they are young will help them with similar problems as they get older, leading them into being conscious and having a healthier lifestyle.
