3 Self-Care Tips For Your Teenager Children

As teenagers continue to grow and mature, they become increasingly self-aware and body-conscious. As parents and guardians, it’s important to instil positive habits that will teach them how to take care of themselves both physically and mentally. As they get older, there will be many responsibilities to handle, and establishing a self-care routine will help them learn how to slow down and avoid self-neglect. This also helps them to alleviate stress and find healthy outlets for their physical and emotional needs. This post sheds more light on three self-care tips that will help cope better with the ups and down of everyday life.

1. Prioritise a healthy diet

Your teen is growing beautifully, and their body is developing. Some of the changes they encounter might leave them feeling uncomfortable, which could make them unhappy or self-conscious. It is important to assure them that they are perfect and help them embrace these natural modifications. While this rapid growth and development happens, their appetites become big and, there is a necessity to ensure they consume a balanced diet to stay healthy. Snacking on high-sugar, salty, or fatty food can lead to health complications later. Remind them of the importance of taking care of their body and educate them on the benefits of consuming nutritious foods like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. You can include fruits and vegetables in their meals and advise them on the effects of caffeine, alcohol, and energy drinks. It would be beneficial to monitor their diet and ensure they are sticking to their regular meals and not following fad or dangerous diets.

2. Start a beauty routine

The adolescent years usually come with a desire for a new look and fussy complaints about skin conditions like acne. Creating a self-care routine that caters to everything from their hair to their feet is essential. You can plan a spa day for your teen and introduce them to a skincare routine that will emphasise acne treatment, moisturising, and other self-care practices. Encourage them to know their skin and hair type so they can form simple rituals that will keep these parts healthy. Go to the nail salon with them and get a pedicure and manicure together. Remember to buy hygiene products like deodorant and educate them on how to stay neat and presentable. While products and hygiene play a big role in ensuring good skin, don’t forget to keep your teen hydrated and slather sunscreen on them. 

3. Let them join you in meditation

Your teen can become overwhelmed with the new expectations and roles they have to play. To keep them centred or grounded, it is important to find a practice that will help them emotionally and mentally. Meditation helps them to maintain balance in their mind and body. It reduces mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. It also aids them in regulating their emotional outbursts and builds confidence to handle stressful situations. By engaging in practices like breathwork and yoga, they can become more empathetic to others and improve their relationships.

It is essential to know what self-care means to your teen so you can give them a personalised experience. However, these tips will give you a great base to explore.

Taking care of your skin isn’t just a winter task - you should focus on many of these factors all year round! Your skin has different needs depending on the season and so you may need to adapt your skincare at different times of the year.

However, skincare needn’t be complicated either. In fact, we can make it very simple! You can adopt any of the daily skincare habits we’ve included below for better results this year. Beauty is more than skin deep, but we always feel better when our skin looks great! 

Create and maintain a consistent skin care regimen

If you cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin twice a day, this helps to keep your skin clean, protected and hydrated.  Additionally if you use good quality products containing ingredients that are suited to your skin type and skin care concerns, you will also start to notice that the condition, tone and overall appearance of your skin will improve on a long term basis. 

If you have the time and spare cash, a professional facial every 4-6 weeks will give that extra boost to your own self care routine.

Drink a Little More Water

Everyone has their own water level need; the idea that you can just drink 2 litres of water a day and be fine just might not work in reality. 

If you drink less than the recommended 2 litres per day, try drinking just a little more water per day and see how it makes you feel. Maybe another glass, either first thing in the morning or purchase a water bottle and sip small quantities throughout the day. 

Use Sunscreen Every Day

Caring for your skin isn’t just done indoors. You need to be aware of what you’re putting it through outside as well. All the best skincare habits take this into account, and that’s why this point has made it onto the list. 

Wear a minimum SPF 15 sunscreen every day, even if it is cloudy or partly overcast. If you’re heading out, put some on, and take some with you to reapply if you’re going to be gone long. A handy sunscreen spray makes the stuff easy to apply and keeps your skin feeling and looking smooth. 

Plus, sunscreen is a great mosturiser and can be applied underneath any makeup you’re wearing - you might just cut down some time on your morning beauty routine! 

Don’t Overcleanse

Try to avoid overcleansing your skin with products containing harsh ingredients such as alcohol which strip the natural oils from your skin.  This tip applies to all skin types, from dry to oily and in between.

If you have naturally oily skin,  it’s easy to feel ‘oily’ and like your face is dirty. If you overcleanse with stripping ingredients your skin’s natural oils out, the sebacaceous glands that produce oil are going to work double time to replace it's natural sebum (oil) levels,

This can lead to long term overproduction and a lot more blemishes you feel you have to cover up! 

Some skincare habits will be better than others. Identifying the ones that work for you takes time and experimentation, but the tips above work generally well for everyone’s skin. 

Until next time

Zoe

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