SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TIPS FOR TEENS

Black Female Teen Smile Tongue Out

Thank you to Adriana Contreras, Dallas Y Teen, for creating these tips on how to maintain your spiritual, mental, and physical health during a time of uncertainty. These tips can help create a new sense of normal to your daily routine and help you not only maintain, but improve your health along the way.

SPIRITUAL TIPS:

1. Do a daily prayer, meditation, and/or devotionals to start your day.

Here are some specific devotionals you can begin with. 

2. Stay connected to your church online. Join your church for their live services, and you don't know of any specific live services try searching "sermons" on YouTube.

MENTAL TIPS:

1. Track gratitude and achievements with a journal. Include three things you were grateful for and three things you were able to accomplish each day.

2. Experiment with a new recipe, write a poem, paint, or try a Pinterest project. Creative expression and overall well-being are easily linked with one another.

3. Dance around while you do your housework! Not only will you get your chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase endorphins (the body's "feel-good" chemicals). 

4. Take time to laugh. Call a funny friend, watch a comedy, or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.

PHYSICAL TIPS:

1. Make a list and check it twice! Routine is so important in our lives. For many of use, school is what provided that routine. We get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, get to school, etc, Now that we are in shelter in place we tend to get lazy because our normal routine is gone. We are no longer in school, so it is important to create a routine that will help retain a sense of normalcy. Write down a list of what you will do each day, and follow it. 

2. Stay active. Make physical fitness a part of your daily routine. Part of keeping a sense of normalcy involves putting your devices down and going outside for a walk or run.