Self-care strategies

It's not always easy to take the best care of ourselves for many reasons: maybe you don't feel there's enough time or you have too many things to think about, but this list highlights many things we can all try to do to help keep ourselves healthy.

Physical self-care

  • Eat healthy foods
  • Eat regularly (3 meals a day)
  • Take care of personal hygiene
  • Exercise
  • Wear clothes that help me feel good about myself  
  • Get 8 hours sleep a night
  • Rest when sick or tired
  • Go to preventative medical appointments eg check-ups and the dentist

Emotional self-care

  • Participate in hobbies or fun activities
  • Get away from distractions eg your phone
  • Learn new things, unrelated to school
  • Express my feelings in a healthy way eg talking, creating art or journaling
  • Recognise my own strengths and achievements
  • Go on holiday or day-trips
  • Do something comforting eg re-watch a favourite movie, take a long bath
  • Talk about my problems  
  • Find reasons to laugh

Social self-care

  • Spend time with people who I like
  • Meet new people
  • Ask others for help, when needed
  • Keep in touch with old friends
  • Say “no” to excessive new responsibilities
  • Find reasons to laugh

Spiritual self-care

  • Spend time in nature
  • Recognise the things that give meaning to my life
  • Act in accordance with my morals and values
  • Set aside time for thought and reflection
  • Participate in a cause that is important to me or stand up for other people 
  • Appreciate art that is impactful to me eg music, film, literature

Self-care tips and videos for young people : Every Mind Matters NHS

This website has lots of excllent advice on mental health and self-care for young people, and a range of helpful self-care videos to help you take good care of yourself.

Healthy Surrey

This is a website full of useful information to help young people and families lead a healthier life and take better care of themselves. Supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board, this website helps you find self-care information, as well as signposting to local services available to you as a Surrey resident. You don't need a referral for most of these – you can book an appointment yourself. 

There is a section of the Healthy Surrey website dedicated to support for children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health, with self-help resources, online help and details on where to get more help if you need it.