Telstra Foundation's partner, ReachOut is Australia's leading mental health organisation for young people and their parents. October is Mental Health Month and ReachOut says that taking time to look after yourself is vital for supporting your mental health.
Footage: Maddie and Tigist casually chatting to each other in a studio setting.
Maddie: So, what is self-care?
Tigist: Self-care is the way that we take care of our own wellbeing. It looks different on everyone and you kind of have to tailor it to yourself.
Maddie: How can I make it work for me?
Tigist: Well, think about all the different things that you need to fill your cup. So, that might be things that you might need to hear, things that you might need to see, feel, do, and be. So, an example of that would be listening to music, taking a bath, seeing friends, all the things that you need to do to restore, rest, and be back to yourself again.
This article is brought to you by Telstra Foundation's partner, ReachOut who has developed an AI tool called Ask ReachOut, that offers reliable, anonymous answers to your questions, generated from ReachOut articles and resources.
Self-care is about taking the time to look after your body, your mind and your emotions. Making self-care part of your everyday routine helps you to feel more energised, confident and focused, but getting started can be difficult, especially when you’re really busy.
Read on for some easy tips on building healthy habits and feeling more prepared to tackle whatever life throws your way.
Setting aside time to do something you really enjoy can help to lift your mood. If you’ve got a busy schedule, even the occasional 15-minute break will energise you. Spend that time listening to some favourite songs, making a cup of tea or watching a funny video.
Hot tip: baking is a pretty great (and delicious) self-care activity. Practising mindfulness as you follow the recipe, taste-testing, smelling the aroma wafting through the house – what’s not to love?
Feel like you want to chill out but not sure what to do? Take ReachOut’s quiz to figure our your chill style.
Writing things down is a great way to stay motivated and to see your progress. Use a diary to keep track of the personal goals you’ve been setting and meeting, and update it regularly.
Be sure to include both your big and small goals. This will help you to feel good about all your achievements. If you’re not that into goals, use your diary to write about your day. Writing down what you are grateful for that day (as well as what you found difficult) can help you to work through your feelings.
Social media can be a really great tool for staying connected with your friends and family and for keeping updated with what’s happening around the world. However, it can be easy to get sucked in and to lose focus on the here and now. Maybe you’d rather put off that assignment, or you can’t help but compare your life to the (heavily filtered, unrealistic) content on your feed.
Remember to take a break from scrolling every so often by going for a walk or calling a friend for a good chat. When you log back in, have a think about who you’re following and focus on filling your feed with creators and pages who motivate you to become the best version of yourself. For some more advice, check out ReachOut’s tips on tackling your social media use.
Ask ReachOut is an AI tool that gives you reliable, anonymous answers to your questions, generated from ReachOut articles and resources.
Why wait for others when you want to enjoy something special? Everyone has something they keep meaning to do but never get around to organising with their friends or significant other. Figure out what your dream date is and take yourself out!
You don’t necessarily have to have an entire fancy dinner by yourself – just grab some ice-cream or a coffee and enjoy your own company. It’s a great way to relax without worrying about making conversation. Bring along a book or a magazine if you’d like some extra entertainment. Remember: treating yourself can be both delightful and budget-friendly. Check out some ways to chill for cheap.
It’s so easy to get caught up in every little thing you’d like to change about yourself, but that’s not always the most productive use of your energy. Instead, take a break from thinking about what you would change and focus on what you love about yourself.
If negative thoughts pop up, try focusing on affirming statements like ‘I’m doing the best I can’ or ‘I don’t feel great right now, and that’s okay’. You can even try saying these statements out loud. At first, you might feel embarrassed, but no one else needs to know. Check out some further tips on talking yourself up.
Remember, self-care is a resource for your problems but not always the solution.
Watch video: Ask a therapist: Misconceptions about self-care
For 16–25 year-olds: it might help to chat with someone about how you're feeling. You could talk it out with a good friend, or even chat with a peer worker through ReachOut PeerChat.
For Parents of 12–18 year-olds: it's natural to feel worried about your child if you notice changes in their mood or behaviour. Adolescence can be a challenging time, and young people often internalise their struggles. Knowing how to support them can be difficult, but there are steps you can take. Sign-up for a ReachOut Parents One-on-One support session, and work with a dedicated coach to develop a personalised plan to support your teen, designed around your family's specific challenges and strengths.
ReachOut is a safe, online place for young people (and their parents) to chat anonymously, get support, and feel better.
Telstra Foundation’s mission is to create a better-connected world for children and young people so they can live healthier lives online.
