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It's tough being a teen these days.
You might find yourself struggling with your self-esteem.
Social media comparisons and everyday challenges like school and relationships can lead you to feel bad about yourself.
Don't fall for this trap!
Try these 3 self-esteem activities for teens to help improve your self-image.
Did you know?
1. Practice positive self-talk
Do you have an inner critic, a voice inside your head that is negative, or puts you down?
Take these steps to turn your inner thoughts into positive self-talk:
1. Identify one area where you use negative self-talk
For example, whenever Jo gets less than an A on his geometry assignments, he thinks to himself: "I'm terrible at math."
2. Replace the negative thought with a positive one.
Each time you catch yourself thinking the negative thought, say the positive phrase instead.
Jo decides that he will say to himself, "I studied hard and did my best. Geometry isn't my best subject, but I'm really good at algebra."
3. Repeat
Once your new, positive statement becomes a habit, identify another negative thought and repeat this process!
Jo notices that he also engages in negative self-talk when he scrolls through Instagram. He decides to work on that next.
Did you know?
2. Get moving
Exercise not only improves your physical health, it can also help you feel better mentally.
Photo by Bruno Nascimento on UnsplashMoving your body on a regular basis increases blood flow to your brain, makes your bones and muscles stronger, boosts self-esteem, and can even reduce anxiety.
Find something you enjoy so that you WANT to do it regularly.
Try:
Walking or jogging
Playing frisbee
Riding your bike
Weight lifting and cardio
Skiing
Baseball or softball
Dancing
Yoga/pilates
Swimming
Did you know?
3. Volunteer in your community
Do you love volunteering and live in the US? Consider Americorps after high school!
Meet Marisa
Marisa is a 16-year-old high school student who gets average grades. She has a small group of close friends, is on the basketball team, is a member of the ski and running clubs, and lifts weights a few times a week.
Despite having solid friendships and being a strong athlete, Marisa struggles with her self-esteem. She often thinks to herself: "I'm not good at anything!" and "Everyone else is smarter than me."
Quiz
Which of these activities would be best for Marisa to try to help improve her self-esteem? Select all that apply.
Marisa is engaging in negative self-talk, so learning to replace that thinking with positive self-talk could help her learn to value herself more. Volunteering for the Special Olympics in her community might also be a good fit because she enjoys athletics and could give back to others through this talent. Marisa is already very active, so she probably doesn't need to add any additional physical activity to her schedule. Although it might be fun to be involved in another club, she's already a member of two clubs and that could stretch her thin.
Take Action
The teen years can be tough on your self-esteem. Kudos on taking steps to improve the way you feel about yourself!
Try these action steps as you implement your self-esteem improvement plan!
Here's some inspiration from Selena Gomez to help you get started!
This Byte has been authored by
Mary Ellen D'Intino
Learning Designer | Licensed Social Worker
M.Ed., LSW