This summer — and particularly during Mental Health Awareness Month held each May — Youth Engaged 4 Change encouraged young people to tell us and their peers about how to practice self-care and what’s worked for them. Using Instagram and Facebook, we shared tools and ideas about what helps young people take care of themselves and their communities. We want to continue the conversation around self-care and mental health all year long and hear from YOU on how you practice self-care! Follow us on Instagram, comment on this post on how you practice self-care, and tag #YE4CSelfCare or #SelfCare4Youth!

Below are some responses we received, spotlighting many forms of self-care, and what it can mean to different people from different places.

"Self-care to me means giving myself time to breathe and indulging in 'selfish time,'" says Daisa a college student in New York.

“Working on campus and being a campus leader, it is hard to find time for self-care. Often I forget I should take time to breathe… So my version of self-care is giving myself time to watch my favorite shows or to catch up on rest.” - Daisia

Just as our physical health is made up of many different factors and components, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Taking time for self-care is important to build our mental health and well-being, whether that means dealing with life’s daily stress or managing serious mental health issues. Self-care allows us to show up, learn, grow as leaders, and maintain healthy relationships throughout our lives.

Yet self-care is not something that “just happens”—it’s a skill and an art, and it takes time to learn what it means and how to do it in a way that works for us. Self-care will mean something different to every person who practices it.

Keep in mind that where we come from, our communities, and our identities influence the way we practice self-care. For example, Caroline, another college student we spoke with, says she mainly uses journaling for her daily self-care: “I am a writer at heart, so it comes very naturally to me. If I ever feel weighted by stress or emotions, writing down my fears usually takes the weight off me. I also love reading – nothing better than escaping into a good book.”

Danielle, a first-year college student, shared that for her, self-care is often just speaking her truth:

“Self-care to me is allowing my voice to be heard. There are times where I have a million things to say but I don't—sometimes out of fear, sometimes from second guessing myself.”

Danielle explained that she’s realized that choosing not to say what she feels may sometimes be the right move, but more often than not, it deprives her: “My voice has value and the way I care about myself is by sharing it.”

Other young people shared resources that help them when they’re struggling, or just in general. Jon B. shared through Instagram that he tends to rely on music as a form of self-care. “Expressing myself through music is a huge part of who I am so whenever I feel the need to relieve stress or empty my mind, I turn to the one thing I know,” he said. Laila S. also shared through Instagram that listening to music helps her feel happy and relaxed.

More self-care ideas that young people shared with us included going to the gym or spending time with friends and family.

To find out more ways to practice self-care from young people like you, read some of the responses we got on our Instagram!

Our focus on caring for ourselves and each other happens all through the year. Let’s keep this conversation going. How do you practice self-care? Are there any things you’ve learned from friends or people in your community? Follow us on Instagram, comment on this post on how you practice self-care, and tag #YE4CSelfCare or #SelfCare4Youth!

Follow YE4C on Facebook and Instagram to add your voice to the conversation and stay updated on future conversations and contests!

Learn More

• Find Resources on Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Visit Laray's Inspiring Story on Youth Perspectives on Mental Health.
• Find additional resources from Zachary’s Inspiring Story on Helping Other Youth with Mental Health Issues.
• Access Mental Health Helplines.

Need to Talk to Someone? The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7. Call them at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK).