Self-care for anxiety means doing personal things to help ease feelings of anxiety and stress. These can be simple, such as taking deep breaths, going for a walk, or doing something enjoyable like drawing or listening to music.
The Anxiety Self-Care Checklist is a helpful tool that allows clients to track their current self-care practices on a weekly basis. The client is encouraged to identify their top habits, and they can refer to the section underneath the table for ideas. Examples include deep belly breathing, moving their body, and getting some fresh air.
As they use this worksheet as part of their routine, kids and teens may experience the positive effects of taking care of themselves, such as increased calmness, inner peace, and enhanced mental health. For more self-care ideas, they may refer to our Self-care Alphabet or our Self-Care Wheel for Kids and Teens.
After filling out the checklist each week, kids and teens can take a few moments to reflect on how a self-care habit has helped them. We recommend keeping the checklist in a visible location so that they will be reminded to complete it daily.
References:
- Gaudreau, H., Radziszewski, S., Houle, J., Beaudin, A., Boisvert, L., Brouri, S., Charrette, M., Côté, L., Coulombe, S., Labelle, R., Louka, E., Mousseau, B., Phaneuf, N., Rickwood, D., & Tremblay, P. H. (2023). Self-management strategies in youth with difficulties related to anxiety or depression: What helps them feel better. Journal of Adolescent Research, 074355842311548. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584231154840
- Rickwood, D., & Bradford. (2012). undefined. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 25. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s23357
- Town, R., Hayes, D., March, A., Fonagy, P., & Stapley, E. (2023). Self-management, self-care, and self-help in adolescents with emotional problems: A scoping review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02134-z
