Self-care is often talked about as a trend, but it’s actually a science-backed strategy for building resilience. That’s because stress doesn’t just affect emotions — it shows up in the body, too. Healthy habits like getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and moving your body regularly can help you handle life’s challenges more effectively.
The Take Care of Your Body handout helps clients understand the mind-body connection by teaching 5 health-boosting habits. Each strategy includes clear, step-by-step bullet points that make daily self-care feel simple and achievable.
Learning these habits gives kids and teens a greater sense of control over how they feel each day. Even one small change — like stretching in the morning, drinking more water, or turning off screens before bed — can make a noticeable difference in their mood and can support resilience building over time.
As an additional tip, encourage children to pick one tip from the handout to focus on for the week, and ask them to reflect on how it makes them feel.
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References:
- American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Building your resilience. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/building-your-resilience
- Nurture your resilience. (2024, June 20). NIH News in Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2022/04/nurture-your-resilience
- Jin, Y., Bhattarai, M., & Bratzke, L. C. (2023). Relationship between resilience and self-care in people with chronic conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(9-10), 2041-2055. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16258
