Some Random Advice From A Random Teen

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 by Natalie Dundas 

    Over the course of about a year or so, everyone’s lives have changed. You have heard this a million times from family members and friends, Youtube commercials, and probably anyone you can think of—which is not surprising due to the fact that we have all had to fight for something. As someone who has had a quiet whirlwind of a time, one of the most prominent of the world’s idiosyncrasies that I have begun to acknowledge is that a lot of things go unsaid. You could argue that this is due to societal norms laying parameters for what is socially acceptable to talk about. After all, fear of disagreement or simply the fact that some people are incapable of opening their minds are things we all face. Below are general topics of advice that I hope you can put to some good use! 


Mental Health


    Mental health is kind of one of those topics people like to gloss over during conversation. For most, there are tons of misconceptions as to what mental health constitutes, and a lot of people are not willing to realize its truly dark, devastating, and ugly facets. You constantly hear the same things, which might be because there is some truth to the phrases like “take a warm bath” or “breathe deeply.” 

    Sadly, there is a catch: these methods only work to a certain extent. When the rest of the world fades away around you, the only thing we can all preserve is ourselves, which is why it is important to normalize putting ourselves first. Try to figure out what makes you feel anxious, depressed, frustrated, and try to work around these things. For example: 

  • If you were anxious when they had a lot of tasks to complete that day, a To-Do list might help this person prioritize and sort their time. 

  • If you know that spending time with a certain individual or group always causes you to feel worse about yourself than before, try to distance yourself from them. Something as such would not make you a bad person, as we tend to outgrow others and the behavior of said person(s). 


    If you suffer from chronic feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, paranoia, my biggest advice would be to try and find small things that can set your day off to a bad start, be mindful of them, and welcome them as part of your personality. However, if these feelings remain present for extended periods, please seek help from friends, family, school counselors, and or medical professionals. There is a harsh reality to this though, and for many people, this is not possible, which is where a lot of people struggle. 


    Try asking yourself this question: Am I uncomfortable with confronting myself and or others with my genuine feelings, or is support truly impossible? If the answer is still impossible, all I can tell you is that you are stronger than you know, and the only thing that you can do is work hard now, so that you can live the reason “why” you kept going. Make sure to try to forgive yourself for past mistakes, feel how you feel, and fall in love with the world. 


Social Life


    When it comes to being social, it can mean a lot of different things for different people, however, the main goal is to stay as balanced as possible. What I mean is that understanding your limits and moral boundaries is crucial to finding the people that you mesh best with. However, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while, and be open to making friends with those you wouldn’t have previously thought you’d get along with. Always make sure to surround yourself with people who respect you, your values, and your priorities. It is hard, but try not to feel pressured to find a set group of people wither, as you might not find a large group of people you can call a friend group, now! Instead, appreciate even the smallest acts of kindness and intimacy between both strangers and your closest confidants. 


School 

    If you are reading this, chances are that you go to BTHS, and deeply value your grades. Yes, school is important, but there is more to life than Google Classroom and college resumes. To many, these things are very important, but given the fact that most of us are home all day nearly every day, (and you have heard this a ton) but even leaving your room helps. I find that in between classes, walks help. Whether they are long or short, walking can help you to focus your thoughts; a study found that between two groups, those who thought while walking were more creative, compared to those who did not. Often, when we are hyper-focused on something, we forget to take time for ourselves, even to do simple things. Make sure to prioritize your physical health and mental health as much as school. 

Self-Care



Self-care is truly something subjective, as certain things make certain people feel good. Here are some methods and ideas to take off some pressure :)

  • Warm shower or bath

  • Meditation 

  • Yoga

  • Working out 

  • Take a nap 

  • Have your favorite meal 

  • Facetime a friend

  • Wear some comfy clothes

  • Do your hair/makeup/nails/anything that makes you feel powerful! 

  • Paint, draw, create

  • Listen to some music

  • Write out your feelings (in a letter format), then “mail it” 

    • You can “mail” this letter to the trash, a person, etc

    • Be honest with yourself


Self- Esteem 

    A hotly debated topic, with many many explanations to a very simple thing: Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. A lot of the time, people say that you should always feel confident, and that people will respect your confidence. Honestly, it is unlikely that you will feel 100% confident, as we all have insecurities and things that we would want to change. It is probably best to acknowledge these insecurities and aim to accept them as part of the mosaic of details that make you, who you are. It takes a lifetime and understanding that it is a process that involves you, and you only, is key. 



In summary, try to take time for yourself (outside of your obligations), because you are worth it!