Taking care of your mental health doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A holistic approach means checking in with your thoughts, your body, your emotions, your spirit, and even your environment. Try small things in each area—you don’t have to fix everything at once. Just start with one thing, and build from there. You matter.
“Holistic” means looking at the whole you—your mind, your body, your emotions, your spirit, and your environment. It’s like taking care of all the parts that make you, you. If one part is hurting, the others can hurt too. Holistic mental health is about doing small things in different areas of your life that add up to help you feel better, stronger, and more in control.
Why We Need to Talk to Teens About Mental Health
We live in a loud world and it is getting louder every day. Teens today are facing unprecedented mental health challenges with mounting pressure from peers, social media, and testing among other things. It is important to start these conversations early and provide kids with the tools they need to build coping strategies and hoping skills.
An Easy Way to Explain Holistic Health
Explain to the kids in your life that holistic just means we look at everything that affects your well-being—not just your thoughts, but your body, your surroundings, your habits, and even what you believe about yourself and the world. Start pointing out ways that you see different sides of their health displayed throughout the day when you notice that they are:
- Tired- they need a nap
- Hangry- they need a snack
- “Bored”- they need to fill their soul with a book or a craft
- Lonely- they need connection. Try a call to a friend or relative.
- Overstimulated- they need quiet and calming activities
Easy Holistic Approaches Teens Can Try
Here’s a list of doable, no-cost or low-cost options—each linked to a part of the self:
- Mind (Thoughts & Focus)
- Journaling – Write down your feelings or what happened in your day.
- Affirmations – Say something positive to yourself every morning like, “I deserve peace” or “Today I’m starting fresh.”
- Breathing exercises – Try 4-7-8 breathing (inhale 4 sec, hold 7, exhale 8).
- Mindfulness – Sit still for a few minutes and focus only on your breath or a sound nearby.
- Body (Movement & Nourishment)
- Stretching or light exercise – Even 10 jumping jacks or a walk can lift your mood.
- Eat when you can, drink water – Hydration and steady meals stabilize energy and emotions.
- Sleep routine – Try going to bed around the same time, even if life is chaotic.
- Emotions (Expression & Connection)
- Talk to someone safe – A friend, mentor, teacher, or therapist.
- Creative expression – Draw, write lyrics, braid hair, dance—anything that lets feelings out.
- Crying without shame – Sometimes you just need to let it out. That’s healing too.
- Spirit (Hope, Beliefs, Inner Peace)
- Gratitude practice – Write or think of one thing you’re thankful for each day.
- Spiritual time – Prayer, reading something inspirational, or just sitting quietly with yourself.
- Acts of kindness – Helping others can boost your own sense of meaning and worth.
- Environment (Surroundings & Influences)
- Declutter your space – Even tidying one area helps your brain feel calmer.
- Music check – Listen to songs that build you up, not ones that drag you down.
- Limit toxic people – Spend less time with people who make you feel bad about yourself.
The best way to teach these as a skill is to do these things right along with them. The more you practice addressing each of these areas together the more likely this will become a habit that will stick for life. Give it a try! We all need to show more empathy to ourselves and this is a great way to implement more self-compassion in your life. Leave a comment about the holistic approaches you have discovered that work!