Being a young woman in society can be challenging and can take a toll on their mental health. They get told what to wear, how to act and what they need to do to fit in. At the same time, they’re told that they should be independent and be their own person. All these conflicting opinions can be really difficult to assimilate and can leave young girls feeling confused and uncertain, not sure which way to turn. Â
Mental and emotional health is such an essential part of our overall sense of wellbeing and not only are teenagers faced with all sorts of conflicting messages but they can also often face uncertainty in terms of their studies, their futures, their careers, their friends and family and their health.Â
Here at Silhouette London, we are all about making people smile whether that be through helping someone find that perfect outfit or even just by interacting with our lovely customers and ensuring they always know we are here if they need us. We know how difficult it is as a teenager, so much more so nowadays when the immediacy and over filtered nature of social media is such a big part of everyday life.Â
With all of these pressures, it’s important to talk about how teens can know their self-worth and how they can keep a positive state of mind. Â
1. Remind yourself that you’re unique and ignore the inner critic
Treat yourself with kindness and respect. Celebrate your body, your appearance, your mind, your work and your achievements. It can be easier said than done to ignore your inner critic, but remember, the negative thoughts in your head are not real. You are doing your best and you are enough. Make sure you tell that to the voice in your head if it starts its damaging chatter.
2. Glow with confidence
Having confidence radiates beauty. If you can make people believe that you feel confident, you will actually start to feel that way. One way to gain more confidence is to go outside your comfort zone and discover new skills. This can really help to make you feel empowered. Â
3. Stay mindful
Focus on the little joys in life. Look at how beautiful the trees are or how the sun feels on your skin. Sometimes we can be quick to notice the negatives in life, but focusing on the positives will show you how much beauty there is in the world and will allow you to embrace the good stuff rather than the bad. Â
4. Write in a journal
It may be an idea to keep a journal or write some stress management strategies. This way you can refer to your journal when you don’t feel your best so it can remind you about all the amazing attributes you have. For example, you can start by writing 50 things you love about yourself. Â
5. Stay Healthy
Treat your body well by embracing nutritious foods and daily exercise. Not only is this great for your body but it’s great for your mental health too. Â
6. Set goals
Setting goals will show you how strong you are and how you can achieve anything you put your mind to. For example, if you tell yourself that you will do 1 hour of revision a day, by the end of the week you can celebrate, having done exactly that. A great way to set goals is to use the SMART goals method. This is where you set yourself Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Based objectives so that you have a clear structure on how to achieve your goal but also so that you make sure you don’t set yourself unrealistic goals.Â
7. Surround yourself with love
Surrounding yourself with positive family and friends are key. Notice who makes your energy feel drained and then notice who makes you feel empowered. This way you can filter who you want to be around so that you feel more positive. Organise a pamper day, a BBQ or just something you can do in your house as a great way to spend time with these people.Â
8. Ask for help
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness and it’s actually the most important step you can take if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Talking to a family member, friend, teacher or anyone about how you feel can be a great release of your emotions and it’s so important for someone else to know how you’re feeling so that they can help or talk to someone who can. If you or someone you know requires emergency assistance, there is always help out there. You can call Samaritans on 116 123.
Most importantly, always remember, that you are beautiful in your own way. There are 7.5 billion people in the world, so of course we are all going to be different and that what is so beautiful. Feel great in your own skin, and remember that here at Silhouette London we are always here for you.Â