If you have a hard time making your list all at once, make the commitment to add one item to the list every day (maybe every morning when you wake up or every evening before you go to bed). Continue to update the list after it’s created. Every time you think of something new, add it to the list! These accomplishments could be improving your grades in a specific subject, completing all your homework on time, babysitting your siblings, auditioning for the school play even if you don’t get the part, getting a gig for your band, or eating something healthy for lunch.
You’ve probably overcome a lot of little things that you rarely think about. All of those things are part of who you are today and should be celebrated. Keep your list updated as you encounter new obstacles in your life.
You can also formalize this generosity by volunteering for a nonprofit or charitable organization.
Being a teenager isn’t easy. You can’t be expected to run at full speed indefinitely without experiencing burnout. Admitting you need a break to recharge helps you to understand your limitations. You could try sitting quietly to read your favourite book, taking your dog for a walk, riding your bike, playing your favourite video games, sleeping in on the weekend, or going to watch sports with your dad.
People are not born with a specific attitude, it’s developed over time. Like any other kind of attitude, self-confidence can be taught and improved over time.
Caring about your appearance doesn’t mean you’re thinking about what other people will think of the way you look, it means caring about and respecting yourself.
If you’re looking to change up your wardrobe for cheap, check out your local thrift stores.
Peer pressure doesn’t have to be anything big—it can be as simple as your friends pressuring you to hang out when you know you need to study. Stick to your values and have the confidence to say no, even when it’s tough. Standing up to peer pressure can be hard, and you might not be able to do it every time. That’s okay! If you do succumb to peer pressure, just treat it as a lesson learned for next time.
It is also important to remember that the journey you take to tackle your challenge is just as important as the outcome. If you aren’t successful with your challenge, focus on the things you did accomplish and/or learn in the process. You could try increasing your grades in a specific subject, finishing a homework assignment early, reaching the next level in your favourite video game, trying out for a sports team, auditioning for a play, or applying for a part-time job.
Becoming involved in sports outside of school also allows you to meet more people with whom you could become friends.
If your school doesn’t have any clubs that you’re interested in, consider starting one yourself by talking to your principal or counselor.
When you’re true to yourself, you can encourage other people to be true to themselves, too. You might find out that you have similar interests!
On the other hand, you shouldn’t look down on people who are “popular” in your school. If they’re popular for the right reasons (being kind, personable, or charming) they’re probably a fun friend to have!
You don’t have to be accepted by everyone around you—you only need to feel accepted by the people you care about.
Treating others with respect also means to think before you speak. Don’t assume that the sarcastic comment in your head will not be offensive when said out loud.
Think about your social media as an extension of yourself. If you aren’t on social media, that’s fine too! There are no rules saying that you need a Twitter or Instagram page to be cool.
Photos of underage drinking, derogatory language, or provocative photos may not be the best content for your social media. Before you post something, ask yourself if it’s something your parents would post online. If your parents wouldn’t post it, don’t post it.
The internet can be used for positive reasons such as: research for school, comparing colleges you’re interested in, connecting with friends, looking up interesting craft project ideas, finding instructions on how to use something, and participating in an online community that helps you work through something. The internet can also be used for very negative reasons, such as: comparing yourself to other people, bullying or intimidating other people, getting revenge on someone, reducing your ability to communicate offline, and connecting with people who want to hurt or harm you.
Most smartphones have a feature to track your screen time total throughout the day. If you find yourself using your phone for more than you’d like, try setting a goal to log off once a day and go outside or read a book.
