Presented by BetterHelp.
Many children think they fully understand their adolescent years; however, life is not always like the high school movies on Netflix. Navigating your adolescence can get complicated and overwhelming.
As you grow, you will realize the importance of good habits and resources. Consider the following tips as you began your journey to adulthood.
Talk to a Trusted Source
The first thing you can do is learn all you can about the adolescent years. Many defining moments occur during adolescence. Consider talking to a teacher, guidance counselor, therapist, or other trusted source about what you can expect and how to prepare. One resource that may be viable to you is BetterHelp; read more about adolescence from mental health professionals:
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/adolescence/
Stand By Your Values and Beliefs
Before embarking on your journey to adulthood is important to establish your values and beliefs. Think about what you expect from yourself and how you will handle situations. For example, establishing your values can help you resist peer pressure and intimidating tactics from bullies. It can also help prepare you for various confrontations. Not only can it prepare you for negative situations, but it can also prepare you for positive ones! For example, you are more likely to create a positive support group if you stand by your values and beliefs.
Set Goals for Yourself
Another way you can navigate an adolescent life is by setting goals for yourself. Goal setting can make you more resilient, provide you with more willpower, and push you to be better. When you create an objective for yourself, start small. For example, you can set a goal to get eight hours of sleep every night or you can strive to practice your hobby three times a week.
Learn to Stick to Your Goals
Not only is setting goals important, but so is sticking to them! Sticking to your goals is the best way to improve your willpower and boost your confidence. When you set goals, you may feel overwhelmed with the process of achieving those goals. Even so, if you stick to your goal and achieve it, you can think back to that first overwhelming moment. This is how sticking to your goals can boost your confidence!
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
One of the most important parts of transitioning from a child to an adult is having fun! As a child, you often have very little responsibility. As an adult, you have an abundance of responsibility. During your adolescent years, you must take advantage of all the fun you can while learning the responsibilities of adulthood. Adolescence is about this balance of having fun and becoming more responsible.
Create Positive Lasting Habits
Creating lasting habits as an adolescent is key to preparing for adulthood. Positive habits should include a good sleep schedule, healthy eating, moving your body, and finding a hobby. Habits such as those can help you prepare for the future and become the best version of yourself. If you start these habits today, you are more likely to continue them in the future.