Imagine a long week as a high school student filled with tests, work, and responsibilities. Balancing these things along with a social life, it’s easy to feel drained and fall into a darker place. In today’s world, self-care has become more important than ever. Taking time to prioritize yourself and to slow down and relax can make a huge difference in both your physical and mental health.
According to a national survey by Mental Health First Aid USA, around 64% of Americans agreed that self-care boosted their confidence, 67% said it made them more productive, and 71% said it made them happier. Taking time for yourself is not just about following trends, it’s a good way to stay healthy mentally and physically.
For many Calabasas High School students, self-care means finding a balance in your life.
Senior Artem Litvin said, “Honestly, to me, self-care just means taking time to chill and rest, like doing stuff that helps me feel good and not be stressed out. Everyone is always busy with their own lives, and it can get exhausting. So, self-care gives your brain a break, so you don’t burn yourself out.
Litvin said he knows when he needs to take a break when he “gets annoyed over small things or can’t focus.” To him, self-care helps his mental health because when he takes care of himself, he is in a better mood and doesn’t overthink as much.
Some of his favorite self-care activities that make him feel better are listening to music, going for a walk, going to the gym, or playing video games with friends. He added that taking care of your body is part of self-care too.
“When I work out or sleep enough, I feel way better mentally. It’s all connected,” said Litvin.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sees self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness or with illness with or without the support of a health worker.”
Self-care is not just about putting on makeup and cute clothing, it’s about having healthy habits that help you stay healthy.
Senior Ava Tzour shared a similar opinion on self care but said her approach focuses more on relaxation and peacefulness.
“To me, self-care is taking time and prioritizing yourself, caring for your body and your mental health in general,” she said.
Tzour believes that in her life with constant stress and distractions, it’s easy for her to forget about taking care of herself.
“There’s a lot going on in the world, and I think self-care is important for people to really focus on themselves and make sure they’re getting the proper care they need,” said Tzour.
She explained that she knows when to take a self-care day when she feels “worn down, stressed out, or anxious.” On those days, she’ll “take a nice shower, watch a show, and relax.”
Tzour added that self-care days really affect her mood.
“When I’m just going, going, going, and not taking a second to focus on me, it really stresses me out,” said Tzour. “Taking time for myself just improves my mood a lot.”
Both students agree that self-care doesn’t have to be confusing and can look different for every person, depending on their needs. It can be simple daily habits. Litvin mentioned drinking water, stretching, and spending time away from his phone.
Tzour said, “Just doing something small that makes me happy, like skincare or a good meal, can make a big difference.”
They also both mentioned how schools could do a better job to encourage self-care more.
“They should maybe give more breaks to kids and calm places for people and promote it more,” Litvin suggested.
Tzour added, “Schools should talk about how important it is to take days for yourself and focus on mental health.”
In a world where everything is constantly moving, taking time to pause and care for yourself isn’t being lazy, it’s necessary. As both Tzour and Litvin said, self-care is nowhere close to being selfish, it’s what keeps us healthy, focused, and happy.
