This sounds insane, but teens actually spend an average 8 ½ hours on screens per day! It’s staggering to imagine that teens are spending the equivalent of a 40 hour work week zoning out on their devices.
In a world where depression is one of the leading causes of illness among adolescents and suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19 year olds – it’s time to offer teens an alternative that helps them develop their internal strength without the stress of living within this pervasive comparison culture.
So, how do we teach our teens about the importance of self-care to help them calm the chaos they face as an emerging adult?
It’s time to introduce them to daily journaling. Writing has been proven to significantly reduce anxiety and depression and offering an engaging alternative to screen time for even 10 minutes a day is a start.
Here are a few tips to get your teen into even a few minutes of journaling a day:
Make it Useful:
Open pages can sometimes feel overwhelming so provide them with a journal that guides them to pay attention to thoughts and activities that boost their mood and energy. This helps them manage their well-being by making good choices every day.
Fun Wins:
Writing sparks creativity! Provide a journal with room to doodle in the margins and add color to their journal pages – so they can let their personality shine through as they overcome challenges and celebrate wins.
A Daily Habit:
Encourage them to journal at the same time(s) each day and hook the habit with something they already do. I.e. Write every morning after brushing their teeth! Fresh breath, fresh thoughts!
New habits take time so let them make journaling a part of their life in a way that feels engaging and worthwhile to them.
After all, their ongoing success ultimately comes from their willingness to dive in and stick with it.
Teen Day by Daybook® provides an alternative to the blue screen by offering your teen a way to unplug and express themselves as they experience the ups and downs of life as an emerging adult. Get your Daybook by going to Teen Daybook
