14 March 2023
Five Ways to Help Teens Feel Good about Themselves (WORKSHEET 1)
As teens struggle with anxiety and perfectionism, how can we help them like
who they are?
BY AMY L. EVA | MAY 21, 2018
No one wants to hang out with me. I’m a failure at school. All my other friends
seem happy. What’s wrong with me?
These kinds of negative thoughts are becoming more common in our homes and
schools. Teens are experiencing increased anxiety, and studies indicate that
college students in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are
becoming more perfectionistic over time, measuring themselves against
unrealistic standards.
Why is this happening? We can’t say for sure—but we do know there are steps
teens can take to improve their mental health.
1. Get physical
Although you may have heard this before, kids really can benefit from regular
exercise (especially when their tendency is to sit in front of a screen). A
recent review of 38 international studies indicates that physical
activity alone can improve self-esteem and self-concept in children and
adolescents.
Apparently, the exercise setting also matters. Students who participated in
supervised activities in schools or gymnasiums reported more significant growth
in self-esteem than those who exercised at home and in other settings.
2. Focus on self-compassion (not self-esteem)
Because self-esteem is a global evaluation of your overall worth, it has its
dangers. What am I achieving? Am I good enough? How do I compare with my
peers?
What would happen if we could stop judging ourselves? Researcher Kristen
Neff claims that self-compassion—treating yourself with kindness, openness,
and acceptance—is a healthy alternative to the incessant striving and
performance orientation often tied up with self-esteem.
1|Page PSW GRADE 6 WEEK 9+10 TERM 1
Five Ways to Help Teens Feel Good about Themselves (WORKSHEET 1)
As teens struggle with anxiety and perfectionism, how can we help them like
who they are?
BY AMY L. EVA | MAY 21, 2018
No one wants to hang out with me. I’m a failure at school. All my other friends
seem happy. What’s wrong with me?
These kinds of negative thoughts are becoming more common in our homes and
schools. Teens are experiencing increased anxiety, and studies indicate that
college students in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are
becoming more perfectionistic over time, measuring themselves against
unrealistic standards.
Why is this happening? We can’t say for sure—but we do know there are steps
teens can take to improve their mental health.
1. Get physical
Although you may have heard this before, kids really can benefit from regular
exercise (especially when their tendency is to sit in front of a screen). A
recent review of 38 international studies indicates that physical
activity alone can improve self-esteem and self-concept in children and
adolescents.
Apparently, the exercise setting also matters. Students who participated in
supervised activities in schools or gymnasiums reported more significant growth
in self-esteem than those who exercised at home and in other settings.
2. Focus on self-compassion (not self-esteem)
Because self-esteem is a global evaluation of your overall worth, it has its
dangers. What am I achieving? Am I good enough? How do I compare with my
peers?
What would happen if we could stop judging ourselves? Researcher Kristen
Neff claims that self-compassion—treating yourself with kindness, openness,
and acceptance—is a healthy alternative to the incessant striving and
performance orientation often tied up with self-esteem.
1|Page PSW GRADE 6 WEEK 9+10 TERM 1
