No matter how old you are, learning to navigate the inner turmoil that life inevitably brings is no easy feat. But teenagers have extra challenges: hormonal changes, a brain that’s still developing, the intensity of social interactions with peers, academic demands, and their parents’ high expectations. And that’s if they’re lucky! Many teens also struggle with body image issues, strained relationships with family members, and an over-reliance on technology in favor of face-to-face connection. As a result, their mental health can suffer. Furthermore, teen depression, teenage anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorder are all potential outcomes for teens who don’t have the skills to weather life’s ups and downs.

What teens need are sustainable, easy-to-access tools that aid them in learning to feel their feelings without descending into despair, anger, fear, or confusion. The good news is that those tools are available to every teenager. Rather than a secret formula or a cure-all drug, the key lies in building simple, everyday habits that support positivity and balance.