FERNWOOD FITNESS - PULSE eMagazine - Issue#13 - Flipbook - Page 35
The Core Pillars
of Teen Wellness
Here’s what really matters when supporting
teen wellbeing:
1. Physical Health: Fuel, Move, Rest
Nutrition: Teens are growing rapidly and
need quality fuel. That means a variety
of wholefoods — but also a balanced,
昀氀exible approach that avoids diet culture.
Overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is a
concern, so education is key.
Exercise: Movement is powerful. It boosts mood,
builds con昀椀dence and supports sleep. From
team sports to dance, walking the dog or trying
yoga — encourage movement that feels fun.
Sleep: Many teens are chronically sleepdeprived. Helping them build better sleep
habits — like winding down before bed
and ditching devices late at night — can
dramatically improve wellbeing.
2. Mental Health:
Mind the Mind
Mental health needs
to be talked about —
early and often.
Apps like Smiling
Mind and Clear
Fear offer free tools
tailored to teens.
Programs like Yale
University’s Science
of Wellbeing for
Teens help them build
emotional resilience,
while retreats such as
REWIRE™ in the UK
combine meditation,
nature, and life skills
to empower teen
girls. Crucially, teens
need adults who will
listen without 昀椀xing,
create safe spaces,
and normalise seeking
support — whether
through a counsellor,
psychologist, or
trusted adult.
3. Technology
& Social Media:
Balance, Not Ban
Smartphones have
changed teen life
forever. While they
offer connection
and creativity, they
also bring pressure,
comparison, and
overstimulation.
The rise of teen
“beauty burnout”
(think: skincare
obsession driven
by TikTok) and the
constant dopamine
rush of endless
scrolling is linked to
poor body image,
anxiety and sleep
issues. In response,
countries like
Australia, France
and the US are now
legislating minimum
age restrictions for
social media access.
Still, the answer
isn’t banning tech
altogether —
it’s teaching
digital literacy and
emotional regulation.
As one UK teen
entrepreneur put
it: “Social media is
a weapon of mass
consumption — but
we can use
it differently.”
