Soft Reset

🌱Think of today as a soft reset. No pressure to fix everything or plan the whole week ahead. Just choose one thing that helps you feel a little more steady. Maybe it’s cooking a favorite meal, stepping outside for fresh air, sitting in the quiet for a few minutes, or sharing a real check-in with a teen about how they’re actually feeling.

Self-care is not about doing more. It’s about creating small, everyday moments that help us feel grounded and supported. When families slow down together, they build connection, resilience, and a sense of safety that carries into the week ahead.

✏️Starting this year each #Self-Care post will include a journal prompt for those that want to have something to help their brain focus on and set time aside each week to reflect and prioritize self love.

Journal prompt: What helped me feel calm or supported this past week, and how can I make space for more of that in the days ahead?

Realistic Goals for Youth in the New Year

January often comes with big expectations to “do better” or “be different.” For teens, that pressure can feel overwhelming fast. This year, resilience starts with setting goals that are realistic, flexible, and kind to mental health.

Here are a few teen-friendly goals and simple ways to support them:

✏️ Goal: Feel less overwhelmed

Strategy: Break school and life tasks into smaller steps. One assignment, one conversation, one day at a time counts.

✏️Goal: Take better care of your mental health

Strategy: Build in regular reset time. Short walks, music breaks, movement, or quiet time all help the nervous system reset.

✏️Goal: Improve communication

Strategy: Practice naming feelings instead of shutting down. Even “I don’t know how I feel yet” is a good start.

✏️Goal: Make healthier choices

Strategy: Focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate effort and learning, not just outcomes.

✏️Goal: Ask for help when needed

Strategy: Identify safe adults and trusted supports now, before things feel overwhelming.

Resilience is not about doing everything right. It is about learning how to adjust, try again, and keep going with support.

Encourage teens to set goals that support well-being, not burnout.

One Thing You Can Let Go Of

Self-care does not always mean adding something new to your routine. Sometimes the most powerful form of care is deciding what no longer needs your energy.

As the week winds down, take a moment to pause and reflect. What is one thing you have been holding onto that feels heavy right now? It could be an unrealistic expectation, a packed schedule, a lingering worry, or the pressure to do everything perfectly.

Letting go does not mean giving up. It means making space. When we release even one source of stress, we create room for rest, clarity, and connection.

Try this simple Sunday reset:

• Write down one thing that has been weighing on you.

• Ask yourself if it truly needs your attention right now.

• Decide how you can loosen your grip on it this week, even just a little.

  
  

For families, this can be a shared moment. Sit down together and talk about one thing each person wants to let go of. It might be rushing through mornings, overcommitting to activities, or carrying stress from school or work into the evening. Listening without judgment is part of the care.

For teens, letting go might look like taking a break from comparison on social media, asking for help, or accepting that it is okay not to have everything figured out yet.

This Sunday, give yourself permission to release one thing. You do not have to carry it all. Sometimes self-care is choosing peace over pressure, one small step at a time.

What is one thing you are ready to let go of this week?