Keeping physically healthy and well
Knowing how to keep ourselves healthy and well day-to-day is an important part of developing our independence. Looking after our physical health allows us to get the most of life and the opportunities it brings.
We all have different needs and live different lives. That means looking after our own personal physical health and wellbeing will look slightly different for each person. The most important thing we can do learn what works well for us so we can get into good daily routines and habits. These routines and habits should be realistic and achievable, so we can keep them going and feel the benefit.
And if we need some extra and support with our health and wellbeing, we should not be afraid to reach out for some help early on. You might want to think about who you could go to for support. It might be your GP, your foster carer, your social worker, online support, or someone else. Whoever it is, it is important that you trust them, and for medical conditions, that they are a medical professional.
These are a few tips and principles to help you start to look after your physical health and wellbeing:
- Learn what works well for you and ‘listen’ to your body
- Find sustainable habits and routines – these need to be realistic and ideally you enjoy
- Make sure you know where you can go for extra help and support when you need it – whether that is initially speaking to someone around you that you trust, a health professional, or trusted advice online
- Know that you won’t get it right all of the time
These are the basic elements of keeping yourself physically healthy and well:
- Being active every day
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Getting enough, good-quality sleep
- Drinking plenty of water
- Looking after your personal and dental hygiene on a daily basis
- Looking after your sexual health
- Reducing alcohol consumption and stopping smoking
To find more advice, guidance and support, check out these links below:
- The DCFP website has lots of information about being healthy and well, including on exercise and activity, positive body image, sleep, and healthy eating.
- The Health for Teens website has a whole host of information and resources to help young people keep healthy and well. It includes links to local services and support as well as advice and guidance.
- SUSU Participation Workers are Doink (Previously C-Card) trained, which means they can provide free condoms. For more information on Doink and on sexual wellbeing more generally, head to the Devon Sexual Health website
- You can find out more about the local children in care health service for care-experienced young people in Devon on the Child and Family Health Devon website. They deliver all of the health reviews for young people in care, which happen once a year.
