Listening to podcasts
Listening to podcasts can be helpful for self-care in a number of different ways. Like listening to music, they can provide a distraction from difficult thoughts or feelings. You can just put on your headphones and take some time out listening to something that you enjoy or that interests you, whether you’re in your room or on a train, walking in a park or just needing 5 minutes break from your day.
There are podcasts on many different topics, including mental health. Some podcasts might make you laugh or feel different emotions, which might help you feel that you’re not on your own, especially if you’re experiencing certain difficulties. You may even find that podcasts help connect you with other people who have shared interests or like the same podcast series. They are also a good way to discover new interests and learn about new things, or to find inspiration and motivation.
There are podcasts on every topic so you are certain to find something you will like and you can find lists online of podcasts to help you get started.
What young people have told us:
'Gave me something to think about that isn't stressful.'
'I listen to podcasts whilst travelling to and from school and helps with my anxiety and to focus. There's so many types of themes for podcasts so you're bound to find one that helps you.'
There isn’t much academic research in the area of self-care for young people who are living with mental health issues. We are trying to find out more about what works for different people so we can better advise other young people what to try.
If you’ve tried this activity when you were struggling in relation to your mental health, please let us know if it helped you and how by clicking on the ‘Did this activity help you’ button.