Dr. Laurie Santos Wants to Help Teens Be Happier

Dr. Laurie Santos — a psychology professor who teaches the most popular course in the history of Yale — has created a FREE course to help teenagers learn how to deal with stress and enjoy life.

by Lindsay López-Isa Lamken

Teen Mental Health

Do you ever feel really stressed out or overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a pretty common feeling, especially for teenagers in middle and high school; young people are reporting record levels of anxiety and depression.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a free and easy way that teens could learn ways to handle stress and be happier? Well, now there IS!

Dr. Laurie Santos and The Science of Well-Being for Teens

Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University who has dedicated her career to understanding what makes humans happy and how we can live more fulfilling lives. She is also the creator of “Psychology and the Good Life” — which is the most popular course in Yale’s history (!) — and hosts the podcast “The Happiness Lab.” Through her work, Dr. Santos has helped thousands of people improve their mental health and find greater happiness and well-being in their lives.

Now Dr. Santos has created a new version of her famous course specifically for teens. “The Science of Well-Being for Teens” is free on Coursera and focuses on the most common problems that teenagers face, like how to handle conflicts with family, deal with stress from school, and manage emotions. And it’s not just about feeling better in the moment; Dr. Santos believes that learning these strategies now can help you prevent mental health problems down the road when you’re in college or starting your career.

It’s like flossing for your mind!

And get this: Thousands of teens have already taken the course, and more are signing up every day. The best part is, again, it’s totally free and you can take it from anywhere. Plus, there are surveys throughout the course so you can tell Professor Santos and her team what you think and if the strategies are working for you.

How to Practice Good “Mental Hygiene”

We encourage you to sign up for “The Science of Well-Being for Teens” to get the full benefit of the course. In the meantime, here’s a quick overview of Dr. Santos’ top strategies for teen mental health. In “The Science of Well-Being for Teens” course, you will learn how to:

Get Ready to Roll with the Punches

Cherish happy moments and events that bring joy to your life
Use a “negative visualization” technique to be grateful for what you have

Beware When You Compare

Follow a variety of social media accounts for more accurate reference points
Limit social comparisons by reducing screen time and focusing on your own growth

Focus on What Matters

Keep your phone away when you need to concentrate on something important
Use phone settings that help you stay on track and avoid distractions
Use the “WWW” technique (what for, why now, and what else) when you pick up your phone

Stay Connected

Talk to the people around you and invest time in maintaining your friendships
Join communities that align with your values and passions

Spread Kindness

Give back by donating money, time, or possessions to those in need
Surprise others with random acts of kindness

Find Your Flow

Challenge yourself with activities that require skill and get into a “flow” state
Ditch “fake fun” activities and focus on things that truly make you happy
Complete the “Fun Audit” to add more joy to your life

Use Your Strengths

Apply your unique skills to your daily routine
Keep moving and get 20-30 minutes of exercise each day

Healthy Habits for a Happier You

Make exercise fun by adding music or doing it with friends
Get 7+ hours of sleep each night to feel better and stay energized
Keep your phone away from your bed to promote better sleep hygiene

Take Control of Your Time

Make time for things you enjoy by clearing your schedule
Use the “time confetti wish list” to find enjoyable things to do in short amounts of time

Appreciate What You Have

Find the good in tough situations and focus on the positive
Practice gratitude regularly by counting your blessings and saying thank you
Express your gratitude to the people who matter to you

Be Mindful

Try out different meditation techniques and aim for 10 minutes each day
Savor the moment and be present in everything you do

Silence Your Inner Critic

Be kind to yourself and treat yourself like you would a friend
Give yourself a mini-hug or use positive self-talk to build yourself up

Gain Perspective

Use the second or third person when talking to yourself in high-pressure situations
Ask yourself “what would a wise person do?” when in doubt
Journal your thoughts and feelings to get a better understanding of what’s going on

Change Your Mindset

Add the word “yet” to describe something you haven’t yet achieved to transform a fixed mindset into a growth mindset
Know that you can change for the better and build up positive traits

Accept Your Emotions

Avoid suppressing negative feelings; accept and process them instead
Use the “R.A.I.N.” technique to help “Recognize, Accept, Investigate and Nurture” your emotions

Keep Calm and Carry On:

Take care of your body and mind to avoid getting into hot emotional states
Make changes to your environment when you’re in a calm state to avoid bad decisions in the future