Help Your Teen (and Yourself!) Navigate Life’s Challenging Moments
Make small, powerful changes in sleep, nutrition, self-care, and movement—one choice at a time.
As a mom of four, I get how real—and how tricky—the teen years can be. Between packed schedules, shifting moods, late nights, social pressures, and big emotions, it’s easy for both teens and adults to feel off-balance and out of sync. Add in skipped meals, energy crashes, anxiety, too much screen time, or not enough movement and even the smallest stressors can suddenly feel like too much.
The truth is, growing up today comes with a lot—and parenting through it does too. That’s why having a shared strategy to pause, reset, and respond with intention can make all the difference. With that in mind, I created the Yellow Light Moments Toolbox—a simple, practical resource you and your teen can use together when life feels a little “off.”
It’s not about fixing or figuring everything out, but about recognizing when something isn’t quite right and taking a moment to pause on purpose. At the heart of this approach are the four pillars of health and vitality: Sleep, Nutrition, Self-Care, and Movement. When one (or more) of these is out of balance, everything else feels harder.
Here's How The YLM Toolbox Works
Step 1: Yield | Help your teen notice their own yellow lights and hit pause when something feels off. Teach them that pausing is powerful.
Step 2: Listen | Invite them to tune in—what’s really going on in their body or mood right now? No pressure. Just awareness.
Step 3: Move | Support them in choosing one small, manageable step toward feeling better.
Your Go-To YLM Toolbox
I’ve put together a menu of simple, doable actions for each of the four pillars. Whether you put it on your fridge or save it in your phone, this is your guide anytime life feels overwhelming.
When a Yellow Light Moment happens, don’t start by asking, “What’s wrong?” Instead, try:
“What kind of yellow light is this—sleep, food, self-care, or movement?”
“What’s one toolbox action we can choose right now?”
By clearly recognizing these moments, you’ll help your teen move through challenges more smoothly while building a shared language to support their overall health and vitality.
Want to give it a try?
Download your Yellow Lights Moments Toolbox and a FREE CHAPTER from my book, Yellow Light Moments: Maximize Your Health and Vitality Through the Power of Pausing, and start implementing these tools right away. Simply enter your email below to get instant access.