Making Healthful ChoicesMaking Healthful Choices

Building Health SkillsBuilding Health Skills

Chapter 2 – Lesson 1Chapter 2 – Lesson 1

What are Health Skills?What are Health Skills?

Also known as life skills, Also known as life skills, HEALTH SKILLS:HEALTH SKILLS: are are specific tools and strategies that lead to specific tools and strategies that lead to better and more informed health choices.better and more informed health choices.

Health skills are for use not just now, during Health skills are for use not just now, during your teen years, but throughout your entire life.your teen years, but throughout your entire life.

As with other skills you may have mastered, As with other skills you may have mastered, developing health skills takes time and practice.developing health skills takes time and practice.

Social Health SkillsSocial Health Skills

Communicating effectively means being able Communicating effectively means being able to express your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas to express your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas in many different ways and forms.in many different ways and forms.

It also includes the ability to say no to It also includes the ability to say no to behaviors that threaten your health and behaviors that threaten your health and

well-being.well-being.

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

You may not think of communicating as a skill.You may not think of communicating as a skill.

COMMUNICATION:COMMUNICATION: is a process through which is a process through which you send messages to and receive messages you send messages to and receive messages from others.from others.

The skill of communicating includes the following:The skill of communicating includes the following: Clearly say what you meanClearly say what you mean Pay attention to how you say somethingPay attention to how you say something Be a good listenerBe a good listener Be aware of your facial expressions and gesturesBe aware of your facial expressions and gestures

Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills Picture a situation where you are asked to do Picture a situation where you are asked to do

something that compromises your values or something that compromises your values or that you know or believe is wrong.that you know or believe is wrong.

Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills

REFUSAL SKILLS:REFUSAL SKILLS: are techniques that can are techniques that can help you refuse when you are urged to take part help you refuse when you are urged to take part in unsafe or unhealthy behaviors.in unsafe or unhealthy behaviors.

This strategy includes the following:This strategy includes the following:1.1. SAY NOSAY NO

2.2. EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE REFUSINGEXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE REFUSING

3.3. SUGGEST ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITYSUGGEST ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY

4.4. BACK UP YOUR WORDS USING BODY LANGUAGEBACK UP YOUR WORDS USING BODY LANGUAGE

5.5. LEAVE IF NECESSARYLEAVE IF NECESSARY

Mental and Emotional Health SkillsMental and Emotional Health Skills Building Self-EsteemBuilding Self-Esteem

SELF-ESTEEM:SELF-ESTEEM: Is the confidence and Is the confidence and worth that you feel about yourself. worth that you feel about yourself.

Stress Management SkillsStress Management Skills Stress, give examples?Stress, give examples? Stress is an unavoidable part of life.Stress is an unavoidable part of life.

STRESS:STRESS: the body’s and mind’s reactions the body’s and mind’s reactions to everyday demands.to everyday demands.

Solution to relieve stress:Solution to relieve stress:1.1. Rechanneling your energy - physical activity.Rechanneling your energy - physical activity.2.2. Relaxing – listen to music, warm bath.Relaxing – listen to music, warm bath.3.3. Laughing – watch Seinfeld, read a joke book.Laughing – watch Seinfeld, read a joke book.

Total Health Skills Total Health Skills Accessing Reliable InformationAccessing Reliable Information

Information you receive can be conflicting.Information you receive can be conflicting. How can you tell what to believe and what to How can you tell what to believe and what to

disregard?disregard? The following strategies can help.The following strategies can help.

1.1. Consider the source. Consider the source. • Pay attention to the reputation of a given media source. Pay attention to the reputation of a given media source. • Is the source widely considered a “popularizer” of fad information or a Is the source widely considered a “popularizer” of fad information or a

legitimate provider of documented facts.legitimate provider of documented facts. 2.2. Consider the “angle.”Consider the “angle.”• Is an advertiser trying to sell you something.Is an advertiser trying to sell you something.• Do they have your best interest in mind.Do they have your best interest in mind.

Getting Help Getting Help Meeting life’s demands means facing Meeting life’s demands means facing

problems when they arise. When the problems problems when they arise. When the problems are BIG, this means being able to reach out are BIG, this means being able to reach out and ask for help. and ask for help.

When you need help with a problem:When you need help with a problem:

1.1. Think of people in your life who can offer Think of people in your life who can offer assistance.assistance.

2.2. Learn about resources in your community.Learn about resources in your community.

3.3. Learn about print and electronic resources.Learn about print and electronic resources.

Making Healthful ChoicesMaking Healthful Choices

Making Decisions and Setting GoalsMaking Decisions and Setting Goals

Chapter 2 – Lesson 2Chapter 2 – Lesson 2

Making Responsible Decisions Making Responsible Decisions Making decisions about major life issues must Making decisions about major life issues must

be done carefully and deliberately.be done carefully and deliberately. Just like you would slow down and look for Just like you would slow down and look for

approaching cars when arriving at a busy approaching cars when arriving at a busy intersection, so you will need to approach life intersection, so you will need to approach life decisions with caution.decisions with caution.

You will have to “look in all directions” for You will have to “look in all directions” for possible risks, then act decisively and without possible risks, then act decisively and without hesitation once the risks have been identified hesitation once the risks have been identified and weighed.and weighed.

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model

(Step 1) (Step 1) STATE THE SITUATIONSTATE THE SITUATION

Examine the situation and ask yourself: Examine the situation and ask yourself: What decision needs to be made?What decision needs to be made?

Identify others who may be affected by Identify others who may be affected by your decision.your decision.

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model

(Step 2) (Step 2) LIST THE POSSIBLE OPTIONSLIST THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS

Ask yourself: What are the possible Ask yourself: What are the possible choices that I could make?choices that I could make?

Remember , to include "not act at all," if Remember , to include "not act at all," if appropriate.appropriate.

Share your options with responsible Share your options with responsible family members, teachers, or friends.family members, teachers, or friends.

Ask for their advice.Ask for their advice.

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model

(Step 3) (Step 3) WEIGH THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMESWEIGH THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

Ask yourself if there are both positive and negative Ask yourself if there are both positive and negative results of each choice.results of each choice.

Weigh the outcome, or consequence, of each Weigh the outcome, or consequence, of each option.option.

Ask yourself: Is this decision healthful, safe, and Ask yourself: Is this decision healthful, safe, and legal?legal?

Does it show respect for myself and others?Does it show respect for myself and others?

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model (Step 4)(Step 4) CONSIDER YOUR VALUES CONSIDER YOUR VALUES

Evaluate whether your course of action is in Evaluate whether your course of action is in keeping with your values and the values of your keeping with your values and the values of your family and community.family and community.

Ask yourself: Am I comfortable with the possible Ask yourself: Am I comfortable with the possible outcome?outcome?

What will my family and other responsible What will my family and other responsible adults think about this decision?adults think about this decision?

What will I think about this decision in the What will I think about this decision in the weeks and months ahead?weeks and months ahead?

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model

(Step 5) (Step 5) MAKE A DECISION AND TAKE MAKE A DECISION AND TAKE ACTIONACTION

Use everything you know at this point to Use everything you know at this point to make a responsible decision.make a responsible decision.

You can feel good that you have carefully You can feel good that you have carefully prepared and thought about the situation prepared and thought about the situation and your options.and your options.

The Decision-Making Model The Decision-Making Model

(Step 6) (Step 6) EVALUATE YOUR DECISIONEVALUATE YOUR DECISION After you have made the decision and taken After you have made the decision and taken

action, action, reflect on what happened.reflect on what happened. You might ask yourself: What was the You might ask yourself: What was the

outcome?outcome? Was it what I expected?Was it what I expected? How did my decision affect my health?How did my decision affect my health? What effect did my decision have on others?What effect did my decision have on others? What did I learn?What did I learn? Would I take the same action again?Would I take the same action again?

Practicing Decision-Making Practicing Decision-Making SkillsSkills

Practicing the steps in the decision-making Practicing the steps in the decision-making process will increase your familiarity with the process will increase your familiarity with the process, along with the likelihood that you will process, along with the likelihood that you will use the next time a major problem arises.use the next time a major problem arises.

And even more important benefit is that And even more important benefit is that mastering this skill gives you an added measure mastering this skill gives you an added measure of control over your total health.of control over your total health.

Setting GoalsSetting Goals GOALS: GOALS: Is something you aim for that takes planning Is something you aim for that takes planning

and work.and work.

Think about what you want to do in the future.Think about what you want to do in the future. How you view your life can have major effects on your How you view your life can have major effects on your

health and well-being.health and well-being. Having and setting goals is one way to help shape your Having and setting goals is one way to help shape your

life in positive directions.life in positive directions. People who identify and work at achieving goals feel People who identify and work at achieving goals feel

more satisfaction with themselves and their lives.more satisfaction with themselves and their lives.

Kinds of GoalsKinds of Goals Every goal involves planning, and planning involves time.Every goal involves planning, and planning involves time. Some goals can be achieved fairly easily and in a short period of time.Some goals can be achieved fairly easily and in a short period of time. Such Such short-term goalsshort-term goals include getting homework done by nine o'clock. include getting homework done by nine o'clock. Other goals, such as becoming a teacher or a professional dancer, pose Other goals, such as becoming a teacher or a professional dancer, pose

a greater challenge.a greater challenge. Such Such long-term goalslong-term goals take a longer period -- sometimes months or even take a longer period -- sometimes months or even

years -- to achieve.years -- to achieve. Many Many long-term goalslong-term goals can be achieved by breaking them down into can be achieved by breaking them down into short-short-

term goals.term goals. What type of What type of short-term goalsshort-term goals are necessary for your career? are necessary for your career?

Kinds of GoalsKinds of Goals While goals can differ in the amount of time While goals can differ in the amount of time

and degree of effort necessary to reach and degree of effort necessary to reach them, all can be achieved by creating an them, all can be achieved by creating an action plan.action plan.

Like the decision-making process, an Like the decision-making process, an ACTION PLAN:ACTION PLAN: is a multi-step strategy for is a multi-step strategy for identifying and achieving goals.identifying and achieving goals.

Goals for LifeGoals for Life What are your personal goals right now -- today?What are your personal goals right now -- today?

If your answer is that you don't have any, ask yourself why?If your answer is that you don't have any, ask yourself why?

Remember, goal setting, like decision making and other Remember, goal setting, like decision making and other health skills you learned about in this chapter, can move health skills you learned about in this chapter, can move you toward the ultimate goal of total health and wellness.you toward the ultimate goal of total health and wellness.

Who would deliberately pass up the chance for improved Who would deliberately pass up the chance for improved physical, mental and emotional, and social health; for physical, mental and emotional, and social health; for higher self-esteem; for a better quality of lifehigher self-esteem; for a better quality of life

GO FOR IT! START TODAY. Aim for total health!GO FOR IT! START TODAY. Aim for total health!

Setting Goals: Setting Goals: Making an Action PlanMaking an Action Plan

1.1. SELECT A GOAL TO WORK ON.SELECT A GOAL TO WORK ON.2.2. LIST WHAT YOU WILL DO TO REACH THE LIST WHAT YOU WILL DO TO REACH THE

GOAL.GOAL.3.3. IDENTIFY SOURCES OF HELP AND IDENTIFY SOURCES OF HELP AND

SUPPORT.SUPPORT.4.4. SET A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR SET A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR

REACHING YOUR GOAL.REACHING YOUR GOAL.5.5. ESTABLISH CHECKPOINTS TO EVALUATE ESTABLISH CHECKPOINTS TO EVALUATE

YOUR PROGRESS.YOUR PROGRESS.6.6. REWARD YOURSELF AFTER REACHING REWARD YOURSELF AFTER REACHING

YOUR GOAL.YOUR GOAL.

Other Guidelines for Other Guidelines for Setting GoalsSetting Goals

Make certain your goal will not harm your health Make certain your goal will not harm your health or anyone else's.or anyone else's.

Be sure that your goal shows respect both for Be sure that your goal shows respect both for you and for everyone else affected by it.you and for everyone else affected by it.

Set a goal because it will help you grow, not Set a goal because it will help you grow, not because you want to outdo someone or win because you want to outdo someone or win someone else's attention.someone else's attention.

If you fail to reach your goal, use what you learn If you fail to reach your goal, use what you learn from the failure to set a new goal.from the failure to set a new goal.