Lesson:
Engage (5 minutes):
Explain in your own words what a habit is:
- What are some different ways habits impact our lives?
- How much control do you think we have over our habits?
- Many people know they need to change a habit, but they struggle to make or sustain the necessary changes in their regular routines. Why do you think these changes are difficult?
Apply (~100 minutes):
Activity 1 (50 Minutes)
Choice Reflection:
- Distribute the handout containing a list of health-related choices (e.g., diet, exercise, sleep, screen time, stress management, social interactions).
- Ask students to individually select three choices from the list that they have made recently and reflect on the impact this has made on your health and well-being.
Reflect and Discuss:
- In small groups, have students discuss their chosen health choices and reasons behind them.
- Encourage participants to share insights, challenges, and the impact of their choices on their well-being.
Impact Evaluation:
- On a whiteboard or flipchart, create a table with two columns: “Choice” and “Impact.”
- Ask each group to contribute examples of their chosen health choices and the positive or negative impacts they’ve experienced.
Group Sharing:
- Have each group share a few examples of their health choices and the corresponding impacts.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on the various factors that influence health choices and outcomes.
Activity 2 (20 Minutes)
- Watch the “Why Habits Matter” Video
- Complete the Habits and Your Future Self Worksheet
- Following the worksheet, have your students select one habit to write about in their journal.
Writing Prompts:
- What do you need to do, or what changes do you need to make, to develop this habit? Identify small steps you can take to make this habit sustainable. Be specific!
- Pick a date this week to take the first steps to develop this habit
Activity 3 (30 Minutes)
Discussion:
- In what ways do our life habits (what we eat, how much we exercise, when we sleep) affect our day-to-day ability to make good decisions?
- What things get in the way of eating right, or getting enough sleep and exercise?
- What negative side effects can occur from not getting enough sleep and exercise, or eating unhealthy foods?
Watch the “How Habits can help us be Healthy” Video
Discussion:
In the video, they mentioned that habits usually have long-term impacts on our lives in contrast to one-time events that usually have short-term effects. Jayden has a habit that helps him unwind after a busy day at school, but it ends up causing some negative side-effects.
- Do you have any similar habits that help you cope with a stresser in life but creates problems in other areas?
- Can you describe a better habit that would help you manage stress without the negative side effects?
- What helpful tips can you implement that would help you stick to these better habits?
Complete the Healthy Habits Survey
Discussion:
- Give me some examples of behaviors you can begin that will help improve either your sleep, exercise or eating habits.
Reflect (5 minutes):
Journal Entry
- Jot down one health-related choice you’d like to improve or modify for better well-being.
- What strategies can you use to prioritize healthier choices in your daily life?
