LIFE SKILLS What is the definition of a life skill? Tools for building a healthy life Top Six Life Skills? 1. Communicating effectively 2. Coping 3. Using community resources 4. Making great decisions 5. Using refusal skills 6. Setting goals

Importance of Making Great Decisions How many decisions do you make in a day? Many of these decisions happen at the spur of the moment You make some of these decisions without even thinking about them, could be good could be bad

Consequences A consequence is a result of your actions and decisions Some consequences can be good, you achieve something you were striving for, you stepped outside the box and tried something new Some consequences can be bad, you get in trouble, you get injured, or you make an unhealthy decision

Making G.R.E.A.T Decisions G- Give thought to the problem R – Review your choices E – Evaluate the consequences A – Assess and Make your choice T – Think about it afterwards (evaluate) MAKE GREAT DECISIONS TOGETHER When making a really important decision, seek the advice of a friend, teacher, or parent in order to help you make the right decision. You will find that decisions in the future will require collaboration

COLLABORATE To work together with one or more people to accomplish a task Some decisions that need to be made CANNOT be made alone! It is ok to ask for help and advice!

TEEN INFLUENCES Your peers will influence you the most about making good or bad decisions. Peer Pressure – The feeling that you should do something because your friends want you to do it. Positive Influences – Positive role models who encourage you to improve yourself Negative Influences – Being pressured into doing something you don’t want to do. http://vimeo.com/2751275

Types Of Pressure Direct Pressure – The pressure that results from someone who tries to convince you to do something you normally wouldn’t do Ex. Teasing, persuasion, explanations Indirect Pressure – Pressure that results from being swayed to do something because people you look up to are doing it Ex. Coaches, Media, Etc.

Refusal Skills Strategies to avoid doing something you don’t want to do. Examples page 35 – table 2 Practicing refusal skills will help you when the situation at hand actually happens to you. Remember when saying no… respect others and don’t put anyone down!

G O A L S A goal is something that you work towards and hope to achieve Two Kinds Short Term – goals that can be achieved quickly, with in 1-5 days Long Term – Goals that may take weeks, months or years to achieve

Six Suggestions For Setting Goals 1. Make them safe 2. Make them Satisfying 3. Make them sensible 4. Make them somewhat similar 5. Make them specific 6. Make them supported

Action Plans An action plan is a set of directions that will help you reach your goal. Describes the step by step process by which you will try to achieve your goals. Timelines, Step by step, support, etc. Have rewards for your action plan Reminders why you have worked so hard to get where you are

Influences and Tracking of Your Goals Make sure that you know ahead of time what type of people are going to influence you both positively and negatively that could affect your goal. Tracking – Make sure you keep a record or journal of your goal process to know where you are at.

Bad Decisions that affect you in a negative way? Just STOP, THINK, and GO!! Stop – admit you made a mistake Think – Who can you talk to about the problem GO – Do your best to correct the situation

Decisions/Refusal Skill Scenarios 1. Pick a scenario on the sheet that you have. 2. Use the G.R.E.A.T decision model to walk you through the scenario to hopefully make the right choice 3. List and explain how at least one of the refusal skills helped you out in the situation.

Persistent Pressure When you’ve tried to say NO, but still someone/people are still pressuring you to do something… what do you do? Leave the situation Find an adult or a friend to help Don’t let others get in the way from your values or morals