1. “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey
RENEWAL Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

2. Keep your personal self sharp so you can better deal with life
Body The Physical Dimension
Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well, relax
Brain The Mental Dimension
Read, educate, write, learn new skills
Heart The Emotional Dimension
Build relationships (RBA, PBA), give service, laugh
Soul The Spiritual Dimension
Meditate, keep a journal, pray, take in quality media

3. Balance is Better Ancient Greek saying: “Nothing overmuch” reminds of
Keeping in touch with all
Dimensions of life
How you do in one dimension will affect the other three
Ex.: If one of your tires is out of balance, all four tires will wear unevenly

4. Take Time for a Time Out
Just like a car, you too need regular tune-ups and oil changes
You need time to rejuvenate, relax and give yourself some TLC (tender loving care)

5. Caring for Your Body Eat good food Relax in the tub Bike Lift weights
Get enough sleep
Practice yoga
Play sports
Take walks
Stretch out
Do an aerobics workout
Hike a mountain
Go swimming

6. You are What You Eat Listen to your body
Pay close attention to how different foods make you feel
Develop your own handful of do’s and don’ts
For example, how do you feel after eating a big meal right before bed, if you eat too many french-fries or nachos?; how do you feel when you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water?

7. You are What You Eat Be moderate and avoid extremes
A little junk food on occasion isn’t going to hurt you
Extreme eating: rabbit food diet or junk-food diet will hurt you
Remember, food affects mood—eat with care!

8. Use It or Lose It Think Forrest Gump
At one point in the movie, Forrest is frustrated and confused about his life
What does he do? –He starts to run, and keeps on running. After running back and forth from coast to coast two and a half times, Forrest feels better and is finally able to sort his life out
Get outside and move around!
Don’t let “pain” be the first think you think of about exercise. Find something you enjoy and do it.

9. It’s All About How You Feel, Not How You Look
Yes!!!!!
Life is good!

10. Addictions You’re not in control—your addiction is
When it says jump, you jump
Say good-bye to the idea of being proactive
Being healthy and clean is cool
Strive for ways to enjoy life clean and clear-headed—you’ll be glad you did!

11. Don’t Destroy Your Body
Addictive substances
alcohol, drugs, tobacco
Three leading causes of death
among teens
car accidents, suicide, homicide
Bad effects of smoking
clouds eyes, causes skin to prematurely age, yellows your teeth, causes bad breath,
triples your cavities, causes reducing
gums, discolors the skin on your fingertips,
causes tiredness, causes cancer/death

12. The Refusal Skill
Ask questions: ask tough questions that really make you think about what you’re doing
“Why would I want to smoke?”
“What will happen to me if I get stoned tonight?”

13. The Refusal Skill
2. Name the trouble: Try to put a face on what you’re doing
“Smoking pot is illegal.”
“Smoking will ruin my teeth.”

14. The Refusal Skill
3. State the consequences: Think through the consequences of your actions.
“I could get arrested if I’m caught with drugs.”
“If I get wasted tonight, someone might take advantage of me.”

15. Suggest an Alternative
4. Suggest an alternative: Have your own list of fun alternatives ready to go whenever you’re being lured in.
“Hey, why don’t we go to the movies?”
“I’d rather play basketball.”

16. Suggest an Alternative
5. Take off: If you get caught in a situation that just doesn’t look good, don’t worry about what everyone might think of you, just get away…fast.
“Sorry, everyone. But I’m out of here.”
If you’re creative enough, you’ll be able to develop your own approach to avoiding the entire scene.

17. Caring for Your Brain
Key to unlocking your future: Develop an educated mind
Similar to a well-conditioned ballerina: has perfect control over their muscles—can bend, twist, jump and turn perfectly, according to their command
Educated mind: can focus, synthesize, read, write, speak, create, analyze, explore, imagine, and much more.

18. Sharpen Your Mind Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body
On-line news, or listen to news
Magazine: National Geographic
Travel, gardening, wildlife
Attend a lecture on an interesting topic
Watch Discovery Channel or PBS documentary
Visit a library
Research ancestors
Write a story, poem or song
Play challenging games
Debate
- Comment in class
Visit a museum
Attend a play or concert
Play a musical instrument
Have a stimulating conversation with friends

19. Find Your Niche Find subjects you enjoy at school
Build on those classes
Take additional classes
Check out books
See movies on this topic
Let the world be your campus
Don’t give up when it gets hard
Keep trying to find a way to make something that is hard easier and more enjoyable

20. Mental Barriers
Screentime – Any time spent in front of a screen, like a computer, TV, video game, or movie screen
The Nerd Syndrome – Take pride in your mental abilities, and the fact that you value your education, don’t just not do well because it doesn’t appear to be cool
Pressure – The stress that results from success is much more tolerable than the regret that results from not trying your best

21. You Gotta Wanna Key to honing the mind: Your desire to learn
You have to pay the price to educate yourself
It’s never too late to start
You can learn to think well
The future will be an open door of opportunity

22. Caring for Your Heart
Focus on building relationships —make regular deposits into your relationship bank accounts and into your own personal bank account
RBA (Relationship Bank Account) Deposits
Keep promises
Do small acts of kindness
Be loyal
Say you’re sorry
Set clear expectations
PBA (Personal Bank Account) Deposits
Keep promises to yourself
Do small acts of kindness
Be gentle with yourself
Be honest
Renew yourself
Tap into your talents

23. Sex & Relationships
Sex is just not about your body, it is about your heart
It affects your self-image and your relationships with others
You’re not ready for sex if….You think sex equals love, you feel pressured, you’re afraid to say no, it’s just easier to give in, you think everyone else is doing it (they’re not!), your instincts tell you no, you don’t know the facts about pregnancy, you don’t understand how birth control works, you’ll regret it, you can’t support a child, you’re doing it to prove something, you don’t know the signs & symptoms of STIs and STDs, you think it will keep you and your partner together, you’re drunk, you haven’t talked about tomorrow, you think it will make you more popular, you’re only thinking about yourself, you hope no one will hear about it, etc.

24. You’re Gonna Make It Normal = to feel depressed at times
Big difference between a case of the blues and sustained depression
Depression is treatable—get help
Trained specialists—psychologists, therapists, counselors
Medication

25. Laugh or You’ll Cry Laughter Key to keeping your heart healthy
and strong: Laugh
This is what made childhood so magical
By the time you reach kindergarten, you laugh 300 times a day
Wimpy adults: 17 times a day
Laughter
Loosens up the mental gears and helps us think more creatively
Helps us cope with difficulties in life
Reduces stress levels
Relaxes us as it lowers our heart rate and blood pressure
Connects us with others and counteracts feelings of alienation, a major factor in depression and suicide
Releases endorphins, the brain’s natural painkillers.

26. Caring for Your Soul Feed your soul Mediate Serve others
Journal writing
Walking
Reading inspiring books
Drawing
Writing poetry or music
Deep thinking

27. Get Back to Nature Something magical about getting into nature
Rivers, mountains, beaches, parks, hiking trails
The power of Mother Nature can offer it’s healing powers

28. A Teen’s Best Friend Keep a journal!
Writing down your unedited thoughts can clear your mind, boost your confidence, and help you find yourself
Strengthens self-awareness
Reading past entries helps you see how much you’ve grown

29. Your Spiritual Diet Feed your soul good nutrients Example
keep yourself “media free” for a day
Soul Trash check —what are the results of feeding yourself soul trash
How does it make you feel
Is it helpful for what you live from day to day?—in your relationships?