Building Health Skills How do you do it?

Health Skills Health Skills, or Life skills, are specific tools and strategies that help you maintain, protect and improve all aspects of your life. Activity : In your groups, create a list of all the health skills you can think of. Brainstorm with your group and think about what skills are necessary to maintain, protect and improve ALL aspects of your life…

Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Communication, or the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs between two or more people, is a vital health skill.

Effective Communication Effective Communication Was that an example of effective communication? What did you observe that was ineffective? How could that conversation been classified as effective communication? What skills do you think are necessary to achieve effective communication?

Effective Communication Use “I” messages to state your position. This helps to avoid placing blame. Use a respectful tone. Be mindful of facial expressions and gestures. Avoid interrupting the speaker. Show that you are listening by asking questions and nodding. Do you do this with your friends? Teachers? Parents? And most importantly, be honest!

Communication Activity : Get with a partner. One partner needs a “sharing concern” skill card and the other needs a “resolving conflict” skill card. Discuss the differences of the cards with your partner. Use the situation I will read (p.29 Glencoe Hardback) or create your own (A friend started drinking or smoking, a friend posted something on Facebook that upset you, your parent’s are fighting, you are arguing over who can use the car tonight, or anything you can think of…Fill in the cards with the appropriate ways to communicate in 2 situations. Any volunteers care to share?

Refusal skills Refusal Skills are communication strategies that can help you say no when you are urged to take part in behaviors that are unsafe or unhealthful, or that go against your values. Can I have a volunteer Help me act out a scenario? Alcohol, drugs, smoking, Property damage, or stealing…you pick.

Refusal Skills Say “NO” in a firm voice Explain why. Tell them it goes against your values. Suggest something else. Use appropriate body language. Look them in the eye. Leave if necessary. Did our volunteer do this?

Self Management Practicing Healthful Behaviors. Making good choices today will benefit you later in life. Exercising, eating well, maintaining relationships, building self-esteem. Activity : Imagine I am a genie. I have the ability to grant you 3 wishes. You have exactly 1 minute to write down 3 wishes (can’t wish for more wishes). What did you wish for? Why?

Self Management Read the “Letter from a Doctor” to the class. Imagine this letter is addressed to you… Take a good look at the 3 wishes you wrote down. Does this news change your 3 wishes at all? If you want to change anything based on the news you received, do it now. Does anyone want to share what they changed?

Self Management -If this news you received were true, are you happy with your healthful behaviors? -Would you change anything? -Did the 3 wishes activity make you think about things any differently?

Stress Management

Stress! What is stress? Based on what you just watched, get into your groups and write a definition of stress.

Stress All stress is a response to a stressor, or a physical or psychological demand that requires a person to adapt to a situation. Balloon Activity : Take out a piece of paper and draw a circle. Inside of the circle, write all of the stressors in your life.

Stress The air in the balloon is equal to the stress in your life. Did the balloon pop? Could it? What might happen to a person’s wellness if stress goes unmanaged? What strategies are effective in managing stress? (1 effective strategy equals a puff out of the balloon)

Stress Test Take a copy of the “Stress Test” and pick the two biggest stressors in your life. Answer the questions. Get with a partner and share what you wrote. Make suggestions or comments on your partner’s strategies to manage the stress. This is an in-class quiz grade, hopefully you took it seriously…

High Level Stressors Death of a parent Divorce of parents Break-ups Getting a job Money Trouble Failing at school Parent losing job Loss of a pet Moving Illness

Low Level Stressors Vacation Christmas or other holidays Change in eating habits Change in sleeping habits Traffic ticket Change in personal appearance Ending of school

Physical Effects of Stress What can stress do to the body? Rapid, shallow breathing Pounding of the heart Increased blood pressure Sweating Dizziness Sleeplessness Loss of Appetite Weight loss/Weight gain Substance abuse

Psychological Effects of Stress Anxiety Depression Impulsive behavior Low self-esteem Avoiding activities Inability to concentrate Loss of energy Loss of joy

Stress/Self Management Keeping balance in your life by practicing stress management and self-management will help overall wellness…

Let’s Review for a Test!