1. Health Skills Handbook Teen Health (Nevada Edition) Pages HSH-2 through HSH21 Mr. McCarthy Rogich MS

2. This Set of Lessons Will Cover: Part 1: Health and Wellness (HSH- 2, 3 & 4) Part 2: Health Influences, Risks, and Skills (HSH- 5 through 14) Part 3: Decision Making (HSH- 15 & 16) Part 4: Goal Setting (HSH- 17)

3. Health Skills Handbook - Part 3 Decision Making Pages HSH-15 through HSH-16

4. Your choices and decisions have a big impact on all three sides of your Health Triangle

5. As you get older, your decisions can have serious consequences. As you get older, you become more responsible for your own choices

6. W e c a n a l l b e n e f i t f r o m l e a r n i n g h o w t o m a k e b e t t e r d e c i s i o n s !

7. Definition: The Decision-Making Process The process of making a choice or solving a problem

8. THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS HAS SIX STEPS:

9. STEP 1: STATE THE SITUATION Get the “Big Picture” Try your best to understand your situation Who else is involved?

10. STEP 2: LIST YOUR OPTIONS What are all your possible choices? Choose only options that are safe Write options down Ask for advice

11. STEP 3: WEIGH THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES What are the consequences or results of your choices? How does this affect you and those around you?

12. STEP 4: CONSIDER YOUR VALUES What is important to you? What are your beliefs? What is right and what is wrong?

13. STEP 5: MAKE A DECISION AND ACT Choose the option that seems best Take action and do not procrastinate Doing “nothing” can actually be a choice!

14. STEP 6: EVALUATE YOUR DECISION Examine, assess, judge, or rate your decision Be honest with yourself This can help you make better decisions in the future

15. A Few Other Helpful Tips:

16. 1.Take A Deep Breath and Relax: We have better judgment and make smarter decisions when we are calm and relaxed.

17. 2.Don’t Make An Important Decision When You Are too Anxious or Angry: We cannot think clearly if we are too stressed out. Put off making major decisions until you are calm enough.

18. 3.Get Help If You Need It! Talk To Others About Your Decision: Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or stupidity. Asking for advice is a sign of maturity and wisdom

19. 4.Get The Facts ! Gather the information you need before you decide Lack of knowledge often leads to poor decisions

20. 5. B a d D e c i s i o n ? L e a r n F r o m T h e P r o c e s s : D o n ’ t m a k e t h e s a m e b a d d e c i s i o n s o v e r a n d o v e r !

21. 6. Accept Responsibility: You must deal with all the consequences of your decisions... both the good and the bad! Don’t blame others for the decisions you make.

22. R e m e m b e r : T h e B e t t e r D e c i s i o n s Y o u M a k e …

23. The Healthier and Happier You Will Be !!!

24. Good Luck !

25. 3.Know When The Decision Needs To Be Made: Ask yourself, “Must this decision be made now?” Give yourself the time you need. Don’t act too impulsively. Think it through.

26. 5.Identify Potential Sources Of Needed Information: Brainstorm: Consider family, teachers, counselors, or trusted friends. How about the internet, local and national newspapers, magazines, and books on the areas of interest?

27. 6. Gather The Information You Need: From your list of information sources, follow through with the leg work. Ask, look, interview, consult, read. Don’t be lazy.

28. 9.List Your Options And Alternatives: Make a list of all your possible choices. List both good and bad options.

29. 10. List The Pros And Cons of Each Option: Write down the good points and bad points of each of your options. This will allow you to be more objective. Set your list down and come back to it later if you need to.

30. 11. What Are Your Values, Goals, Interests, Needs, And Desires In The Decision? It is helpful to be clear about what is important to you. What is something I need, and what is something I simply want ?

31. 12. Evaluate ! Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Each Available Choice: Think about it! Keep in mind that some values will carry more weight than others.

32. 13. Recognize That Sometimes There Isn’t A Single “Right” Answer: There may be no “perfect” choice. Sometimes there are both good and bad consequences to our choices.

33. 15. Once You Have Made Your Decision, Relax And Don’t Worry About It. Once a decision has been made, there is no point in obsessing about it and second- guessing yourself.

34. 16. Give Yourself Permission To Make Mistakes: Even when we do our best, there is no guarantee that our choice will work out. If we mess up, it is not the end of the world.

35. 18. Practice Making Decisions: Make good decisions about little things, such as where to eat out, what movie to watch, and which outfit to buy. This will help you make good decisions about bigger things.

36. 19. Look For Linkage Between Decisions: Think about how past decisions impact your decision today... And how your decision today might affect future decisions tomorrow.

37. Once Again: Will you use all twenty principles every time you make a decision? Of Course Not !!!

38. … But … If you consider these principles, you might make better decisions in your life !