What is a Habit?

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens By Sean Covey

What is a Habit?

• Take out a scrap piece of paper • Write down what Habit means to you

Class definitions of HABIT

Define - Habit

• Things you do repeatedly, but you are often unaware that you do them

• A constant, often unconscious inclination to perform an act, acquired through its frequent repetition

Habits can make you orbreak you

• Good habits can help you be successfulo Do homework-get good grades-go to college of choice

• Bad habits can detract from your successo Don’t do homework, get bad grades, don’t go to college of

choice

• Some habits just areo These don’t help you or hurt you. Always tie right shoe first

Examples of Habits

• Examples of good habits

• Examples of bad habits

• Examples of habits that don’t matter

Sorting Activity

• Get into groups of four or five• Each group will receive an envelope

with habits on little slips of paper inside• Work together as a group and sort the

habits into two categories: good habits and bad habits

Changing a Habit

• It’s not always easy to change a habit, but it’s always possible

• Cross your arms• Now cross them the other way. How

does it feel?• How long does it take to learn or

unlearn a habit?

What are the 7 Habits? (pg. 5)

1.Be Proactive2.Begin with the end in mind3.Put first things first4.Think win-win5.Seek first to understand then to be understood6.Synergize 7.Sharpen the Saw

1.Be Proactive

• Take responsibility for your life- you are the driver not the passenger

• Poor grade on a test:o Teacher’s fault oro Should have studied more

2. Begin with the end in mind

• Define your mission and goals in life

• Decide where you want to go and draw a map

3. Put first things first

• Prioritize and do the most important things first

• Taking Habit 2 (goals) and making them important

4. Think win-win

• Have an everyone can win attitude

• It’s an attitude toward life. It is the foundation for getting along well with other people

5. Seek first to understand then to be understood

• Listen to people sincerely

• Key to good communication. Listen first, talk second

6. Synergize

• Work together to achieve more• Synergy is: Celebrating differences,Teamwork, open-mindedness, finding new and better ways

7. Sharpen the saw

• Renew yourself regularly-do things just for you

• Take care of your body, mind, heart, and soul

How can these habits help you?

• Get control of your life

• Improve your relationships

• Make smarter decisions

• Get along with your parents

• Overcome addiction

• Define your values• Get more done in

less time• Increase your self

confidence• Be happy• Find balance among

school, work, friends and everything else

Defective Habits (pg.7)

1.React2.Begin With No End in Mind3.Put First Things Last4.Think Win-Lose5.Seek First to Talk, Then Pretend to Listen6.Don't Cooperate7.Wear Yourself Out

1. React

• Blame all your problems on...

• Parents• Stupid teachers• Lousy Neighborhood• Boyfriend/Girlfriend• Government• Something or

somebody else

• Be a victim• Take no responsibility

in your life• Act like an animal• If you're hungry, eat• If someone yells at

you, yell back• If you feel like doing

something wrong, just do it

2. Begin with No End in Mind

• Don't have a plan• Avoid goals at all

costs• Never think about

tomorrow

• Why worry about the consequences of your actions?

• Live for the moment• Sleep around• Get wasted• Party on, for tomorrow

we die

3. Put First Things Last

• Whatever is most important in your life, don't do it until...

• You have spent sufficient time watching reruns

• Talked endlessly on the phone

• Surfed the Internet • Lounged around

• Always put off homework until tomorrow

• Make sure that things that don't matter always come before things that do

4. Think Win-Lose

• See life as a vicious competition• Your classmate is out to get you, so you'd better

get him or her first• Don't let anyone else succeed at anything

because, remember, if they win, you lose

5. Seek First to Talk, Then Pretend to Listen

• You were born with a mouth, so use it• Make sure you talk a lot• Always express your side of the story first• Once you're sure everyone understands your

views, then pretend to listen by nodding and saying “uh-huh”

• Or if you really want their opinion, give it to them

6. Don't Cooperate

• Let's face it, other people are weird because they're different from you. So why try to get along with them?

• Teamwork is for the dogs• Since you always have the best ideas, you are

better off doing everything by yourself• Be your own island

7. Wear Yourself out

• Be so busy with life that you never take the time to renew or improve yourself

• Never study• Don't learn anything new• Avoid exercise like the plague• Stay away from good books, nature, or

anything else that may inspire you

Assignment

• Identify one defective habit that you have that you would like to change

• Write a paragraph describing which habit you want to change and why

• Journal Reflection: “How can habits hurt you?”