Denis Waitley -
“Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep.”
“Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep.”
It’s that time of year again where we feel the urge to reflect
on the past year and hope for all the possibilities in the coming year, and
that often results in the all-too-famous New Year’s Resolutions. A resolution
is a promise that you make to yourself.
In many ways, resolutions are like goals. Setting goals is a
skill that children should learn, so please consider sitting down with the
teenagers you know and help them create a goal (or goals) for themselves. You
can help them start by asking them three questions:
·
What do you like about your life?
·
What problem would you like to see go away or improved?
·
What new things would you like to see happen?
So, as the New Year approaches, Middle Earth would like to offer
suggestions for some positive resolutions for teenagers and some methods for
improving success in achieving them. Not everyone is successful with their
resolutions, but many people are able to make significant life changes that
positively affect their health and lifestyles.
Tips for Success
·
Be specific. Goals that are vague, such as wanting “to be
happier,” don’t offer a method for achieving them. Have the youth write down
their goals and then define specific, concrete paths to reach them. Have them
set deadlines for their steps within each goal and encourage them to track
their progress. The more self-monitoring that is done, the more likely the
youth will succeed. And be sure to reward the teen when they complete a step.
·
Keep it simple. Remind teens that keeping their resolutions will
make them feel better about themselves. So, it’s important not to make wild
resolutions that are too difficult to follow. The promises they make should not
be too hard to keep or used to criticize themselves.
·
Plan ahead. There will be times when you don’t feel like
continuing towards your goal or when your enthusiasm gives way, so have a plan
for how you’re going to pull yourself out of that lull.
·
Make it official. Have the teen tell others about their
resolution, post it on the refrigerator, write a contract with themselves, or
keep a journal. When they make their goal official, they will feel more
accountability for achieving it. But of course, you must respect their privacy
as appropriate.
Suggestions for Positive
Goals for Adolescents from the American Academy of Pediatrics
·
I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I
will limit the amount of soda I drink.
·
I will take care of my body through physical activity and
nutrition.
·
I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and
I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these
activities.
·
I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working
with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
·
I will wipe negative “self talk” (i.e. “I can’t do it” or “I’m
so dumb”) out of my vocabulary.
·
When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find
constructive ways to deal with stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in
a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
·
When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk with an adult
about my choices.
·
I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat
the other person with respect and without coercion or violence.
·
I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
There
are many more possibilities for good resolutions, including improving grades,
keeping curfews, helping out with chores, spending time with siblings. This is
by no means an exhaustive list, so encourage youth to consider all
possibilities and to make sure they break down their goals into “baby steps.”
They will be proud of each “check mark” next to a step within their goal and
they will see this as progress.
http://middleearthnj.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/new-years-resolutions-for-teens/
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