Secrets to a healthy lifestyle!









				Secrets to a Healthy Lifestyle ! It is important to have someone, or a number of people you trust that you feel comfortable to talk to. These are most likely to be people who listen without judgement, pay attention to your feelings, don't try to solve your problems, let you say whatever you need to say, and genuinely care about you. Make sure you have an active life. Pursue your hobbies, take up sports, follow your artistic calling, or try something new. Life is full of opportunities waiting to be grabbed! Become an Assertive Teen An assertive teen Expresses personal likes and dislikes Feels comfortable making personal decisions Agrees to disagree or compromise Can say "NO" Stands up to others Doesn't let people take advantage of their kindness, skills, or personal belongings Respects others and in return, gets respect Develop Healthy Personal Boundaries Choose who you want to share your "personal stuff" with Stand by your personal values and rights Notice when someone is disrespectful of you or taking advantage of you Listen to the advice of others and then decide if you will follow it or carry on with your own decision Maintain a healthy sense of privacy Decide who can touch you and where they can touch you Be aware of your personal space and how close you will allow others to be Pay attention to your need to have some quiet time alone or with someone that you feel comfortable being around Some appropriate responses to use when your boundaries are not respected: "NO" (it is not selfish to say NO) "Don't touch me." "I don't want to talk about this with you." "I can't be your friend any more because I don't feel that you respect me." "If you don't stop this behaviour I am leaving." Leave the room Refuse to read a note Screen your phone calls Don't return phone calls Positive Self-talk When you are feeling scared or anxious, it helps to think positive thoughts about yourself. This might be hard because you've probably been thinking bad thoughts for a long time. You might find it easier if you write down some positive thoughts so that you can remember them when you need them. Here are some examples: "I can handle this." "It might be scary but I can get through it." "I'm okay the way I am." "I will do my best and not worry about what others think." "It's okay to make mistakes." "People love me for who I am." "I have friends who care about me." "I'll be okay, this is just a feeling. It will go away." "Other people have been through this and they made it." Self Esteem Do's and Don't's Don't: Worry so much about what people think of you Question your basic worth as a human being Blame yourself when things go wrong in your life Accept inappropriate blame that others try to put on you Compare yourself to others Do: Give yourself permission to fail Keep being yourself Expect to make mistakes Treat yourself like you are a worthwhile person Give yourself credit for your personal achievements Acknowledge your natural talents