HABIT 7 – Sharpen the Saw

You’ve Made It! This is number 7 – Woo Hoo April, 2013 *** This material is based on the book – 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

“To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” • Mother Teresa

• Sharpen the Saw is about renewing yourself and balancing the key areas of your life: physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual. • It’s some people’s favorite Habit – but also the hardest to do!

• Fold it into quarters. • Label boxes like this: Body (physical)

Heart (relationships)

Soul (spiritual)

Brain (mental)

• List all of the things you DO to sharpen your saw in each of the four categories. • When finished pass into your Advisor.

Body • The physical dimension • • • •

Exercise Eat Healthy Sleep Well Relax

Heart • The mental dimension • • • •

Read Educate Write Learn New Skills

Heart • The emotional dimension • Build relationships (RBA & PBA) • Give service • Laugh

Soul • The spiritual dimension • Mediate • Keep a journal • Take in quality media

• • • •

Examine what you eat – remember Health Class  Use it or Lose it – exercise helps clear your mind Eat breakfast Give up a bad habit for a week. Go without soda, fried foods, donuts, energy drinks or whatever else might be hurting your body.

• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. • John F. Kennedy

• Develop brain power through: • • • • •

School Extracurricular activities Hobbies Jobs Other mind-enlarging experiences

• Your heart needs constant nourishment and care, just like your body. • Take care of your relationships with others AND with yourself. • Ideas: • Go on a one-on-one outing with a family member like your mom or your brother. Catch a ball game, see a movie, go shopping or get an ice cream. • Begin today to build your humor collection (stress reliever). Cut out your own favorite cartoons, buy a hilarious movie or start your own collection of great jokes. In no time, you will have something to go to when you’re feeling stressed.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. • Victor Borge

• How to feed your soul: • • • • • • • • •

Yoga or meditation Volunteering or helping others Writing in a journal Going for a walk Reading good books Thinking deeply Listening to uplifting music (even get up and dance) Talking to friends you can be yourself with Reflecting on your goals or mission statement

• Add new ideas to each of the four boxes. • Expand your activities and try something new!

• You only have one of yourself! Take good care of it!