SUCCESS for Teens: The Power of Good Habits

First, your teen should understand that habits can be\r\nchanged. Developing good habits can take time, but they can be used as tools to\r\nachieve success. Looking for the positive in people, learning to save money,\r\ncreating schedules and focusing on schoolwork are all examples of positive\r\nhabits your teen could develop.

Develop a Schedule

One of the best ways to achieve a goal is to create a\r\ndetailed plan on how to get there. A teenager named Desiree describes how she\r\nused a schedule to develop a habit for doing schoolwork. She says having a\r\nschedule helps you get into the routine of challenging your mind. Once the schedule\r\nis laid out, it’s much easier to keep on track.

This habit can be applied in nearly every aspect of your\r\nteen’s life.

Do Things Ahead of Time

Octavia Fugerson learned how to do things ahead of time and\r\nseek opportunities instead of waiting around for good things to happen. She\r\ntook control of her situation and developed a habit that helped her focus on\r\nschoolwork.

“I tried to do my schoolwork ahead of time,” she says. “I’d\r\nmake sure I’d do it to retain the information, not just to pass. If I was\r\nstruggling in class, I’d let the teacher know if I was having a really hard\r\ntime with it. I’d try to get some extra help. I would go online and look for\r\ntutors.”

Don’t Get Down on Yourself

Trying to develop new habits and getting rid of bad habits\r\nwill involve some setbacks. But it’s important not to give up. It maytake daily\r\nsteps and choices to develop a new positive habit. RalfTarrant, 18, tells how\r\nhe had to learn to save money. He used to spend every dollar he got, and often\r\nborrowed money frompeople. He soon realized that he’d be in trouble if he kept\r\nthis up.So, he developed a habit of putting away a portion of any moneyhe got.\r\nHe says he still bought things, but cutting back a little made a huge\r\ndifference over time.

Separate Needs from Wants

Jeremiah Spears learned how to get his spending under\r\ncontrol when his friend Lisa suggested he use a chart to separate his wants,\r\nneeds and gotta-haves. “Lisa said it’s important to get what you need first and\r\nlet the rest come later, so I began to make a chart every time I went\r\nshopping,” Jeremiah says.

Sometimes it’s not enough to give up a bad habit. Sometimes\r\nin order to do that, you need to replace the bad habit with a good one. Over\r\ntime, the good habit becomes stronger than the bad one and eventually replaces\r\nit completely. Make sure your teen understands the power of creating good\r\nhabits and that it takes time for actions to turn into a habit. It won’t happen\r\novernight, but learning how to create good habits can serve your teen for the\r\nrest of his life.

(Trích từ Quyển SUCCESS\r\nfor Teens)

David Lee