Setting teens up for success: Shaping productivity

DR ASHA PEMBERTON

teenhealth.tt@gmail.com

Today marks the first weekend of the last month of 2020. This year has been unpredictable, and continues to be, but we must continue to support our children and young people towards habits that encourage resilience and productivity. At the beginning of each New Year many people take time to think of resolutions and ways in which they can make, and hopefully sustain, changes toward improvement. Research on the field of behaviour change consistently reports that there is no “magic trick” involved in this process. Quite simply, we must all critically analyse what we want to do, create reasonable and attainable goals and then sustain effective lifestyle changes towards success. And so, rather than we wait for the new year to begin, let us start examining ways in which we can teach our teens and young people to be more effective and productive, and make changes today.

Be proactive

Being proactive is the key to unlocking other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for their life. Proactive individuals understand that they are responsible for their own lives and do not assign blame to others. Take this weekend to sit with your children and teens. Ask them what they want to achieve next year and encourage them to start making changes from today.

Begin with the end in mind

If young people are vague about their ultimate goals or what they want, it follows that they procrastinate, become inconsistent and do not use their time effectively. Techniques to prevent this include writing personal mission statements, creating smart goals and making short-, medium- and long-term targets. These all help guide young people and function as road maps to direct and guide their decision-making process.

Prioritise

This habit helps teens assign responsibility and focus to the most important things in their lives first, and so prevent distractions. Putting first things first also means learning to overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It is all about living life according to what matters most.

Positive thinking

Teens can learn to foster the belief that “anything is possible” through positive thinking. In a world where we can so easily find challenges and negativity, it is critical for parents to create an atmosphere of possibility and optimism in their homes. This habit encourages the idea that in any given situation there can be a beneficial solution.

Create synergy

Synergy is achieved when two or more people work together to create something better than either could alone. Through this habit, teens learn it doesn't have to be "your way" or "my way" but rather a better way, a higher way. Synergy allows teens to value differences and better appreciate others. In their peer relationships, with teachers, siblings and wider family, teenagers benefit from learning, as early as possible, that ultimate success will require the support and collaboration with other people.

Self-care and mindfulness

Teens should never get too busy to take time to renew themselves. Holistic health involves attention to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health, and the behaviours that support these must be learned and practised. Teenagers ought to learn to recognise and manage their emotions. When they are able to identify stress or burnout, they are better able to source the resources needed. Ideally, young people engage in consistent practices of self-care that prevent such states, but in life challenges are inevitable. This new month is an excellent opportunity for us to all reset, renew and engage in the practices that we want to continue within the New Year. Set your teens up for success, using this weekend productively.