I’ve read the second part of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.”, but how has it actually helped me become a more effective person? Let’s dive into the next three habits to find out.

1st Habit: Being Proactive

Being proactive means taking initiative for my actions, attitude, and choices. It is about taking control of my life and not blaming others when I fail. A proactive mindset consists of staying calm, thinking ahead, and focusing on what I can control instead of what is outside my control. It is about taking action in my own life and not waiting for a miracle to change it.

Challenge

I’m challenging myself to have a more proactive mindset. Here is the challenge. Feel free to try it yourself or just keep it in the back of your mind. I’m also going to create a timeline of what I notice. I will check in after a day, a week, and two weeks to see the difference.

Try to start noticing how you react in everyday situations. If you catch yourself saying things like “I can’t” or “It’s not my fault,” take a second to stop and think. Then try saying something more proactive like “I’ll try” or “I can figure this out.” You could also reflect for a minute at the end of the day and ask yourself, “Was I being proactive today?” or “What could I have done better?” Even small changes in how you think can really help over time.

Day 1: I didn’t notice a huge difference right away, but I did feel more in control of how I was communicating with my classmates and teammates.

Day 7: After a week, I feel more positive about working with my teammates and peers. I also feel much happier at the end of each day. When I reflect, I always feel proud of what I’ve accomplished

Day 14: After two weeks of trying to be more proactive, I feel like I have more control over how I react to things. I’ve started catching myself when I think negatively and try to turn it around. Taking a minute to reflect at the end of the day really helps me see what I can do better. I feel more confident and less stressed when things go wrong.

Habit 2: Beginning with the End in Mind

Beginning with the end in mind is about setting clear goals and having a vision for what I want to achieve. An example would be that I want to make Team BC this year, so I created a goal ladder that shows a roadmap of how I’m going to get there. Basically, I’m thinking ahead. Heres my goal ladder:

Overall, beginning with the end in mind is about making your goals and actions align with your vision for the future.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Putting first things first is about managing your time and priorities so you can focus on what really matters. Right now, I’m dealing with a leg muscle injury, and I have a busy weekend with two field hockey games and a soccer semifinal. After thinking it through, I realized I can’t do it all without making the injury worse. I thought about the consequences of missing each game and decided that I’m needed the most in soccer. That is the game I will focus on because if I push myself too much, I could make the injury last even longer. By putting first things first, I’m making smart choices that by doing the things first that actually matter and making sure I put focus into those tasks.

Video

My group and I have made a video describing the three habits and what they can do for you. Check it out.

Overall Reading the second part of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” has helped me start becoming more effective in my daily life, and I know there is still more to learn as I continue through the rest of the book. Make sure to check out the next parts when there out!