Lesson Plan
Resilient Routines Plan
Students will reflect on their current habits, design and commit to a new personal routine that supports their academic and emotional wellbeing, and begin tracking its impact.
Intentional routines build self-regulation, reduce stress, and boost academic success. Empowering students to craft their own rituals fosters lifelong resilience and healthy habits.
Audience
Middle School Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Reflect, brainstorm, plan, share, and commit.
Materials
- Resilient Routines Slide Deck, - Daily Habits Activity Sheet, - Routine Reflection Journal, - Sticky Notes, - Colored Pens, and - Timer
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Resilient Routines Slide Deck.
- Print copies of the Daily Habits Activity Sheet for each student.
- Ensure each student has a Routine Reflection Journal.
- Arrange seating for partner share and group discussion.
- Set up a visible timer or use a digital timer app.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Display slide 1 of the Resilient Routines Slide Deck and define “routine” and “ritual.”
- Discuss why small habits influence mood, focus, and achievement.
- Invite a couple of volunteers to share a routine they follow (e.g., morning stretch, reviewing homework).
Step 2
Personal Reflection
10 minutes
- Ask students to open their Routine Reflection Journal.
- Prompt them to list 3 daily routines they already follow—academic, social, or self-care.
- Encourage students to note how each routine affects their energy or emotions.
- Differentiation: Provide sentence starters for students who need writing support.
Step 3
Identify & Brainstorm
10 minutes
- Distribute the Daily Habits Activity Sheet.
- Instruct students to review their reflection and brainstorm one new routine to add (e.g., 5-minute mindfulness, planning next day’s outfit).
- On sticky notes, have them jot down their chosen routine and one expected benefit.
- Post sticky notes on the board under “Academic,” “Social,” or “Self-Care.”
Step 4
Plan & Commit
5 minutes
-
Students return to journals and write a simple action plan:
• Name of new routine
• When and where they will do it
• How they will remember (alarm, habit stack) -
Encourage clear, achievable steps (e.g., “After I pack my bag, I will review tomorrow’s tasks for five minutes.”).
Step 5
Partner Share
10 minutes
- Pair students and have them read each other’s plan.
- Partners provide feedback: Is it specific? Realistic? Helpful?
- Students revise their plan based on peer suggestions.
- Differentiation: Pair stronger writers with those who need verbal processing support.
Step 6
Closing Reflection & Next Steps
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask volunteers to share their new routine and action plan.
- Display slide with a 1-week check-in schedule.
- Explain that students will revisit their journal in one week to track progress and reflect on any adjustments.
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Slide Deck
Resilient Routines: Creating Personal Rituals for Success
Identifying and establishing routines for academic and emotional wellbeing.
Let’s learn how tiny habits can make a big difference!
Welcome the students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today we’ll explore how small, daily habits—called routines and rituals—can help us succeed academically and emotionally.
What Are Routines and Rituals?
Routine: A repeated sequence of actions (e.g., packing your backpack).
Ritual: A routine with personal meaning (e.g., a quiet moment with a favorite pen before homework).
Define key terms. Use real-life examples (e.g., brushing teeth, checking planner) to illustrate routines versus rituals.
Why Routines Matter
• Boost focus and productivity
• Lower stress and anxiety
• Build self-discipline and confidence
• Create a sense of control and stability
Highlight benefits with energy. Ask students to share quick examples of routines they know.
Personal Reflection
- Open your Routine Reflection Journal.
- List 3 routines you follow daily (academic, social, or self-care).
- Note how each routine makes you feel or helps your day.
Guide students through journaling. Remind them there’s no right or wrong answer.
Brainstorm New Routines
• Review your reflection.
• Brainstorm one new routine to try (e.g., 5-minute mindfulness, planning outfits).
• Write it on a sticky note with one expected benefit.
• Post under Academic, Social, or Self-Care.
Explain how to use the activity sheet and sticky notes. Model one example on the board.
Action Plan Template
Name of New Routine:
When & Where:
How You’ll Remember (alarm, habit stack):
Example:
After I pack my bag (when & where), I’ll spend 5 minutes reviewing tomorrow’s tasks (action).
Show a sample action plan. Emphasize clarity: when, where, and how to remember.
Examples of Routines
Academic: Reviewing notes, goal-setting ritual
Social: Morning check-in with a friend, gratitude shout-out
Self-Care: 5-minute stretch, nightly doodle time
Provide 2–3 varied examples. Encourage creativity and achievable ideas.
Partner Share Guidelines
• Read each other’s action plan.
• Ask: Is it specific? Realistic? Helpful?
• Offer one suggestion for making it stronger.
• Revise your plan based on feedback.
Explain partner share process and encourage supportive feedback.
One-Week Check-In Schedule
Day 1: Tried your routine? How did you feel?
Day 3: Challenges or wins?
Day 5: On track? Any tweaks?
Day 7: Reflection—did it help? Next steps?
Display a simple check-in schedule. Explain that tracking progress helps form habits.
Commit to Your Routine
You’ve got a plan—now make it happen!
• Set your reminder (alarm, friend check-in).
• Believe in small steps—big changes start tiny.
• Be proud of your progress, no matter what.
Motivate students to commit and remind them of the upcoming check-in.
Activity
Daily Habits Activity Sheet
Section 1: Reflect on Your Current Routines
List three routines you already follow each day. Then note how each one affects your mood, focus, or energy.
Routine 1: _______________________________
How it makes me feel: _______________________________
Routine 2: _______________________________
How it makes me feel: _______________________________
Routine 3: _______________________________
How it makes me feel: _______________________________
Section 2: Brainstorm New Routines
Think of at least three new routines you might add. For each idea, decide if it’s Academic, Social, or Self-Care—and predict one benefit.
| New Routine Idea | Category (Academic / Social / Self-Care) | Expected Benefit |
|---|---|---|
Section 3: Prepare Your Sticky Notes
Choose your favorite new routine idea and its benefit. On a sticky note, write:
• New Routine: ____________________
• Expected Benefit: ________________
Then stick your note in one of the boxes below:
+------------------------------+ +------------------------------+ +------------------------------+
| | | | | |
| Sticky Note 1 | | Sticky Note 2 | | Sticky Note 3 |
| | | | | |
+------------------------------+ +------------------------------+ +------------------------------+
Next Steps
When you’re done, return to your Routine Reflection Journal to write a simple action plan for the routine you chose (when, where, and how you’ll remember). Good luck building a resilient routine!
Journal
Routine Reflection Journal
Part 1: My Current Routines
List three daily routines you already follow and describe how each one makes you feel or impacts your day.
-
Routine 1: _______________________________
How it affects me: _______________________________ -
Routine 2: _______________________________
How it affects me: _______________________________ -
Routine 3: _______________________________
How it affects me: _______________________________
Part 2: My New Routine Action Plan
Choose one new routine you’d like to try. Fill in the details below to make a clear, achievable plan.
New Routine Name: _______________________________
When & Where I will do it: _________________________
How I will remember (alarm, habit stack, cue): ________
Part 3: One-Week Check-In
Use these prompts each day to track your progress and reflect.
Day 1 (Today): Tried the routine? How did I feel? _______________
Day 3: Wins or challenges so far? ____________________________
Day 5: Am I on track? Any tweaks needed? ___________________
Day 7 (Reflection): Did this routine help me? Next steps: ____
Great work committing to a new ritual! Keep this journal handy to stay focused on your resilient routine.