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Self-Care Superpower

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Lesson Plan

Self-Care Superpower

Students will be able to define self-care and identify at least three personal stress triggers and corresponding self-care needs.

In the demanding environment of 12th grade, understanding and practicing self-care is crucial for managing stress, preventing burnout, and fostering overall well-being. This lesson equips students with essential tools for a balanced and healthy life.

Audience

12th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, direct instruction, and reflective practice.

Materials

What is Self-Care? Slide Deck, My Stress Triggers Worksheet, and Self-Care Journal Prompt

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Hook: The "Stress Bucket" Analogy

5 minutes

  • Teacher Script: "Good morning, everyone! Imagine you have a bucket. Throughout your day, different things fill up that bucket: homework, tests, social pressures, future plans... What else might fill your stress bucket? (Allow student responses). If we keep adding to it without ever emptying it, what happens? It overflows! Today, we're going to talk about how to 'empty' that bucket, or at least manage what's inside, so it doesn't overflow."

Step 2

Direct Instruction: Defining Self-Care & Its Pillars

10 minutes

  • Present the What is Self-Care? Slide Deck.
    - Slide 1: Title Slide.
    - Slide 2: What is Self-Care? Discuss that self-care is intentional actions to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health.
    - Slide 3: Why Self-Care Matters. Emphasize prevention of burnout, improved focus, and better overall well-being.
    - Slide 4: Pillars of Wellness. Introduce and briefly explain the key aspects: physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual self-care. Provide quick examples for each.
    - Teacher Script: "Self-care isn't selfish; it's essential. It's about proactively taking steps to keep ourselves healthy in all these different areas. Let's look at some examples on the slides."

Step 3

Guided Practice: Personal Stress & Needs Audit

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Stress Triggers Worksheet.
    - Teacher Script: "Now that we know what self-care is, let's make it personal. I want you to think about what fills your stress bucket. On this worksheet, you'll list some of your personal stress triggers. Then, for each trigger, think about what kind of self-care might help. For example, if a stress trigger is 'too much screen time,' a self-care need might be 'a digital detox' or 'spending time outdoors.' We'll work on this together for a few minutes, and I'll be walking around to answer any questions. You don't have to share your answers, but really think about what works for you."

Step 4

Independent Practice: First Journal Entry

3 minutes

  • Introduce the Self-Care Journal Prompt.
    - Teacher Script: "To continue thinking about this important topic, I'm providing you with a journal prompt for reflection outside of class. It's a chance to explore your self-care journey further."

Step 5

Wrap-up: Share One Word

2 minutes

  • Teacher Script: "To wrap up, I want each of you to share one word that describes how you feel about self-care after today's discussion, or one word you'll take away from this lesson. (Go around the room, or ask for volunteers). Remember, self-care is a journey, not a destination. It's your superpower for a balanced life!"
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Slide Deck

Self-Care: Your New Superpower

Taking care of YOU is essential!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of self-care as a 'superpower'.

What is Self-Care?

Self-care means taking intentional actions to maintain or improve your:

  • Physical Health
  • Mental Health
  • Emotional Health

It's about proactively nurturing yourself, not just reacting when you're overwhelmed.

Explain that self-care is intentional actions to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It's not selfish!

Why Self-Care Matters

Self-care helps you to:

  • Prevent burnout
  • Reduce stress
  • Improve focus and productivity
  • Boost mood and energy
  • Build resilience

It allows you to show up as your best self for yourself and others.

Emphasize the benefits of self-care, connecting it to preventing burnout and improving overall performance.

Pillars of Wellness

Self-care touches all aspects of your life:

  • Physical: Sleep, nutrition, exercise, hydration
  • Emotional: Journaling, talking to friends, expressing feelings
  • Social: Connecting with loved ones, setting boundaries
  • Mental: Learning, mindfulness, limiting negative input
  • Spiritual: Spending time in nature, reflection, purpose

What are some ways you already practice these?

Introduce the five pillars of wellness, giving brief examples for each to make them relatable.

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Worksheet

My Stress Triggers & Self-Care Needs

Part 1: My Stress Triggers

Think about what causes you stress. What fills your "stress bucket"? List at least three personal stress triggers below.
















Part 2: My Self-Care Needs

For each stress trigger you identified, think about what kind of self-care might help to "empty" your bucket or manage the stress. Be specific!

  1. For Trigger 1:





  2. For Trigger 2:





  3. For Trigger 3:





  4. For Trigger 4:





  5. For Trigger 5:





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Journal

Self-Care Journal: My Self-Care Blueprint

Take some time to reflect on what you learned about self-care today and how it applies to your life.

Journal Prompt:

  1. Reflect on a time you felt overwhelmed or stressed. What happened? How did it affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally?











  2. Based on today's lesson, what self-care strategies or activities could you have used in that situation? How might they have changed the outcome or your feelings?











  3. Create a small, actionable self-care goal for yourself for the upcoming week. This could be anything from taking a 5-minute mindful break each day to spending an hour on a hobby. What is your goal, and how will you make sure to achieve it?











  4. Why do you think it's important to make self-care a regular practice, especially as a 12th grader preparing for the future?











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