lenny

Self-Care Superpowers

user image

Lesson Plan

Self-Care Superpowers

Students will be able to identify personal stressors and recognize the importance of self-care. Students will also learn and practice various self-care strategies to enhance their mental well-being.

In the demanding world of high school, especially for young women, stress and pressure can take a significant toll on mental health. This lesson provides essential tools and strategies for self-care, empowering students to proactively manage their well-being, build resilience, and maintain a healthy balance in their lives.

Audience

12th Grade Girls

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, practical activities, and reflective journaling.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic of mental health and self-care.
  • Distribute and facilitate the Self-Care Warm-Up activity. Ask students to share their initial thoughts on self-care.

Step 2

What is Self-Care?

10 minutes

  • Use the Self-Care Superpowers Slide Deck to present key concepts about self-care, its importance, and different types.
  • Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Self-Care Discussion Guide to encourage student participation and share experiences related to self-care benefits and challenges.

Step 3

Self-Care Activity: My Self-Care Plan

15 minutes

  • Introduce the My Self-Care Plan Activity. Explain that students will create a personalized self-care plan.
  • Guide students through the activity, encouraging them to think about practical strategies they can incorporate into their daily lives.
  • Provide time for students to work individually or in pairs, offering support and examples as needed.

Step 4

Reflection & Sharing

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Self-Care Reflection Worksheet.
  • Ask students to complete the worksheet, reflecting on what they learned and how they plan to implement self-care.
  • Invite volunteers to share one insight or plan from their worksheet with the group.

Step 5

Cool-Down & Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Facilitate the Self-Care Cool-Down activity. Collect responses as an exit ticket.
  • Reiterate the importance of consistent self-care and provide any additional resources if available.
  • Thank students for their participation.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Self-Care Superpowers: Unlock Your Inner Strength

Taking care of YOU!

Welcome students to the session. Briefly introduce the topic and the idea that self-care is a superpower.

What is Self-Care?

  • Definition: Any intentional action you take to care for your physical, mental, and emotional health.
  • It's not selfish, it's essential!
  • It's about preserving your energy and well-being.

Ask students: 'What comes to mind when you hear 'self-care'?' Encourage brief sharing.

Why is Self-Care Important?

  • Reduces Stress: Helps manage daily pressures.
  • Prevents Burnout: Keeps your energy levels up.
  • Boosts Mood: Improves emotional regulation.
  • Increases Productivity: A rested mind works better.
  • Builds Resilience: Helps you bounce back from challenges.

Discuss the negative impacts of neglecting self-care (burnout, stress, etc.) and the benefits of practicing it.

Types of Self-Care

  • Physical: Exercise, healthy eating, sleep, hydration.
  • Emotional: Journaling, talking to a friend, meditation, setting boundaries.
  • Mental: Reading, learning new skills, limiting screen time, positive affirmations.
  • Social: Connecting with loved ones, group activities, saying no to draining interactions.
  • Spiritual: Spending time in nature, practicing gratitude, quiet reflection.

Go through different categories and give examples. Encourage students to think about what resonates with them.

Self-Care Challenges & Solutions

  • Time: Schedule it like any other appointment.
  • Guilt: Remind yourself it's necessary, not selfish.
  • Not knowing where to start: Start small, try different things.
  • Perfectionism: It doesn't have to be perfect, just consistent.

Acknowledge that self-care can be hard. Ask students what might prevent them from practicing self-care.

Making Self-Care a Habit

  • Start Small: Even 5-10 minutes a day makes a difference.
  • Be Consistent: Regularity is key.
  • Personalize It: What works for one person might not work for another.
  • Be Flexible: Adapt your plan as needed.
  • Treat Yourself with Kindness: You deserve it!

Emphasize starting small and consistency. Connect this to the activity they will do next.

Q&A & Discussion

What's one new self-care idea you want to try?

Open the floor for questions or a brief discussion on their key takeaways.

lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Discussion

Self-Care: Unpacking Our Wellness

Use these prompts to guide a thoughtful discussion about self-care and its role in our lives.

Opening Questions:

  1. Based on the presentation, what surprised you most about self-care, or what was a new idea for you?
  2. Can you share an example of a time when practicing self-care (even a small act) positively impacted your day or week?



Deeper Dive:

  1. We talked about different types of self-care (physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual). Which type do you feel you neglect the most, and why might that be?



  2. What are some common misconceptions or myths about self-care that you've heard or believed?



  3. How can we overcome barriers like lack of time or feelings of guilt when trying to prioritize self-care?



Personal Application:

  1. Imagine you have an extra 15 minutes in your day, completely free. What self-care activity would you choose to do, and why?



  2. How can we support our friends or classmates in practicing self-care, and what does that support look like?



lenny
lenny

Activity

My Self-Care Plan: Taking Care of Me!

It's time to create your personal self-care roadmap! Use this guide to identify your needs and plan actionable steps to prioritize your well-being.

Step 1: Identify Your Stress Triggers & Warning Signs

Think about what usually makes you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or run down. What are the signals your body or mind sends when you need a break?

  • My Top 3 Stress Triggers:









  • My Warning Signs (How I know I need self-care):
    • Physical: (e.g., headaches, fatigue, tense shoulders)





    • Emotional: (e.g., irritability, sadness, anxiety)





    • Mental: (e.g., difficulty focusing, negative thoughts)





Step 2: Brainstorm Self-Care Strategies

Now, let's think about what you can do! Refer to the

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Self-Care Reflection: My Path Forward

Now that we've explored self-care, take a moment to reflect on your learning and commit to your well-being.

  1. What was the most important new idea or insight you gained about self-care today?











  2. Looking at your personal self-care plan, what is ONE specific, actionable self-care strategy you will try to implement this week? (Be realistic and specific!)











  3. What potential challenge might you face in trying to practice this self-care strategy, and how might you overcome it?











  4. Why is it important for you to prioritize self-care, especially as a 12th-grade girl?





















  5. How do you think practicing consistent self-care could impact your academic performance, relationships, or overall happiness?





















lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Self-Care Cool-Down: One Word, One Act

Before you leave, take a moment to reflect and share.

  1. One Word: In one word, how do you feel about self-care after today's lesson?





  2. One Act: Write down one small self-care act you will commit to doing in the next 24 hours.





lenny
lenny

Journal

Self-Care Journal: My Inner Well-Being

Take some time to explore your thoughts and feelings about self-care and your personal well-being.

Journal Prompt:

Consider the idea that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for your overall health and success. Reflect on a time recently when you felt overwhelmed or stressed. What self-care practice, even a small one, could have helped you in that moment or prevented that feeling?

Now, think about your ideal self-care routine. What would it look like? What obstacles might prevent you from achieving it, and how can you begin to overcome those obstacles?

Write freely for at least 10-15 minutes, exploring your thoughts, feelings, and aspirations related to self-care.













































lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny

Warm Up

Self-Care Warm-Up: My Wellness Snapshot

Take a moment to reflect on your current well-being. Answer the following questions honestly.

  1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being 'completely overwhelmed' and 10 being 'feeling fantastic'), how would you rate your overall stress level this week?





  2. What's one thing you've done for yourself recently that made you feel good, even for a short time? It doesn't have to be big!





  3. What's one thing you wish you had more time or energy for to take care of yourself?





  4. In your own words, what do you think 'self-care' means?





lenny
lenny