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The Wellness Wheel for Leaders

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Lesson Plan

The Wellness Wheel for Leaders

Student leaders will explore the Wellness Wheel framework, assess their personal well-being across multiple dimensions, and create balanced strategies for self-care. They will develop a holistic understanding of their health and learn to integrate wellness practices into their leadership roles.

Prioritizing personal well-being is crucial for effective leadership. This lesson empowers student leaders to understand their own wellness needs and model healthy habits for their peers, fostering a supportive and thriving school environment.

Audience

High School Student Leaders

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through self-assessment, guided reflection, and goal-setting activities.

Materials

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Wellness?

10 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion: "What does 'wellness' mean to you?" Allow students to share their initial thoughts.
    - Introduce the concept of holistic wellness and the Wellness Wheel using the Wellness Wheel Slide Deck (Slides 1-3).
    - Explain that wellness is multi-dimensional and impacts all aspects of their lives, especially their leadership capacity.

Step 2

Exploring the Wellness Wheel

15 minutes

  • Present each dimension of the Wellness Wheel using the Wellness Wheel Slide Deck (Slides 4-11).
    - For each dimension, ask guiding questions to encourage students to think about how it applies to their own lives and leadership roles (e.g., "How does physical wellness impact your energy for school activities?").

Step 3

Self-Assessment Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Wellness Wheel Self-Assessment Worksheet.
    - Instruct students to privately assess their current well-being in each dimension of the Wellness Wheel.
    - Encourage honest reflection and emphasize that this is a personal tool, not a graded assignment.
    - Circulate and offer support or clarification as needed.

Step 4

Reflection and Goal Setting

15 minutes

  • Transition to the Wellness Reflection Journal.
    - Guide students through the reflection prompts, asking them to consider their strengths, areas for growth, and potential strategies for improving their well-being in specific dimensions.
    - Lead a brief discussion (optional, based on comfort level) where students can share general insights (not personal scores) or strategies they found helpful.
    - Emphasize the importance of setting realistic and actionable goals for self-care.

Step 5

Conclusion: Leaders in Wellness

5 minutes

  • Reiterate that prioritizing personal wellness is a key aspect of effective leadership.
    - Encourage students to regularly check in with their Wellness Wheel and adjust their self-care strategies as needed.
    - Conclude by reminding them that by taking care of themselves, they are better equipped to lead and support others.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Leaders!

How do you define 'wellness'?

Welcome students and set a positive, reflective tone. Ask them to think individually about what 'wellness' means before opening up the discussion.

What is Holistic Wellness?

Wellness isn't just about avoiding sickness.
It's about thriving in every part of your life!

Holistic means looking at the whole picture:

  • Mind
  • Body
  • Spirit
  • Community

Introduce the idea that wellness is more than just physical health. It's about a balance of many different parts of our lives. Explain that a holistic approach means looking at the 'whole person'.

Introducing the Wellness Wheel

A tool to help us understand and balance different areas of our lives.

Each spoke represents a key dimension of your well-being.

Today, we'll explore each one and see how they connect to your leadership journey.

Introduce the Wellness Wheel as a tool for understanding and balancing these different dimensions. Emphasize that it's a personal tool for self-reflection.

1. Physical Wellness

Taking care of your body

  • Nutrition: Eating well to fuel your mind and body.
  • Exercise: Staying active to boost energy and reduce stress.
  • Sleep: Getting enough rest for focus and recovery.
  • Hydration: Drinking water to keep everything functioning.

Think: How does your physical health affect your ability to lead?

Start with Physical Wellness. Ask students how their physical health impacts their energy levels and ability to participate in school activities.

2. Emotional Wellness

Understanding and managing your feelings

  • Self-awareness: Knowing your emotions and what triggers them.
  • Coping skills: Healthy ways to handle stress, sadness, and anger.
  • Resilience: Bouncing back from challenges.
  • Positive outlook: Cultivating optimism.

Think: How do you manage tough emotions when things get stressful?

Move to Emotional Wellness. Discuss healthy ways to express feelings and cope with stress, especially in leadership roles.

3. Intellectual Wellness

Engaging your mind and growing your knowledge

  • Learning: Seeking new information and skills.
  • Curiosity: Asking questions and exploring new ideas.
  • Creativity: Thinking outside the box and innovating.
  • Problem-solving: Developing strategies to overcome obstacles.

Think: What new things have you learned recently that helped you as a leader?

Discuss Intellectual Wellness. Connect it to learning, problem-solving, and staying curious, which are all vital for leaders.

4. Social Wellness

Building meaningful connections

  • Relationships: Nurturing friendships and family bonds.
  • Communication: Expressing yourself clearly and listening to others.
  • Belonging: Feeling connected to your community.
  • Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

Think: How do strong relationships help you lead a team?

Talk about Social Wellness. Emphasize the importance of healthy relationships and collaboration in leadership.

5. Spiritual Wellness

Finding purpose and meaning in your life

  • Values: Living in line with what's important to you.
  • Purpose: Having a sense of direction and meaning.
  • Mindfulness: Being present and aware.
  • Connection: Feeling part of something larger than yourself.

Think: What gives you a sense of purpose as a student leader?

Discuss Spiritual Wellness. Explain it broadly as finding purpose and meaning, not necessarily religious. Ask students what gives them a sense of purpose.

6. Environmental Wellness

Connecting with your surroundings

  • Physical space: Creating a comfortable and organized environment.
  • Nature: Spending time outdoors and appreciating the natural world.
  • Sustainability: Being mindful of your impact on the planet.
  • Safety: Feeling secure in your environment.

Think: How does the environment around you affect your mood and productivity?

Address Environmental Wellness. Discuss how our surroundings impact us and how leaders can promote a positive environment.

7. Occupational Wellness

Finding satisfaction and purpose in your work/studies

  • Engagement: Feeling interested and motivated in your activities.
  • Balance: Managing responsibilities without burnout.
  • Growth: Developing skills and achieving goals.
  • Meaning: Feeling your contributions matter.

Think: How do you find satisfaction in your role as a student leader?

Introduce Occupational Wellness. For students, this relates to their school work, extracurriculars, and future aspirations. Ask how they find satisfaction in their roles.

The Interconnected Wheel

All the dimensions are connected!

Weakness in one area can affect others.

Strength in one area can support others.

Your goal: Strive for balance to be your best self and your best leader!

Conclude by emphasizing the interconnectedness of all dimensions. Explain that a strong leader takes care of their whole self.

Self-Assessment Time!

Now it's your turn to reflect.

Use the Wellness Wheel Self-Assessment Worksheet to rate your current well-being in each dimension.

Be honest with yourself – this is your journey.

Introduce the self-assessment activity. Explain that it's a personal reflection tool. Encourage honesty.

Reflect & Grow

Using your Wellness Reflection Journal, take time to:

  • Reflect on your self-assessment.
  • Identify areas you want to strengthen.
  • Set realistic goals for improving your wellness.

Explain the journal activity and its purpose: to dive deeper and set goals. Remind them this is for their benefit.

Lead By Example!

Prioritizing your own wellness makes you a stronger, more resilient leader.

  • Model healthy habits for your peers.
  • Inspire others to prioritize their well-being.
  • Be the change you want to see in your school community!

Reinforce the core message: self-care is not selfish, it's essential for effective leadership. Encourage them to be role models.

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Worksheet

Wellness Wheel Self-Assessment

Instructions: For each dimension of wellness, rate your current satisfaction and balance on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means "Very Dissatisfied" and 5 means "Very Satisfied." Then, briefly explain why you chose that rating and identify one area for growth.


1. Physical Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






2. Emotional Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






3. Intellectual Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






4. Social Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






5. Spiritual Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






6. Environmental Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:






7. Occupational Wellness

  • Rating (1-5):


  • Why this rating?





  • One area for growth:





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Journal

Wellness Reflection Journal

Instructions: Use these prompts to deepen your understanding of your personal wellness and to set actionable goals.


Reflecting on Your Wellness Wheel

  1. Looking at your completed Wellness Wheel Self-Assessment, which 1-2 dimensions stood out to you the most (either very high or very low)? Why do you think these areas are particularly strong or challenging for you right now?










  2. How do you think your current level of well-being in these dimensions impacts your ability to lead effectively at school or in other aspects of your life?










  3. Think about a time when you felt truly balanced and energized. What aspects of your wellness were thriving then? What can you learn from that experience?











Setting Wellness Goals

For one or two areas you identified for growth on your self-assessment, set a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal.

Goal 1:

  • Wellness Dimension:


  • My SMART Goal: (What exactly will you do? How will you measure it? When will you do it by?)










  • First Steps: (What are 1-2 immediate actions you can take this week?)





  • Potential Challenges & Solutions: (What might get in the way, and how will you overcome it?)





Goal 2 (Optional):

  • Wellness Dimension:


  • My SMART Goal:










  • First Steps:





  • Potential Challenges & Solutions:






Leadership and Wellness Connection

How will actively working on your personal wellness make you a better leader for your peers and your school community?










What message do you want to send to other student leaders about the importance of self-care?










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