Taking Charge of Your Health

Learning Health Skills

Specific tools and strategies to maintain, protect, and improve all aspects of your health

Communication

You share your ideas and feelings and listen carefully when others express theirs

Refusal

You say no to unhealthy behaviors

Conflict Resolution

You resolve problems with others in healthy way

Accessing Influences

You locate valid sources of health information, products, and services

Analyzing Influences

You understand the many influences on your health, including peers, family, culture, media, and technology

Practicing Healthful Behaviors

You act to reduce risks and protect yourself against illness and injury

Stress Management

You use healthy strategies to reduce and manage stress in your life

Advocacy

You work to improve your own health and the health of your family and community; taking action to influence others to address a health-related concern or to support a health-related belief

Decision Making

You use a step-by-step process to evaluate your options and make healthy choices

Goal Setting

You set goals and develop a plan to achieve them

“I” Messages

Expressing your feelings in a way that focuses on your emotions instead of blame on the other person

Refusal Skills

Communication strategies that can help you say no when you are urged to take part in behaviors that are unsafe or unhealthful, or that go against your values

Steps to the Decision-Making Process

Steps that enable you to make a healthful decision

HELP Strategy

• H (Healthful): Does this choice present any health risks?

• E (Ethical): Does this choice reflect what you value?

• L (Legal): Does this option violate any local, state, or federal laws?

• P (Parent Approval): Would your parents or guardians approve of this choice?

SMART Goal Setting

• Specific: Identify your reasons for wanting to achieve this goal

• Measurable: Determine how long it will take you to achieve the goal

• Attainable: Be honest with yourself. Are you capable of attaining the goal?

• Relevant: Does the goal help you achieve something that is relevant to you?

• Timely: What is your timeframe for achieving the goal? What is your action plan to meet that deadline?

Long Term Goal

A goal that you plan to reach over an extended period

Short Term Goal

A goal that you can reach in a short period of time

Values

A person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life

Morals

A person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do

Action Plan

A multi-step strategy to identify and achieve your goals

Health Team Members

A group of health care providers which may, in addition to health care practitioners, include the patient/client, family, and any significant others

Consumer Health

Shopping smart to make choices about health products and services

Health Consumer

Someone who purchases or uses health products or services

Advertising

A written or spoken media message designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service

Comparison Shopping

Judging the benefits of different products by comparing several factors, such as quality, features, and cost

Warranty

A company's or a store's written agreement to repair a product or refund your money if the product does not function properly

Consumer Advocates

People or groups whose sole purpose is to take on regional, national, and even international consumer issues

Malpractice

Failure by a health professional to meet accepted standards

Health Fraud

Fraudulent health products that use a number of claims or terms commonly used to sell them