How to Develop the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The importance of good habits for teens

In his powerful book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey outlines a step-by-step guide for teens to increase their self-esteem and achieve success. From developing healthy relationships to evaluating life-changing decisions, one of the most important things for young adults to recognize is the contributing role that good habits play in their own life.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

1. Be proactive 2. Begin with the end in mind 3. Put first things first 4. Think Win-Win 5. Seek to understand, then be understood 6. Synergize 7. Sharpen the Saw

Developing the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The roadmap to greater self-esteem and success is paved with good habits.   Focusing on the 7 key dimensions of life is the most effective way to develop positive tendencies that will support personal growth, healthy relationships, and greater accomplishments.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

1. Be proactive

Practicing being more proactive in your teen years will naturally help you take responsibility and feel more prepared for whatever lies ahead.  Proactive people are focused on cultivating their own happiness and actions to take control of their own life. Tip: Listen to a TED talk on ways to be more proactive.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

2. Begin with the end in mind

The early teen years are a great time to begin thinking about what you want for your future.   Spend time identifying your values early on and learn what types of actions and behaviors align with what you stand for. Tip: Write out a personal mission statement and then create a vision board for what you want your life to look like 5, 10, and 20 years down the road.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

3. Put first things first

Developing solid time management skills is important at any age but learning how to prioritize as a teenager will set you up for more than just productivity, achievement, and success. Tip: Take a values assessment to help identify what principles are core to your beliefs. You can easily call upon this list when feeling overwhelmed or not knowing where to start to help you quickly prioritize.