Using Decision-Making Skills to Enhance Health
Overview
This educational resource is all about how to make good choices to improve your health. It talks about how important it is to make responsible decisions and gives tips for making good choices that are both ethical and successful. It also explains how to look at situations carefully before making a decision that matches your own goals and values. The assignment emphasizes that it's really important to focus on your own health and to be true to yourself when making choices.
HOW DO YOU MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Make decisions by considering options, consequences, and values.
- Improve decision-making skills by reflecting on outcomes and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of options.
- Understand how decisions impact emotional and physical health and self-esteem.
- Identify positive and negative consequences of decisions.
- Practice making decisions aligned with values and goals without breaking the law or betraying trust.
Throughout your life, you'll have to make many decisions. While most of them won't make a big difference, a few will be really important. Sometimes, you might think you're making the right choice to solve a problem, but that decision could lead to unexpected outcomes. So, it's crucial to learn how to make better choices - this is a skill that can change your life.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH HABITS BY REFLECTING ON YOUR ACTIONS
Explore students’ prior knowledge.
Responsible decision-making means making choices about how you behave and interact with others based on what's right, safe, and what other people expect. The decisions you make can have a big impact on your life, so it's important to make good choices. To make responsible decisions, think about what's right, what's safe, and what other people expect from you, and think about what could happen as a result of your choice. It's okay to take your time to make a decision, and to ask for help from your parents or other adults who can give you advice and help you make a good choice.
Just knowing what makes you healthy isn't enough to actually be healthy. You have to actually do those things to see results. By reading this and doing the work assigned, you're committing to making changes to your habits. The goal is to make sure that what we're doing in this assignment is actually making a difference. You'll need to reflect on your habits and work hard to make positive changes to see real results.
VOCABULARY
List key terms from the lesson with definitions to get them thinking about the concept/skill.
| alternative | something you can choose to do or use instead of something else |
| consequence | something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions |
| decision | a choice or judgment that you make after a period of discussion or thought |
HOW DO YOU MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS?
Responsible decision-making is the ability to make good choices about your personal behavior and interactions with others based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. It's important because the decisions you make guide your life in a positive or negative direction. For example, deciding whether to date someone, go to a party, start a business, or become friends with someone can all have positive or negative consequences. Making the right decisions can help you build the right friendships and relationships, which can have a positive impact on your life. On the other hand, making the wrong decisions, such as connecting with the wrong person, can lead you down a negative path and introduce you to a lifestyle that you don’t want. It's important to take your time with decision-making and to process your options carefully. You don't have to rush your decisions, and it's okay to ask for advice from people who have more life experience, like your parents or older relatives, who can offer guidance and wisdom. Remember, the decisions you make today can have a lasting impact on your life, so it's important to make responsible choices.
STRATEGIES FOR MAKING ETHICAL AND SUCCESSFUL DECISIONS
In simple terms, making decisions that are good for others is crucial for our success and ethical behavior in the future. Before deciding, we should learn as much as possible about the situation to understand the problem better. Practicing decision-making can help build confidence, and we can do this by balancing the risks and potential impacts of each choice. We need to take responsibility for our decisions, learn from our mistakes, and think about how our choices might affect others. It's helpful to have trusted people around us who can offer different perspectives to help us make the best decisions. In life, we should strive to grow and be the best version of ourselves. By making wise decisions and working hard, we can achieve happiness and success.
THINKING CAREFULLY
Walk through the thinking process for understanding decision-making skills.
Analyzing situations is important because it helps individuals make informed decisions that align with their goals and values. In the tech startup space, for instance, one of the things that is important is the build-measure-learn feedback loop. This process involves testing a product, gathering feedback from customers, and making changes and adjustments based on that feedback. It is important to be open to feedback from others, as it can make decisions better and help individuals grow as people. To analyze a situation, individuals can make sure that their decisions align with their goals and values. For example, individuals can develop a personal mission statement and make sure their decisions align with it. It is also important to make sure that goals align with decisions being made, such as when choosing a college. It is essential to be authentic to oneself when making decisions. Analyzing situations helps individuals make the best decisions possible by considering all available information and aligning those decisions with their goals and values.
In simpler terms, it's important to know what you want and have a plan to achieve it. Being optimistic and purposeful can help you make better decisions. You should also prioritize your personal health and well-being because true happiness comes from within, not from material possessions or pleasing others. If you're doing something just to make others happy but it's making you unhappy, it's important to reevaluate and find your own happiness. Taking care of yourself first is important so that you can be in a good position to help others. Remember, it's not just about you; you can only give what you have. So make sure to prioritize your own health and happiness to be able to help others in the best way possible.
To make good decisions in the future, you need to first understand what problems you may have in your life. This means being honest with yourself and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. You can start by thinking about what's happening in your life and identifying any issues you may have. Writing things down and talking to family or friends can also help. Remember that adults may not have all the answers, and it's up to you to make the final decision. When you have to make a choice, think about the consequences and choose what's best for you, not just what other people want. Planning ahead can also help you make better decisions. People who succeed in life are the ones who take the time to identify and work through their problems and make thoughtful decisions.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
Reinforcement with independent practice
What does responsible decision-making entail?
Making choices based on what's right, safe, and what others expect from you.
Use what you have learned to answer the question.
What does responsible decision-making entail?
- Making choices based on personal goals and values.
- Making decisions that align with what others expect from you.
- Making choices based on what's right, safe, and what others expect from you.
- Making choices based on personal gain and material possessions.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT ANSWER
Present a typical multiple-choice problem related to the concept/skill for students to solve.
Then, explain the correct answer and analyze the incorrect answers by pointing out common errors or misconceptions.
Answer the question below. Then read why each answer is correct or incorrect.
What are the three factors that one should consider when making responsible decisions?
- The weather, your favorite color, and what your friends are doing
- Ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms
- Your favorite food, what your parents expect, and the consequences of your choices
- What your friends expect, your personal interests, and how others will perceive your choices
Check to see if you chose the right answer.
Responsible decision-making means making choices about personal behavior and interactions with others based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. To make responsible decisions, one should think about what's right, what's safe, and what other people expect from them. One should also consider the potential consequences of their choices. It is advisable to take time and process options carefully, and it's okay to ask for advice from people who have more life experience. The decisions we make today can have a lasting impact on our lives, so it's important to make responsible choices.
So, Choice 2 is the correct answer! But why are the other answer choices incorrect?! If you're trying to make a responsible decision, there are some factors you should consider. Choices 1, 3, and 4 don't take these factors into account. In choice A, things like the weather, your favorite color, and what your friends are doing don't matter when it comes to making responsible decisions. The same goes for choice 3 - things like your favorite food and what your parents expect may not be important. And in choice 4, what your friends want and what you're interested in may not be the best things to think about. You should instead think about ethical standards, safety concerns, and what's expected in your community.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
What is the definition of responsible decision-making?
The ability to make good choices about personal behavior and interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms
Why is it important to take your time with decision-making?
Because it allows you to consider all available information and make the best decision possible
How can trusted people around us help us make better decisions?
By offering different perspectives and helping us see the situation from different angles
What is the build-measure-learn feedback loop?
A process that involves testing a product, gathering feedback from customers, and making changes and adjustments based on that feedback
Answer the questions below. Use the following hints to avoid mistakes.
Be a detective. Look for clues in the text, title, date, and author background
Be an active reader. Ask questions and clarify unclear passages by rereading them.
When you take a test or answer questions for an assignment, go with your gut feeling or first answer but double-check by looking back at the text to find the evidence that supports your answer before handing in your paper.
Read passages carefully and consider the author's points, arguments, and supporting details.
Look for parts of the reading that connect to your question and give examples to support your answer.
What is the definition of responsible decision-making?
- The ability to make quick decisions based on intuition
- The ability to make good choices about personal behavior and interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms
- The ability to make decisions without considering the consequences
- The ability to make decisions based on what other people want.
Why is it important to take your time with decision-making?
- Because it allows you to avoid making any decision at all
- Because it allows you to make quick decisions based on intuition
- Because it allows you to please other people by making a decision quickly.
- Because it allows you to consider all available information and make the best decision possible
How can trusted people around us help us make better decisions?
- By telling us what to do
- By making the decision for us
- By offering different perspectives and helping us see the situation from different angles
- By pressuring us to make a decision.
What is the build-measure-learn feedback loop?
- A process that involves testing a product, gathering feedback from customers, and making changes and adjustments based on that feedback
- A process that involves making decisions quickly based on intuition
- A process that involves making decisions without considering the consequences
- A process that involves making decisions based on what other people want.
WRITING THE BEST ANSWER POSSIBLE
Study the model below. It’s a good example of a written answer.
How can responsible decision-making impact an individual's life positively or negatively?
Good decision-making is crucial for a happy and fulfilling life as your choices impact your life greatly. To make good choices, consider options, and consequences, and align them with your values and goals. Every choice has consequences, so think about potential outcomes before deciding. Seek advice from trusted sources and avoid choices that violate laws or betray trust. Responsible choices lead to positive outcomes for emotional and physical health and self-esteem, while irresponsible choices have negative effects. Prioritize personal health and well-being, take time to think, be authentic to yourself, and seek trusted advice to improve decision-making skills.
This answer is a great response to the prompt. The student accurately explains how responsible decision-making can impact an individual's life positively or negatively by emphasizing the importance of considering options and consequences, aligning choices with values and goals, seeking advice from trusted sources, and prioritizing personal health and well-being. The student also explains how responsible choices can lead to positive outcomes for emotional and physical health and self-esteem, while irresponsible choices can have negative effects.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
Analyzing situations means looking at different choices to make sure you pick the best one for you. To do this, you have to think about what you care about, what might happen with each option, and any good or bad things that could come from each choice. It's also important to think about decisions you made before and learn from them to make better choices in the future. By analyzing situations, you can make choices that match what you want and feel more sure about your decisions. This helps you make choices that fit with your goals and values.
Answer the question. Use what you have learned from the model.
How can analyzing situations help individuals make informed decisions that align with their goals and values?
GET READY FOR YOUR FUTURE
Present hints for answering questions related to using decision-making skills to enhance health that students are likely to encounter on tests or in life.
Build familiarity with 6 multiple-choice questions, 1 short-response question, and 1 extended-response question commonly found on state and national tests.
Which of the following is NOT a step in the decision-making process for enhancing health?
Ignoring the consequences
Which decision-making style involves making a quick decision without much consideration?
Impulsive
What is the best approach to making a decision when faced with a health-related problem?
Considering the consequences of each option
Which of the following is an example of a decision made to enhance physical health?
Regularly exercising
Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider when making responsible decisions?
Social media popularity
Why is it important to analyze a situation before making a decision?
To align decisions with personal goals and values
Define responsible decision-making in your own words.
Responsible decision-making means making choices about how you behave and interact with others based on what's right, safe, and what other people expect. It involves considering ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms to guide personal behavior.
Explain the importance of reflecting on outcomes and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of options when making decisions. Provide an example of a time when you had to reflect on your decision-making process and how it impacted the outcome.
It's really important to think about what might happen when you make choices and to look at the good and bad things that could come from each option. This will help you make choices that are smart and match what you want. For example, when I was deciding which college to go to, I looked at all the different things about each school, like where it was, what they taught, what the campus was like, and how much money they could give me. I also thought about what I wanted for my future and how each school could help me get there. After thinking about all of these things, I picked the college that was the best fit for me, and I'm really happy with how things turned out.
As you answer the questions below, remember to:
Read each question carefully and consider your answer options.
Take as much time as you need to complete these questions.
When you finish, check your answers.
Which of the following is NOT a step in the decision-making process for enhancing health?
- Identifying the problem
- Gathering information
- Ignoring the consequences
- Considering alternatives
Which decision-making style involves making a quick decision without much consideration?
- Impulsive
- Intuitive
- Procrastinating
- Analytical
What is the best approach to making a decision when faced with a health-related problem?
- Relying on intuition alone
- Considering the consequences of each option
- Choosing the first option that comes to mind
- Following the advice of friends or family
Which of the following is an example of a decision made to enhance physical health?
- Spending money on expensive clothes
- Eating fast food every day
- Regularly exercising
- Smoking cigarettes
Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider when making responsible decisions?
- Ethical standards
- Safety concerns
- Social media popularity
- Social norms
Why is it important to analyze a situation before making a decision?
- To gather feedback from customers
- To align decisions with personal goals and values
- To please others
- To prioritize material possessions
Define responsible decision-making in your own words.
Explain the importance of reflecting on outcomes and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of options when making decisions. Provide an example of a time when you had to reflect on your decision-making process and how it impacted the outcome.