The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The seventh habit returns to the self, but with an emphasis on how to keep balanced by paying attention to the body, the brain, the heart, and the soul. Covey emphasized the need to care for one’s body, particularly through good nutrition and exercise. Covey realizes that many teens are self-conscious about their bodies, but he urges them to focus on how they feel rather than how they look. He points out the falsity of many celebrity pictures, airbrushed to create seemingly flawless skin and bodies. He then moves on to the need to stay away from addictive drugs and alcohol. He provides the five steps of the “Refusal Skill,” developed by the Comprehensive Health Education Foundation, to help people resist engaging in risky behaviors; because of the power of addictive substances, it’s better that one never starts.

It’s also important to care for your brain. Covey emphasizes the value of an education, but he also reminds us that we must be ready to work hard for that education: “An educated mind can focus, synthesize, write, speak, create, analyze, imagine, and so much more. To do that, however, it must be trained. It won’t just happen automatically” (217). He encourages reading as the gateway to learning.