Healthy Habits

• Get plenty of rest; you still require at least eight hours of sleep at night.
  
• Exercise three to five times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.
  
• Review personal hygiene habits.
  
• Do athletic conditioning and weight training under proper supervision.
  
• Limit your television viewing and recreational computer time. 
  

Nutrition

• Eat a good breakfast which is important for alertness and energy at school.
  
• Eat three healthy meals a day and nutritious snacks.
  
• Whether eating at home or out, eat as a family as often as possible.
  
• Limit high fat, high sugar foods and choose appropriate alternatives.
  
• Eat a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.
  
• Eat lean meats rich in iron and low-fat milk products or other foods rich in calcium.
  
• Manage your weight through appropriate eating habits and regular exercise.
  
• If you follow a vegetarian meal plan, make sure it is balanced with adequate nutrients and calories.
  
• Consider vitamin supplementation especially for Vitamin D.
  
• Supplement with fluoride, if there is none in your water. 
  

Safety

• Use seatbelts and follow speed limits and traffic laws.
  
• Don't accept a ride in a car if the driver has been drinking.
  
• Don't drink and drive.
  
• Don't ride unrestrained in the back of a pickup truck.
  
• Use helmets, mouth guards and protective sports gear.
  
• Listen to your body during sports; don't overuse muscles or play while fatigued.
  
• Maintain a smoke-free environment.
  
• Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
  
• Use sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 and avoid tanning booths.
  
• If you get a part-time job, learn rules for job safety and emergencies.
  
• Don't use tobacco, drugs, alcohol or carry a weapon.
  
• Review swimming skills.
  
• Learn to protect yourself from abuse.
  
• Learn to deal with anger and resolve conflicts.
  
• Learn CPR. 
  

Social

• Regularly spend time with your family doing something you all enjoy.
  
• Talk to your parents-share with them how your day and your life is going.
  
• Your parents will listen if you listen to them.
  
• Participate in social activities, community groups and team sports.
  
• Respect limits and consequences your parents have set for unacceptable behavior. 

School 

• Be responsible for school attendance, homework completion and course selection.
  
• Discuss with parents or valued friends frustration with school.
  
• Participate in school activities.
  
• Identify talents, interests or skills for future career direction.

Mental Health

• Take on new challenges to build confidence.
  
• Clarify your values.
  
• Recognize your strengths.
  
• Listen to good friends and valued adults.
  
• Talk with someone you trust (a parent, friend, clergy or your doctor) when you are nervous, sad or feel things are not going right.

Sexuality

• Ask questions you have about sex, birth control and sexually- transmitted diseases.
  
• Sexual feelings are normal.
  
• Having sex should not be confused with having sexual feelings.
  
• Talk to your parents or doctor about sex.
  
• Learn how to say "no" to sex.
  
• Abstinence is the safest way to prevent pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

Substance Abuse Education

• Do not smoke, chew tobacco, use diet pills or steroids.
• Do not use alcohol or drugs.
• Do not sell drugs.
• Avoid situations where drugs and alcohol are present.
• Support friends who choose not to use drugs.

Responsibility

• Respect the rights and needs of others.
  
• Serve as an ethical role model.
  
• Follow family rules.
  
• Share in household responsibilities.
  
• Learn new skills such as CPR, first aid or peer counseling.
  
• Be a volunteer-help someone less fortunate or in need. 
  

Dental Health

• Brush teeth for two minutes at least twice a day and use fluoride toothpaste.
• See the dentist regularly-at least twice a year.

Resources
There are some wonderful books put out by the Rosen Publishing Group each dealing with a specific problem encountered by teens. The following is only a very short sampling:

• Kane, June Kozak. Coping  with Diet Fads. 1990.
  
• Simpson, Caroly. Coping with Asthma. 1995.