Health Triangle: Balancing Physical, Social, and Mental Well-being

1. Do Now Are you Healthy? On a blank piece of paper, write down why you believe that you are or are not a healthy person. Make a list of the things make you healthy or unhealthy.

2. DISCUSSION • What does “Health” mean? • What types of things make you a healthy person? • What types of things make you an unhealthy person?

3. Wellbeing Survey • Answer the questions on the “Wellbeing Survey” located in your Wellness Journal. • You are the only one who will see this survey so do not be afraid to answer the questions honestly.

4. Wellbeing Survey • If the majority of your answers fall into the “Yes” category, you’re doing great! Keep up the good work! • If the majority of your answers are “No,” then you might want to re-evaluate your activities and behavior. They might not be so good for you! • If your answers are split pretty evenly between “Yes” and “No,” you may need to make a few changes in your lifestyle.

5. Changing Behaviors • To become more physically fit and healthy, there are many behaviors you can change because they are in your control. • Choose only a couple of behaviors to begin with, and as you conquer these changes, add another one or two. • Remember, no one can change everything at one time and be successful!

6. So What is “Health”? • Your health is the combination of your physical, mental, social well-being. • Your personal level of health affects everything about you. • Example: • Have you ever been very tired or hungry? Did that feeling affect the way you acted toward others? Did it affect your work? If it continued for a long time, did it affect your physical well-being?

7. Activity: The Health Triangle • 3 volunteers • Each volunteer represents one of the three sides of the Health Triangle: Physical, Social, and Mental. • Create a Triangle by leaning against each other. • Do they seem stable; able to balance each other out? • What would happen if I took one of the three sides of the triangle away?

8. The health Triangle • The three elements are interconnected; and when one side receives too much or too little attention, the other sides change. • To be truly healthy, all three sides of your health triangle must be balanced.

9. ReaDING • Read “The Three Elements of Your Health” on pages 5 – 6 in your book. • Based on the reading we have just completed, you are going to complete your own health triangle. In each area of your triangle you will explain to me how you gain or maintain your physical, social and mental health

10. Health Triangle Project • Based on the reading we have just completed, you are going to complete your own health triangle. • In each area of your triangle you will explain three specific ways that you can gain or maintain physical, social, and mental health. • Example: Visiting the Dentist twice a year twice a year to maintain proper hygiene. • This assignment is worth 15 points: 5 for each category.

11. CLOSURE • With a partner, discuss and share some of the concepts that you are incorporating into your own Health Triangle. Physical Social Mental