Huskie Wellness - Sept. 12, 2024
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WOOP! There it is!
Parents, teachers, counselors, (and yes, even the internet) can often be heard encouraging young people to “focus on your dreams” and “think positively” as they start the new school year. This is not bad advice… we do want our teens to be goal-oriented and have a positive mindset. However, more than twenty years of research in the science of motivation has demonstrated that just positive thinking is not enough.
Our September Wellness Workshop introduced students to a science-based strategy that helps people identify and fulfill their wishes. WOOP is a four step goal-setting strategy that can take students from dreaming, to doing, to actually achieving their goals. Here’s how it works:
W: Wish
What is an important wish that you want to accomplish? Your wish should be challenging but feasible.
O: Outcome
What will be the best result from accomplishing your wish? How will you feel? Pause and really imagine the outcome.
O: Obstacle
What is the main obstacle inside you that might prevent you from accomplishing your wish? Pause and really imagine the obstacle.
P: Plan
What’s an effective action to tackle the obstacle? Make a when-then plan. (When:__________________. Then I will: (my action) __________________________.)
WOOP has been shown to improve students' effort, attendance, homework completion, and GPA. Outside of school, WOOP can reduce stress, increase engagement, improve time management, and promote physical health. It has proven effective for people of all ages and across various areas of life.
Parents, try using WOOP in your daily life and encourage your teen to use it weekly or monthly as well. You can practice WOOP online, download a WOOP kit, or get the WOOP app at https://woopmylife.org/en/practice. Let’s WOOP into a meaningful and successful new school year!
Clear the Air
Do you want your teen to have a fresh start this school year by quitting vaping once and for all? A new research study found that one way young people have been successful in quitting vaping is by using an interactive text message program called This is Quitting.
To start using the program, teens can text DITCHVAPE to 88709. The program will begin with the message,
“Ready to quit? Text the date you want to quit for daily tips a few weeks before and after your quit date.”
Other messages will include coping strategies, mindfulness training, breathing methods, self-care advice, and tips from other young people who are also quitting. For example:
“Drinking something cold - water, sports drink, iced tea, milk - can help when a craving pops up. You can always reply COPE.”
“You got this. You may want to avoid people, places, or things that make you want to use your vape today (if that’s possible). Text COPE or STRESS if you need.”
Quitting vaping is not easy, but it is possible. Counseling, family, and peer support all increase a young person’s chance of quitting. More tools and tips to help your teen quit vaping can be found at https://drugfree.org/drugs/vaping and https://teen.smokefree.gov/.