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The Science of Well-Being for Teens

Laurie Santos

A recent survey found that 37% of teens say they have poor mental health. This 6-week course aims to curb this mental health crisis by bringing together the best insights from Dr. Laurie Santos’ popular Yale course Psychology and the Good Life. In this course, you will explore what the field of psychology teaches us about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school and beyond. The lessons along with short weekly ‘happiness homework’ assignments will ultimately prepare you to put these scientific findings into practice. The ultimate goal is for you to feel better and build healthier habits. Parents, teachers, and other professionals supporting teenagers may also find the course beneficial.

Note: This course does not confer Yale University grade, credit or student status.

THE SCIENCE OF WELL-BEING FOR TEENS WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE ARTHUR M. BLANK FAMILY FOUNDATION AND THE JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION.

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Syllabus

Misconceptions about happiness

In this module, you will learn what it means to be happy and why pursuing happiness is not a pointless endeavor. Dr. Santos addresses how our minds lie to us and how the science shows that our misconceptions about money, grades, and social media are holding us back from implementing the techniques studied in positive psychology.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on improving mental health for teenagers, a timely and important topic

Instructed by Dr. Laurie Santos, a renowned Yale professor, a testament to the quality of the course content

Designed for teenagers, making it highly relevant to the target audience

Emphasizes scientifically backed techniques for improving well-being, ensuring reliable and trustworthy information

Covers a wide range of topics related to happiness, providing a comprehensive approach to improving mental health

Provides practical homework assignments to reinforce learning and encourage application of concepts, increasing its effectiveness

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Reviews summary

Practical well-being skills for teens

According to students, this course offers a highly practical and accessible introduction to well-being, specifically tailored for teens. Many found the instructor, Dr. Laurie Santos, to be engaging and clear, making complex psychological concepts easy to understand. The 'happiness homework' assignments are frequently cited as a key strength, helping learners apply scientific findings to their daily lives and leading to a noticeable reduction in stress and an improvement in mood. While broadly praised for its impactful strategies, some reviewers, particularly those with prior knowledge in positive psychology, noted the content could be simplistic or introductory for them.

Organized effectively into manageable, bite-sized modules.

"The bite-sized modules made it easy to fit into busy schedules."

"The course duration is perfect; it's not too long, which is great for maintaining engagement."

"Very well-structured course. The syllabus is clear, and the progression of topics makes sense."

Content is well-suited and relatable for adolescent learners.

"As a high school student, I found the concepts incredibly relevant and easy to understand."

"The topics are spot-on for the challenges teens face today."

"A definite must-take for anyone in their adolescent years."

"It truly felt like a supportive guide to navigating the ups and downs of adolescence."

Dr. Santos's clear and relatable teaching style is a major asset.

"Dr. Santos is an amazing instructor, making complex psychological ideas very accessible."

"The instructor is fantastic – very clear, relatable, and keeps you engaged."

"Dr. Santos has a gift for teaching."

"Dr. Santos's engaging delivery made it fresh."

Provides actionable tools and strategies for real-life application.

"The 'happiness homework' assignments were surprisingly effective and fun – they genuinely helped me reduce my stress and improve my mood."

"The strategies provided, like mindfulness and gratitude, are practical and actionable. It reinforced many good habits and introduced new ones."

"I particularly liked the focus on actionable behaviors rather than just theory. It helped me understand why I felt certain ways and gave me tools to manage my emotions better."

"This course offered practical strategies that no one ever taught me in school. The lessons on sleep, exercise, and mindfulness were particularly impactful."

Excellent for beginners, but potentially simplistic for those with prior knowledge.

"While some concepts were familiar from other well-being courses... not revolutionary if you're already well-versed in the field."

"I found it quite simplistic and repetitive. It feels very watered down for a teen audience, which is understandable, but it didn't offer much new insight for me."

"It felt like common sense repackaged into academic language... the content itself was just too superficial for my liking."

"It's a good starting point, but I think teens dealing with more severe issues would need additional support beyond this course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Science of Well-Being for Teens with these activities:

Review your notes from previous psychology courses

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This will help you to refresh your memory on the basics of psychology and mental health.

Browse courses on Psychology

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Gather your notes from previous psychology courses.
Review your notes and identify the key concepts.
Create a study guide to help you remember the key concepts.

Create a folder for all of your course materials

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This will help you to stay organized and keep track of all of your course materials.

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Create a new folder on your computer.
Name the folder 'Science of Well-being for Teens'.
Save all of your course materials to the folder.

Read 'The Happiness Project'

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This book is a memoir that explores the science of happiness. It provides practical tips that can be applied to your own life.

View Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our... on Amazon

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Read the book in its entirety.
Take notes on the key points.
Identify the tips that you can apply to your own life.

Five other activities

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Watch videos on positive psychology

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These videos will provide you with an overview of the science of happiness. They will also provide you with practical tips that you can apply to your own life.

Browse courses on Positive Psychology

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Search for videos on positive psychology on YouTube or other video platforms.
Watch the videos and take notes on the key points.
Identify the tips that you can apply to your own life.

Practice gratitude exercises

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Practicing gratitude has been shown to increase happiness. This activity will help you to develop a gratitude practice.

Browse courses on Gratitude

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Write down three things that you are grateful for each day.
Share your gratitude with others.

Join a support group for teens

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Joining a support group can provide you with a safe space to talk about your feelings and connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

Browse courses on Mental Health

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Search for support groups in your area.
Attend a support group meeting.
Share your experiences and listen to others.

Write a blog post about happiness

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Writing about happiness can help you to reflect on what makes you happy. It can also help you to share your insights with others.

Browse courses on Happiness

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Brainstorm a list of topics that you could write about.
Choose a topic and write a blog post about it.
Share your blog post with others.

Volunteer at a local charity

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Volunteering can help you to feel good about yourself and make a difference in the world.

Browse courses on Happiness

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Search for volunteer opportunities in your area.
Choose a volunteer opportunity that interests you.
Sign up for a volunteer shift.

Career center

Learners who complete The Science of Well-Being for Teens will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Therapist

Therapists use psychology to help people with mental health issues. This course will teach you the basics of psychology and how to apply it to help others. You will also learn about the different types of therapy and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in mental health, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Therapist

Counselor

Counselors provide support and guidance to people who are facing challenges in their lives. This course will teach you the skills you need to be an effective counselor, including how to listen, empathize, and provide support. You will also learn about the different types of counseling and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in counseling, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Social Worker

Social workers help people to overcome social and economic challenges. This course will teach you about the different types of social work and how to choose the right one for your interests. You will also learn about the skills you need to be an effective social worker, including how to assess needs, develop plans, and provide support. If you are interested in a career in social work, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Teacher

Teachers help students to learn and grow. This course will teach you the basics of education and how to apply it to your teaching. You will also learn about the different types of teaching and how to choose the right one for your students. If you are interested in a career in teaching, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Youth Worker

Youth workers help young people to develop and reach their full potential. This course will teach you the skills you need to be an effective youth worker, including how to build relationships, create safe and supportive environments, and provide guidance. If you are interested in a career in youth work, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Youth Worker

Life Coach

Life coaches help people to achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives. This course will teach you the skills you need to be an effective life coach, including how to listen, empathize, and provide support. You will also learn about the different types of life coaching and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in life coaching, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Life Coach

Personal Trainer

Personal trainers help people to improve their physical health and fitness. This course will teach you the basics of exercise science and how to apply it to your training. You will also learn about the different types of personal training and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in personal training, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Personal Trainer

Nutritionist

Nutritionists help people to improve their health by eating a healthy diet. This course will teach you the basics of nutrition and how to apply it to your practice. You will also learn about the different types of nutrition and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in nutrition, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nutritionist

Sleep Consultant

Sleep consultants help people to improve their sleep. This course will teach you the basics of sleep science and how to apply it to your practice. You will also learn about the different types of sleep disorders and how to treat them. If you are interested in a career in sleep consulting, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sleep Consultant

Stress Management Consultant

Stress management consultants help people to manage their stress levels. This course will teach you the basics of stress management and how to apply it to your practice. You will also learn about the different types of stress management techniques and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in stress management consulting, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Stress Management Consultant

Relationship Coach

Relationship coaches help people to improve their relationships. This course will teach you the basics of relationship counseling and how to apply it to your practice. You will also learn about the different types of relationship counseling and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in relationship coaching, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Relationship Coach

Motivational Speaker

Motivational speakers help people to achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives. This course will teach you the skills you need to be an effective motivational speaker, including how to develop your message, connect with your audience, and inspire them to take action. If you are interested in a career in motivational speaking, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motivational Speaker

Writer

Writers communicate ideas and information through written words. This course will teach you the basics of writing and how to apply it to your work. You will also learn about the different types of writing and how to choose the right one for your audience. If you are interested in a career in writing, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Researcher

Researchers conduct studies to learn more about the world around us. This course will teach you the basics of research and how to apply it to your work. You will also learn about the different types of research and how to choose the right one for your research question. If you are interested in a career in research, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. This course will teach you the basics of consulting and how to apply it to your work. You will also learn about the different types of consulting and how to choose the right one for your clients. If you are interested in a career in consulting, this course is a great place to start.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Science of Well-Being for Teens.

Workbook for Mindset

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Provides insights into the power of a growth mindset, which is essential for developing resilience and achieving well-being.

The Science of Well-Being for Teens

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical well-being skills for teens

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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