The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are the habits of unhappy people? What are some ways that people can improve their attitude? What might be some consequences of chronic unhappiness?

Teaching Suggestion: George, the fictional main character of The Energy Bus, is at a point in his life when he is habitually unhappy. His unhappy thought patterns have an impact on the people around him and what he can accomplish. It may be helpful for readers to make an initial connection with the text by reflecting on how unhappy thought cycles influence our actions and the actions of those around us.

• This 10-minute video explains 16 habits of unhappy people.
• This article from the Atlantic describes some of the consequences of unhappiness. (Subscription may be needed to view.)
• This article from Psychology Today discusses emotional and physical effects of unhappiness.

Short Activity

Breaking unhealthy habits can be challenging. In your notes or writing journal, list 3 detrimental habits you have (or that you have witnessed in others).

Use reputable online sources to investigate the following topics.

• What is the Cue, Routine, Reward system, and what role does it play in habit formation?
• How might someone change their habit using this principle?
• How can noticing the urge, getting curious, and feeling the joy of letting go help you to break a difficult habit?

Now reconsider the habits you noted in your journal. Select the one you feel might respond best to the Cue, Routine, Reward system. Discuss in 1-2 paragraphs how you or someone might use the system to effectively break the unhealthy habit.

Teaching Suggestion: George has difficulty breaking the habit of his unhappy thinking and must learn to improve his belief systems. Consider discussing initially why it is so difficult to break unhealthy habits. Students might use the tools in the article below in this activity or find other resources on similar topics.

• This article from the University of North Carolina explains the habit loop and how to use it to change behavior.
• This 9-minute TED Talk video describes how to break a habit using mindfulness. (Content Warning: contains brief profanity)

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the book.

Describe a time when you felt the need to change either a habit or your attitude. What was difficult about changing your behavior or thinking? What obstacles stood in your way as you attempted to achieve your goal? Were you successful? What tips would you give your younger self on how to change a bad habit or negativity in thinking?

Teaching Suggestion: In The Energy Bus, George has been told by his wife that if he does not make changes, she will leave him. Additionally, George feels trapped in his job as a manager, and his teammates are frequently bickering. George knows that he needs to make a positive change in his life, but he doesn’t know how to accomplish it. Along the way, he encounters several obstacles that set him back. Students’ reflection on their own bad habits and how difficult it is to change those habits will likely help them develop empathy and emotional connection with George as they begin reading.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who require a challenge, consider permitting additional research on how people can successfully accomplish their goals—specifically, students might investigate scientific studies on the ways in which attitude, love, and purpose all play a role in accomplishing a goal.