‘Work hard and you’ll succeed’ – sound familiar? At times of high pressure, like exams, it can feel like your family are continually getting on at you and stating the obvious. When they remind you to study instead of playing around online, they’re trying to motivate you, but when does reasonable pressure turn into unreasonable …
Do you keep putting things off until you have to do them at the last minute? Does a task seem overwhelming? Do you have chores that you can’t bring yourself to start? Whether it’s exam revision, tidying your room, cleaning the kitchen or starting your homework, sometimes a job can seem too big to begin. …
Synaesthesia is a phenomenon that causes sensory crossover or merging. It’s not a medical condition and researchers think it may be caused by extra connections between certain regions of the brain. The result is that the stimulation of one sense triggers an experience relating to another. The word comes from the Greek syn, meaning ‘join’, …
When you’re writing stories, do you ever feel like your characters are coming to life on the page? Do they seem like real people, making decisions you weren’t expecting? Or do you prefer to focus on the things that happen and the challenges they face? The majority of stories have characters – be they human, …
There are many times when telling a little lie seems like the easiest thing to do to keep the peace. Such as saying to a parent you’re doing your homework when actually you’re watching TV, or blaming a sibling for starting an argument when you had some responsibility. Then there are the lies people tell …
It’s Monday morning at school and your friends are all chatting about a great sleepover they had at the weekend. Normally, you’d be part of the conversation, laughing and joking with them. But this time, you hadn’t been invited. It can be hard to cope when you’re feeling left out – whether it’s a weekend …
When you head outside and let your senses soak up the sights, sounds, smells and textures of trees, there are many benefits to gain. Apart from the simple joy and wonder you might feel in the presence of these lofty sentinels, time in nature can inspire a sense of contentment. Regular wholesome tree-time can make …
Have you ever thought ‘I’m unlucky’ or ‘Bad things always happen to me’? Maybe your sports team lost a match, you misunderstood your homework or a parent vetoed your plans with friends. Everyone has bad days and life won’t always go your way. But if you find yourself complaining a lot, or blaming other people …
When the morning comes, the first thing many people do is reach for their phone. But there’s another way. You could start your day by opening the curtains and making your room as bright as possible – keep your windows clean, roll up blinds, make sure any bushes or trees outside that block the light …
A line from a book or film that sends shivers down the spine. A lyric that captures the intensity of rage or the empty weight of sadness. A message received at just the right moment. Words can become tiny treasures – reminders that someone, somewhere, gets it. The other day, I found my daughter curled …
