Have you ever tried to kick a habit you know isn’t good for you – only to run out of steam and go back to your same old routine a few days later? So many people begin plans with optimism, only to find sticking to them trickier than they thought. But why are old habits …
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. …
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 …
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 …
Do you ever feel as if you’re the person everyone turns to for advice? Perhaps you’re proud you can help others – it’s a sign of your kind nature that friends feel they can open up to you. But it’s also normal to feel overloaded if you’re regularly hearing about other people’s problems. Responding with …
If somebody told you to picture one of your friends, and then asked how you met this friend, you might be able to answer with one simple word: hobbies. Whether it’s via a neighbourhood netball group or an after-school crafting club, many of us make friends for life through our extracurricular activities. But are shared …
Our emotions can change from moment to moment – one minute you might feel full of energy, the next you’re stressed, frustrated or just plain tired. Other days your emotions may feel overwhelming, or seem out of control. The good news is that we all have access to a simple and powerful tool to help …
Algorithms on social media are one of the tools used by technology companies on the apps, games and websites we use every day. They show you content you enjoy so that you spend more time on their sites. But in doing so, they can influence your thinking. Algorithms can lead you into an echo chamber …
Our friends are some of the most important people in our lives. They’re the ones who lift us up when we’re down, celebrate our successes and help us make sense of the world. Spending time with friends should leave us feeling like we belong and bring out the best in us. Friendships offer a support …
The late fantasy novel author Terry Pratchett, who also wrote The Unadulterated Cat, a wry-yet-loving look at the many different faces of cats, wrote: ‘In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods. They have not forgotten this.’ Pratchett, who passed away in 2015 with his own cat sleeping beside him on the bed, was touching …
