How oracy skills need to be developed and practised Alice Stott is director of programmes for Voice 21, the UK’s national charity for championing these skills. She says: ‘The art of speaking and listening, otherwise known as oracy, is made up of a set of skills which need to be explicitly taught and regularly practised.’ …
How to observe and help wild animals in your area Are there birds that visit a garden or green space nearby? Perhaps there’s a squirrel stashing food in a plant pot or signs that a hedgehog might be padding across a local footpath. If you do spot an animal, look out for distinctive markings or …
Read moreHow to look after an animal without taking on a pet
Why you should schedule your ‘worry time’ Scheduling a short, regular worry time is one way to prevent negative thoughts from dominating the rest of your day. It’s a tool that’s sometimes used by health professionals to help people tackle their concerns and let their worries go. Catherine Hallissey, a chartered psychologist from the Republic …
Read moreHow setting aside ‘worry time’ could help you to reduce your anxiety
Why this type of social situation can cause feelings of anxiety Humans are primed to seek security – a sense of belonging is an instinctive need. So, being left out of social occasions can make you feel anxious and low and impact your perception of yourself. Introducing plans that other friends potentially won’t like might …
Read moreShould you include new people in a pre-existing plan made with friends?
What are some signs that you’re suffering from social exhaustion? Signs of social exhaustion might include becoming more irritable, stressed, even anxious. Eventually, you might feel so overwhelmed that you shut off and stop socialising altogether. This behaviour, while understandable, can become problematic if it happens often. ‘If you constantly let your social battery run …
Read moreHow to prevent yourself suffering from social exhaustion
Why getting involved in school or college politics can give you a voice Most schools and colleges have a council, where becoming a member often involves campaigning for people’s votes. So, if you’re keen on making a difference and have good ideas, give it a go. Don’t worry if you’re not elected or too late …
Read moreHow to get people to listen and pay attention to your ideas
What is anxiety and what are the signs of it? Anxiety is often talked about as if it’s something new, but in fact, it’s an important protective mechanism that dates back to early humans. ‘The reason humans have evolved to have emotions is to teach us and help us remember what we’ve learned,’ explains Natasha …
Remember that the situation that has caused these negative emotions is only temporary When a friend is completely preoccupied with a new possession, it’s common to feel ignored and left out. It might feel like the focus of your friendship has shifted. It’s important to allow yourself to feel this way, but also to remember …
Freewriting about your role models Begin with a warm-up where you just write down your thoughts about role models. What do you think are the positive attributes that make someone a good example? Is there anyone famous you like or admire? Or does someone at your school or in your community inspire you with their …
Read moreWhy personal role models can be an important source of inspiration in your life
What is resilience? Suzy Greenwood, co-founder of UK-based wellbeing programme Vitality Works, defines it as ‘the ability to bounce back’. ‘There isn’t just one thing that enables us to become resilient,’ says Suzy, ‘there’s a variety of different techniques that support wellbeing, and different practices will work best for different people.’ Because of this, self-reflection …
Read moreWhy developing greater resilience can help change your outlook on life
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