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 …
Have you ever wished your clothes could change with your style? As we grow and trends evolve, it’s natural to need new things. But the change in fashion trends with every season results in the manufacture of a huge amount of clothes. No one knows exactly how many, but it’s estimated to be between 80 …
We all struggle to get certain things done. Do you hate unloading the dishwasher or always put off doing your homework? Or maybe you dread cleaning out a rabbit hutch or leave getting your school bag ready until the very last minute. But whatever it is that you put off doing, there’s a trick that …
Have you ever considered when you get your best ideas? Or what you’re doing when the solution to a problem pops into your head? It might be sitting at your desk in school, or working at a computer, but it could also be doing something unconnected such as taking a shower or washing the dishes. …
The blahs – you’ve maybe been there. It’s that listless feeling of boredom, like nothing excites or satisfies. The French have a different word for it, ‘ennui’, which loosely translates as a weary dissatisfaction with life. You might also recognise the term from the recent film Inside Out 2, where the emotion is illustrated as …
From finding your way around to getting into the swing of a hectic timetable, starting a new school takes time and energy. There’s a lot to get used to and you might feel a little lost for a couple of weeks, but at least you know that pretty much everyone’s in the same boat. Think …
Taking photos is fun – whether they’re posed friends-and-family shots, landscapes or action scenes. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to become distracted by that inner voice, the one that tells you the lighting’s all wrong, the subject matter isn’t anything special and you’re wasting your time. If this sounds familiar, you might find it helpful to …
How do you respond when a teacher, coach or parent credits you for doing something well? Receiving praise can be lovely, but it might also make you feel shy or embarrassed at being singled out. What about when someone says you need to improve? It’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you receive homework from a …
From grocery shopping to music-streaming charts, many aspects of everyday life require a list. For thousands of years, people have been carving them into stone, then scribbling them into notebooks and now tapping them into smartphones. But what is it about lists that makes them so effective and appealing? Patterns and organisation Lists bring a …
Lazy days in the sun, having picnics, sitting outside with friends all evening – these summer pursuits sound very enjoyable and relaxing. For some, however, the longer days and warm weather bring irritability, discomfort and gloom. This is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. What is SAD? Clinically speaking, SAD is a type of …
