The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
Use as many old exam papers as you can to practice, and ask your teacher to read or mark them for you, with feedback. Note the questions that come up, and their themes and frequency. Time yourself to get used to exam conditions.
Each time you think about your worry, you reinforce its grip on you. Distraction breaks this by forcing you to think about other things. If you distract yourself with something sufficiently compelling, you will stop ruminating and start to feel better.
Distraction works because it interrupts your mood and forces you to “change gears”. Many negative moods contain an element of rumination to them. When you ruminate, you go over your problem or worry again and again in your mind.
For a revision timetable: get all the information you need (exam dates, lesson timetable); block out the times you can’t study; pick a revision start date; plot your revision sessions (how much time on each topic, schedule in breaks); display your plan.
A revision timetable helps you avoid running out of time, missing vital information and finding it all a bit too much. 15 minutes of planning will help you be more productive, keep you motivated and will boost your confidence for the challenge ahead.
Don’t torture yourself by fixating on what caused the pain you’re suffering from. What has happened has already been done and cannot be undone. Going over it again and again in your mind will only make things worse for you. Ask yourself, what can you do now?
While suffering from emotional pain you may not even want to get out of bed. Yet, moving when you’re feeling down can give you energy and lift your spirits. Any type of physical movement can help you release the pain from your body. Go for a short walk, try yoga or dance to music.
If you are suffering from bullying and are uncomfortable asking for help, you can try asking a friend to come with you when you approach an adult. You might also want to write a note or an e-mail to a teacher or school counsellor about the issue.
If you simply can’t find a way to compromise with parents, you might find you have to ‘agree to disagree’. Remember that you can have your own opinions, based on your own experience, beliefs and values – whether or not you accept your parents’ or guardians’ views is up to you.
Listen to what your parents or guardians have to say and accept that their point of view may be as valid as yours. If talking to them seems impossible, it can be helpful to send an e-mail or write a letter, explaining how you feel. You can also try a mediator or family counselling.