The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
To practice mentally grounding yourself, focus on some aspect of the physical world around you, rather than on your internal thoughts and feelings. Focus on the present rather than the past. Practice your grounding techniques so that they will come naturally when you are upset.
A good revision plan should be realistic (a plan you can stick too, with breaks and activities built-in), detailed (when you will be studying which topic) and flexible (some topics are difficult and may take you longer than you planned, or you may need extra sessions).
Creating a revision timetable can add structure to your revision techniques and help you identify which subjects you need to prioritise to get better marks. It helps you organise your study time, plus it also helps boost your motivation to revise for your exams.
If you have a friend who suffers from mental health difficulties, be aware of the stigma associated with this and keep an open mind. This might help create a safe environment for your friend, which can allow him or her to relax and enjoy life.
Someone who is experiencing mental health difficulties is usually able to live a successful full life, particularly if they are receiving help to manage the illness. They might feel embarrassed or like an outcast, but there are things you can do to help make them feel more comfortable.
“There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.” – Ralph Marston
Whatever the cause of issues between your friend and your partner may be, when the dynamics of a close friendship change, it can be hard on everyone involved. If your friendship is strong and you’re willing to communicate and address the issue, then your friend and you will find a way to work things out.
Grounding techniques are useful when we feel distressed, overwhelmed emotionally, triggered or mentally removed from the present moment. They help bring us back into the here and now in a safe way. The more present you are in your body, the calmer and safer you will feel.
Grounding techniques are a set of tools used to assist you to stay in the present moment during episodes of intense anxiety or other overwhelming emotions. Staying in the present moment allows people to feel safe and in-control by focusing on the physical world and how they experience it.
“Distributed practice” is the most powerful of all exam revision strategies. This means to plan ahead and spread out your revision over time, not doing all your revision on one subject in a block before moving on to the next. Students who cram may pass the exam but they don’t retain the material.