The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
Members of a family generally look out for each other and have each other’s best interests in mind. You may sometimes feel like your family might ask you questions about your problem that you don’t want to answer, but remember that they are doing it because they care.
Sometimes when you go through a tough time, you may need someone to talk to. Talking to someone who is willing to listen really makes a difference and sometimes the best people to talk to may be your own family.
Many people experience stage fright, yet the fear leading up to a performance can help you be in the moment and focus intensely on what is before you. Learn to acknowledge the fear and then direct it to where it will be most beneficial.
The same things we fear also incite feelings of exhilaration and even passion. That’s why people enjoy extreme sports, horror movies, and swimming with sharks on holiday. Try to re-frame your fear in a positive light, and acknowledge the thrill it can offer.
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis helps you understand what works: for your problem, name all the things that are contributing to the failure, ask how often it occurs, list the actions you’ve taken to ensure it does not recur, then analyse which solutions worked.
The Pareto Principle shows that 80% of your results come from 20% of your causes. If you record why you’re late somewhere, 20% of your reasons cause 80% of the times you are late. Focusing on fixing these “vital few” causes means you’ll arrive on time 4 times out of 5.
Moving out and leaving home means a lot of changes: in lifestyle, work patterns and degree of independence. Having a support network of friends, family, colleagues (at work) or Student Services (at University) can help you deal with the changes without becoming overwhelmed or feeling isolated.
Some people are more at ease in groups, and others in one-to-one situations. Think about what you prefer. Find others with similar outlooks and interests. Remember that, despite what it might seem, not everyone is interested in sport or going to pubs.
People who set a money savings goal save faster than those who don’t. If you really want to get that deposit for a home, or save enough for a dream holiday, name your goal, work out how much you can save each month, and get started.
The first thing you should always check is whether you actually need to borrow. Borrowing is expensive and a big financial commitment, so don’t borrow if you don’t really need to. Remember that, because of interest, the longer you borrow for, the more you’ll pay back.