Short messages on Relationships issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Be aware of how people view you from the behaviour you show. Your behaviour is the outward projection of yourself onto the world, and it will affect how people treat you now and in the future.
You can still accept help whilst being independent – part of independence means knowing your limits, and not being afraid to seek help when you need it.
Talk openly to someone before things get too much. The earlier you communicate your concerns, the earlier you can start working through solutions.
Christmas is an opportunity to improve the relationships you have with friends and family. Appreciate their time for you, and be mindful of their situations.
Women are twice as likely as men to regret their first sexual experience. Women who wait longer and who are not pressured into having sex are less likely to regret their first experiences.
If you can’t afford to give a Christmas present, gift your time instead – help out with a job, or by doing something they would truly appreciate.
“Compromise” is when two people give up something to be able to agree to a mutually-acceptable way forward. Aim to clear the air rather than win.
Remember in any discussion there are two points of view and yours may not be the only correct one. Listen to your partner and give them your full attention.
Encourage friends through hard times: ask what you can do to help – but only offer if you are actually willing to help. Even if there is nothing you can do, offering sends a strong signal you care.
If you break something in anger, it will still be broken when you’ve calmed down. The same is true for the words you’ve said. It is okay to feel angry, but not to behave angrily.