Ecotherapy: “It gives me structure, makes me utilise the daylight and get out of bed. It gives me something outside of myself to nurture and look after and that helps me to better look after myself.”
Ecotherapy can improve your mental and physical wellbeing through doing outdoor activities, by working in nature, such as a conservation project, gardening or farming, or by experiencing nature, such as enjoying the views on a walk or cycling through some woodland.
People who are not comfortable in their own skin and who have insecurities will often pick apart others in order to feel better. You can find less personal topics if you feel you need to fill uncomfortable silences.
Get to the root of why you find it’s okay to talk behind the back of your friends, in order to know how to stop. It may be insecurity, boredom, revenge, to ‘protect’ others, to be funny, or just thoughtlessness.
Don’t let the opinions of others stand in your way. What they think and say about you isn’t important. What is important is how you feel about yourself.
For the most part, what other people think and say about you doesn’t matter. When you leave school, nearly all the people whose opinions you care so much about will no longer be a part of your life.
Remind yourself that you can and will grow stronger from hard times. Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t, and on all the things in your life that are right.
Be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings. The people you’re cheering for will, sooner or later, start cheering for you.
If someone flips between being ‘very nice’ and ‘very nasty’, you can feel like you need to do things to keep them happy. This can be a sign they are trying to control you.
If someone gives you gifts like ‘phone credit, alcohol, drugs or jewellery, this can make you feel good about them, but if they want sex in return they are trying to exploit you.