So a lot of you are probably going into college, or sixth form, or later years of school and a lot of you are probably starting to think about what to do afterwards!

I’m in the same boat, well I was, but I’ve decided now. Anyway, a lot of you might also be worried or getting nervous about what to do.

There are endless options for you, you’re young and beautiful funny and strong! Honestly this is the prime of your life. So, if your studying GCSE’s or the equivalent in any other country, or A Levels or you’ve left, here are some tips for you…

Still studying? KEEP STUDYING! It’s so so important, no matter what stage you’re at, because you’ll always always say; ‘I wish I tried harder’ etc etc. I do when I think about my GCSE’s! It’s the way it always is, but no matter what anyone says, your results are so important, they are the building blocks, the foundation to your future. So focus on those exams, that coursework, and you’ll make it a whole lot easier for yourself, and open up so many more opportunities.

Take into account what you’re good at. Are you artistic? A scientist? Are you better at literature, or can you learn a language? Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, focus on your talents, and investigate what you can turn them into! There’s always careers advisors at your school or college, or you can simply look online. This can be for choosing A Levels, GCSEs, Degrees or a career.

Another thing to consider, for college leavers especially, is travelling. That’s what I’m doing, for 8 months I plan to travel, taking two gap years then maybe going to Uni. It depends, I might meet my calling card whilst I travel!

One last thing I think is important, your parents. They nag and they nag and they nag, and you moan back at them. Just remember that if you tell them what you want to do, if you sound sure and positive, they will be happy. That’s what they worry about, if you’re not sure!

If you need any other advice, I’m always an ask away.

Good luck all!

and you should do them too!

• expressing gratitude - appreciate what you have, and show people that you do. if people see you’re happy about a gift you got from them they’ll be happy too!
• make your own optimism - that’s what winners do. when did anyone ever achieve anything from doubting it? happy thoughts make happy actions!
• avoid over-thinking - I know, I know, it’s difficult, and it’s what everyone does. but it’s truly the downfall of everyone too. over-thinking can be so dangerous, so every time you catch yourself doing so laugh it off and stop! deep breaths and rationality is what’s important.
• learn how YOU cope - it’s all very well taking my advice, or anyone elses, but don’t forget we’re all different. discover what calms you and what makes you happy, then you’ll know what will help.

Sigur Ros’s Festival, here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_4lPT4xgCI

You guys must be getting so stressed eh! I know I am :-( But here’s some tips I find useful for revising, take them as you wish, whatever suits you…

1. my favourite website for revising ever, get revising You can make a free account, create excellent revision cards, or word searches if you wanna take it easy, look at other peoples resources by searching topics or upload your own topics
2. turn on the radio whilst revising, but keep it quiet. I like Radio 1, they’re very into the whole revising scene and suggest breaks when playing cool songs, but choose whatever radio station you want!
3. drink tea, preferably green tea. It makes me feel more sophisticated, and green tea especially is full of healthy antioxidants with the right amount of caffeine to stimulate your brain.
4. Buy revision cards, like these. combine them with sharpies, highlighters, whatever stimulates your brain! they’re useful to summarise subjects on and to highlight key words/phrases.
5. Take healthy and appropriate breaks, I don’t recommend revising straight for any longer than an hour at a time. Go for a walk, read a book, whatever, just don’t over-exert yourself!
6. make up acronyms to help you remember, for example the classic PEE (Point Evidence Explain, NOT something rude!)
7. stock up on your omega 3. you can get supplement tablets aimed at teenagers flavoured orange, such as these, or stock up on your fish. If you get grossed out by the idea of cod and haddock, try the especially healthy mackerel, it doesn’t have the strong taste, and is fairly meaty. 
8. Finally, repeat. Don’t think just because you’ve gone over a subject once means it’s gone through, research shows you need to revise it 5-9 times before it records properly. No slacking guys!

If you need any help whatsoever just drop me an ask! I’m busy with revision myself, but I’ll try dedicate a night a week to helping you guys out :)

journaling

journaling is important - not enough of us do it. we all kept a diary in year 6 ok, and gave up on that. but actually it’s like the suggestion of writing a letter and throwing it away - writing down something in your journal can actually help release anger or tensions in the beautiful form of writing. 

you can even learn from your mistakes - go back after you’ve written something down a few days later, and read over it. the problem may seem trivial to you, or you might have calmed down and with the help of your journal figure out how to solve it!

read books

it’s simple! just read books. books with good reviews, books your friends have suggested. it helps improves your literacy and even better your understanding. books can help you appreciate life so much more, so get reading!

1. walk daily. not only is it good for your physical health, but walking helps you clear your mind and relaxes you. take a break in between tasks, and take a walk. in the summer you can have a love relaxing warm stroll, and in the winter, wrap up warm for a crisp, awakening and energizing walk. 
2. wake up early. i know i know, disgusting right? wrong! i used to lie in bed till 12 on weekends or whenever i got the chance, and i’d waste half my day away. you don’t realize it, but it makes you feel more sluggish and tired. try waking up at 10 at the latest - if you’re going to treat yourself, but the optimum time is 8-9 am. trust me, it’s the right amount of sleep and you’ll feel so much more energized, and you’ll get more done!
3. de-clutter, and this ones very important. do it as much as you can, don’t let everything build up! you can do this physically or mentally - give your house a spring clean in any of the 4 seasons, or allow your mind to forget about unnecessary, painful things. 
4. drink water. this one is surprisingly powerful - i never used to drink it, and i’d always feel tired or dehydrated. but even if you drink just one bottle a day, it truly makes a difference! your skin improves, you can last hours, and you generally feel a lot happier and healthier. 
5. stop judging. it’s easy - but it’s also stupid. just try think, people probably judge everything you do, do you like it? what people do is their own choice, and unless it upsets or affects you, it’s none of your business. you’ll find your mind more at peace of you don’t judge people. 

1. They have an end in mind

 People who achieved great success have an end in mind. They know what they want and they commit themselves to achieve it. When you have a goal, you have something to focus on. If you do not have a goal, you will be wandering around feeling lost. Having an end in mind can help guide you towards your destination.

2. Have a reason

Winners have a reason behind their goals. They know their purpose behind achieving their goals.  The likelihood of giving up is drastically higher if you do not have reasons behind your goals. When you have a compelling reason to support your goals, you drastically increase the possibility of achieving it.

3. Have a support group

It is easy to give up when you are alone on this journey. Form a support or mastermind group to help you along the way. To form your own support group, find like-minded people who want to achieve similar goals. Keep your group small with only two to six people. You need to choose your members carefully. Choose members who are positive, goal oriented and are pursuing similar goals to yours.

4. They are particular about how they spend their time

If you do not know how you spend your time, you will waste most of your time away. Time is one of our most precious resources. Keep a time log. There are many mobile and web-based applications that can help you track where you are spending your time. Rescue Time is a great web-based app that can help you track what you are doing on the computer and how much time you spent on each different site.

5. Try fast, fail fast, keep trying and never give up

It is hard to hit the target with your first try. This is why winners try fast, fail fast, keep trying and never give up. You can learn faster by trying faster and failing more times in a shorter period. You learn at a slower pace when you are too slow to take action. When you take action to try fast, you will learn at a faster rate and know what things work and what don’t. You may face many frustrations during your learning process. However, don’t give up. Keep on trying out new ideas that you had picked up. Keep doing those that work and kick away ideas that don’t work.

If you decide to make a difference to your life, I challenge you to take action now. Start planning for your goals. Make this year your best year ever. Will you take up the challenge?

- credit to http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2011/02/10/winning-habits-of-successful-people/

1. Happiness doesn’t come from what we have

I have seen happier people in an African village hut with a dirt floor than someone I knew who lived in a multi-million dollar mansion overlooking water, with the Riviera and jet skis parked near or on the pontoon, and the 7 series BMW parked in their garage.

It’s a fact that having things, having talent, having money, and having all the trappings will not necessarily equate to happiness in your life.

But how much better it is to be happy with or without – whether you abound or are abased.

2. Happiness comes from what we use

By simply deciding to be happy, no matter what you find yourself doing at the time, it will lead to only one thing – happiness.

I have experienced happiness cleaning toilets, packing shelves, writing and publishing books, conducting meetings as the CEO of my own company, coaching other businesses and speaking professionally.

It’s not what I have done that has been my greatest source of happiness. It has been using what I have at the time with the knowledge and understanding I had. Joy has been bred by having an attitude to be ever learning and ever growing in a state of happiness.

3. Happiness doesn’t come from what we see

Some say ‘seeing is believing’. I would rather declare that ‘believing is in seeing’.

When I have at times had to do things that may not have necessarily fitted my ‘dream’ list of activities, I have learnt to be happy by focussing on my own personal dream for my future, recognising that the current task I may be engaged in is simply a vehicle that is carrying me to my destination.

Life is filled with seasons, and by approaching the summers, winters, autumns or falls and springs of our life with a positive attitude, then happiness can be our companion throughout the coldest morning, the sunniest afternoon, or the darkest night.

4. Happiness comes from what we choose

Choice is a magnificent word. We can, in an instant, choose to be unhappy, and yet on the flipside of that we can also choose to be happy.

Every day, throughout the three years that I owned and operated a cleaning business, I had the choice to either approach each dirty house or factory I faced with a smile or a frown.

Satisfaction was gained by focussing on the end result of each completed cleaning assignment before I even started. Two outcomes were presented to me – a place was transformed into a property that shone in a state of cleanliness that I created and this filled me with a healthy sense of pride, and secondly the financial reward received for a job well done.

In business for myself, I was in charge of my own destiny without being at the beck and call of an employer.

5. Happiness must rise from within

John Mason states that ‘these are the things that mar or bless human happiness.’ So dependant upon how you apply the above four truths, your happiness will be determined.

Happiness must rise from within, unaffected by the circumstances surrounding us.

Take time to develop this winning habit – a state of ‘dissatisfied satisfaction’ that moves you forward towards your dreams, filled with happiness, and you will experience nothing less than a blessed life.

taken from - http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2011/03/25/create-happiness/

• take a micro break. we find ourselves too often sat in front of the computer, getting more and more frustrated waiting for something to work or load. use these opportunities to take a break and re-energize your mind and body. pay attention to your breathing, lengthening the inhales and exhales, or stretch. 
• mental rebooting. when you get to the point where you start to feel your thoughts becoming more sluggish, take a break. if you prevail, you’ll only push yourself into more and more exhaustion. take some exercise, all it has to be is a brisk walk, or perhaps even a cycle or jog. 
• macro breaks - small breaks throughout the day can make a big difference. they have powerful effects, allowing you to live will whilst producing plenty. however, every few months ago, you’re going to need a larger break. so don’t feel guilty taking a weekend or even a week or two off working - you deserve it. relax. treat yourself.