"New Lifestyle" by Theo J.

Dear year 7,

I’m a grade 9 student who is going through some difficulties this semester. Before this year, I used to study hard and felt very willing and attentive in class but things changed. I am not feeling motivated to study anymore. 

My report card is still superb, sometimes even all A’s, however, I'm inattentive and always procrastinate doing my homework . This year my passion for sports increased. Alternatively, my parents keep saying that I’m always not good enough which bothers me. Next year I’m moving to a bigger school, as a consequence, it makes me nervous about the difficulties of the exams there, and if I will still have time to continue doing what I love.

These are problems that I really want to solve as quickly as possible, for this reason I am looking forward to your response.

Best wishes,

Anonymous

Dear Y9 student,

Moving to another school, new environment and new friends is a lot of pressure. Your parents not supporting you in what you love is also difficult and disappointing. I completely understand your issues and I will try to help you the best I can. Don’t fear the new, lots of people face this and what makes you different is how you do it. Continue on your dream, doing what you like, only you know when it is time to stop. Enjoy the present, live each moment with intensity, do what you love, and focus on today. But never forget to dream. 

Feeling unmotivated? When you have some pressure on you and don’t have your brain clear, it is normal to have a drop in performance. Find a goal. If you dreamed about what you want to happen, you would be motivated and would  want to get there, giving you willpower. If you get yourself procrastinating too much and getting inattentive, you should probably establish a routine, this way you will accomplish the things you need to do and will find time for what you wish. When you have a routine everything is easier, you can manage your stress more effectively, a good managing of your day may reduce stress, which leads to better mental health and more time to relax and have time to the “wish to-do list”. You will also sleep better, practices such as your sleep agenda and bedtime routine can impact your mental performance, emotional well-being, and energy. Keeping consistent wake-up and bedtime times can help you get better rest.You also eat healthier, because you organise the day for doing your groceries and avoid unhealthy snacks, or fast food. At last, you get active, with a routine it is easier to exercise frequently. All this information, you can confirm at Health Benefits of Having a Routine | Northwestern Medicine  As I said before, to have a goal is of extreme importance for you to find a reason on the path, therefore I hardly suggest for you to take a look at this site 10 Crucial Benefits of Goal Setting - Lucemi Consulting. Try to see if it would help you!

When you start to practise something and put yourself beside others that already do that way more time than you, people may find you are not good enough. That is normal, because the person who trains more, gets better. If you love something, be sure you will be the best or at least try your best, trust yourself, have the guts to face the problems, and mainly, get better. “Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about.” Winston Churchill. While anybody is training, you should, while people rest, you practise, while they sleep, you run. “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” Babe Ruth. “If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be more than you are now.” Master Oogway. Do the possible and impossible to be better than you are right now.  

 To be nervous about the new is normal, you said before that you are starting to have a slight drop in performance, this may also be a reflection of the pressure of the new environment. I am also changing schools, and I felt the same drop in the yield. You need to face the new with bravery, be confident, things will happen at the right time. Relax and organise your day to day, the future you solve later, enjoy the surprise. To realise you are not living and enjoying the present enough is difficult, so for you to start appreciating your day, read 10 tips to start living the present. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, this is why it is called the present.” Master Oogway. 

What makes you different is how you face the difficulties. What is new, is always a surprise, make sure you know how to make it the best of them. To dream is not forbidden, but to do is mandatory, seek for internal peace. I really hope my advice works, although, If you still have an issue and you think you are not capable of solving it alone, without a specialist it is difficult. The most important thing you need to have clear for your whole life is, to ask for help is not a shame, but a signal you are not ready to give up. 

Sincerely,

Y7 Theo Lahterman