SuperMe

Reckon you've got more will-power than a 4 year old?

Could you resist eating one of your favourite chocs for 20 minutes? How about if we promised to give you double if you could hold out?

This type of test is perfect for testing your grit. That's your ability to sacrifice what's in front of you for something more significant, but not immediate.

If you can hold out and wait for the things that you really want, you are more likely to be successful and happy in the long run.

It's easier for stressful things to stick in the mind; they're big and heavy and important, but what about all the good stuff? You know you've smiled in the last week - but can you remember what at?

If you note down all the things that make you happy from day to day, you can build up a list of escape plans for the next time you feel trapped in a bad mood.

And who knows, maybe brushing your teeth makes you ecstatically happy and you just never noticed.


Photo by Bandita

Before going to sleep, think of three good things that have happened today.

It takes practice, but it's supposedly possible to bring things into your dreams and even control what happens.

If you manage to change your dreams, props to you. If you just manage to get yourself into a better frame of mind before you sleep, its still worth it.

Don't forget to write your dreams down in the morning before you wake up properly, or you won't be able to remember if it worked or not.


Photo by _-=Dreemreeper=-_

Drawing porno versions of the rich and famous is not a solution that will help get your languages coursework done, but writing something, anything, will help get past that first road block.

Famous artist Gustav Klimt had a trick he used when creating his paintings. He would start out by drawing his subject, not as they were posing but in an imagined - and normally quite filthy - scenario instead.

He would then paint over these debauched sketches with the final 'respectable' version. The people the portraits were for, normally only ever saw the dignified results, until one day, one of his high society clients demanded to see his sketches of her. She got more than she bargained for.

So, how to apply this to that essay: Just begin it. Get down what you know. Make bits up in the areas where you get stuck.

Fill the page with an essay on how King Alfred famously invented ping pong, married Katy Perry and won the UEFA cup. Then overwrite it with the respectable version: King Alfred famously burned some cakes, married Ealhswith, before becoming the first King of all England.

And don't get caught, like Klimt!

Photo by Sembazuru

Counting to ten gives you time to get out of the moment and calm down.

If you still feel stressed or angry after watching this video, then something is probably really wrong.

Weirded-out much?

Verbalising pointless negative thoughts will make them more real.

The Challenge: Try not to complain about anything for 24 hours.

Tips
1. Write yourself a reminder of what you're doing, somewhere that you'll see all the time.

2. Keep score of the number of times you nearly whinge.

3. Don't give up if you accidentally complain about something, either reset the 24 hours or keep a tally of how many slip-ups you make.

4. Fix, or ditch, a problem instead.

5. Try and identify 'useful' complaints and whether or not they're worth failing the challenge for.
If someone is stealing your bike = complain. You can't find your sock = don't.

6. Think of things that you are grateful for, instead.

When you freak out and panic, outcomes seem more extreme than they are likely to be. Here's a simple trick to help you back to the land of reason.

1. Write down the situation.
EXAMPLE: Mum's threatening to leave Dad.

2. Imagine the absolute worst outcome. Really go for it.
EXAMPLE: Mum will leave. Dad will lose his job. Mum will marry someone else. Dad will get depressed. I'll have to look after him and drop out of school.

3. Imagine the absolute best outcome.
EXAMPLE: They'll break up and be really happy apart. I'll get two birthday presents, have an XBox AND a PS3, go on twice as many holidays and get a really cool older step-brother.

4. Imagine something between 2 and 3.
EXAMPLE: They might have some time apart, and they'll probably be a bit down to start with or maybe even happier apart. Things will be different for a while but manageable.

By imagining the extremes, it becomes easier to reach a more likely outcome.

Photo by Connah

Doing something for someone else not only makes you feel good about yourself, but means people are more likely to do unexpected nice things for you in return.

Sonja Lyubomirsky discovered that subjects who took part in her study, and did 5 random acts of kindness a day saw a 40% increase in their happiness.

Help someone and be happier.


Photo by gruntzooki

Setting specific and clear goals is one of the best ways to stay motivated, avoid procrastination, and get what you want.

Imagining and daydreaming about realising those goals makes them much more likely to happen. I know, we didn't think we'd be suggesting you do a little daydreaming either...

Make a list of your goals, for tomorrow, next week, next year. Imagine making the goals happen. And use the list to stay on track.

You might want to read this before you start your list.

Photo by lululemon athletica