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Are you stressed?

Running
We all know about the physical benefits of running, but the mental effects, such as clarity of thought and relief from stress, are just as important for good health. Running sends the blood to the brain and makes it easier to think clearly. You must take notice of what your brain is telling you. If you’re feeling stressed, go for a jog. The effect is even better when you run well. How to do it? A good tip is to watch an eight-year-old girl running. Her steps are springy; the foot gets off the floor quickly and comes down lightly. Running robotically on a treadmill with a blasting MP3 player is not going to get those happy hormones working. Tune into your feet and not the MP3 player.
Sleeping
It is all too easy for those who can ‘hit the pillow and go out like a light’ to tell you to just stop thinking about things. If you are a worrier, you will worry and this can affect your sleep. So, obey the basic rules: go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and allow some time to relax before bed. As for your worries, give yourself a ‘worry period’. This should be in the same place, at the same time every day. Give yourself 15–20 minutes to think about your worries and write a to-do list. And if you’re worrying about not sleeping and not being able to cope the next day, remember that our bodies actually need less sleep than we think. Although we’re told to get eight hours, six to seven hours is fine, so you may be getting more than enough sleep for your body to function well.
Writing
Writing down the things that are worrying us can be very therapeutic. It is a way of setting a thought free. Once it’s on the page or screen, we can read it, reread it, delete it or think about it. Writing allows us to use both the logical and creative parts of the brain. Try it: take one of your worries, such as a conversation or argument which has troubled you, and write what you wish you’d said or the words of sympathy you wish you’d been offered. Writing a blog may have replaced diaries, but they are both a means of presenting your thoughts. The style doesn’t need to be of a prize-winning standard to have value!

1. Some people believe that children should not be given homework everyday, while others believe that they must get homework everyday in order to be successful in school. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
2. An increasing number of children are overweight which could result in many problems when they grow older both in terms of their health and healthcare costs. Why do you think so many children are overweight? What could be done to solve this problem?
3. Children can learn effectively by watching television. Therefore they should be encouraged to watch television regularly at home and at school. How much do you agree or disagree?