Life-changing skills
Our emphasis is on the acquisition of life-changing skills that can improve your success at school, enhance your well being and foster your personal growth and development. We have grouped these skills into four categories, depending on whether the skills foster learning, well-being, personal growth or goal setting. Some skills, such as sleep, for example, will be listed in both learning and well-being skills, given the critical importance of sleep to both learning and wellbeing.
Why focus on skills? Skills are the building blocks of change. They are manageable in that you can learn one or two skills at a time. They are relatively easy to acquire (although harder to master) in that you can practice them every day. And they are scalable in that you can teach skills to one or two people or entire classrooms at a time.
Learning skills include the skills and habits that allow students to learn effectively in the most efficient manner. These include activities that foster active recall and deep learning, that maximize the efficient use of study time, and that help students know when and how to ask for academic help.
Wellbeing skills include all of the social and emotional skills and strategies that allow students to manage their worries, what-ifs and doubts, as well as acquire and maintain healthy relationships. These include strategies, such as relaxation breathing, mindfulness and fact-checking, as well as learning how to manage the demands and expectations of others.
Goal-setting skills include the various skills and activities designed to help students set and achieve their goals. These include building a goal hierarchy, use of action plans, and thinking strategically about school, as well as the use of storyboarding and backwards scheduling.
Personal growth skills include the various skills and activities design to help students discover and reach their full potential. These include the development of a growth mindset, learning how to use your character strengths, as well as the importance of behavioural experiments and deliberate practice to reach beyond your comfort zone.
Cannot find the skill you are looking for? Click here for the full list:
SKILL:
Relaxation breathing and mindfulness
Breathing and mindfulness are the oldest and most effective mental health skills. Learn how to breathe and be mindful in less than 15 minutes a day. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to story-board your week
Learn how to story board your week, which is one of the fastest and most effective ways to increase your productivity and decrease your stress. Learn how.
SKILL:
Learn flashcards & practice problems
Learn why flashcards and practice problems are so critical to learning, what makes them work so well and how they can help you beat the forgetting curve. Read more.
SKILL:
Finding the good things in your day
Finding three good things each day, even on bad days can be hard, and sometimes seemingly impossible.Learn how to find good things in every day. Read more.
SKILL:
Effective and efficient note-taking
Learn how to take notes in class that will maximize your efficiency and effectiveness, while keeping you focused even when you get bored. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to take effective breaks
Micro-breaks can boost your focus and increase the efficiency with which you master course material and prepare for exams. Master the pomodoro technique. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to use to-do lists
Find out how to-do lists can boost your productivity, lower your stress and decrease your procrastination. Get started.
SKILL:
Learn how to say ‘no’ to others.
Learning how to say ‘no’ to others, without feeling bad about it is a crucial skill to ensure that you get all of your work done and have enough time for yourself. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to build lasting habits
Want to start fresh, turn over a new leaf or reboot your life. Learn how to build lasting new habits that can make you healthier, less stressed and more productive.
SKILL:
Learn to think strategically about school
Developing a strategy for your studies can help you reduce your stress and optimize your success. We have 16 strategic moves that you may not have considered — yet.
SKILL:
Learn how to challenge worries, doubts and what-ifs.
Learn how to deal with negative thoughts, doubts, worries and what ifs. Sixty years of mental health innovation. Read more.
SKILL:
Exit plans and pivots
Worried about getting yourself into something you cannot get out of? Learn how and why it is important to have an exit plan for every conversation and occasion. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to backwards schedule
Backwards scheduling has been shown to boost motivation, reduce stress and increase your grades. Find out how.
SKILL:
Learn about deliberate practice
Research into understanding the secret to achieving excellence has identified three key ingredients. Learn how to reap the benefit of deliberate practice.
SKILL:
Learn how to stay motivated
How can I stay motivated during the last few (painful) weeks of school. Six great tips you can start using today. Learn about three different types of disengagement.
SKILL:
Learn how to find more marks.
Every semester, students leave marks on the table by not finishing thier work r not asking for more. Finding more marks may be the difference between a pass and a fail or an A and a B.
SKILL:
Learn how to write exams
We have more than 25 tips on how to prepare for and write exams. Avoid the mistakes that most students make. Get the grades you need and deserve.
Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to write papers
Writing papers at university and college is hard work. Find out how to write a great paper and avoid the 24 most commonly made mistakes.
SKILL:
Saying how you feel.
Saying how you feel is one of the most important skills in life. Learning how to use your words is one of the first lessons in life and one that many of us never really master. Read more.
SKILL:
Research has shown that social emotional learning skills can boost your grades and improve your mental heatlh. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to build a growth mindset
A growth mindset is an essential part of lifelong wellbeing and a key component of reaching your full potential. Find out if you have a growth mindset and learn how to get more. Take the quiz.
SKILL:
Using your character strenghts
Character strengths are what make each person unique. They can motivate you, energize you and help you reach your full potential unlike anything else. Find out what your character strengths are.
Learn more.
ARTICLE:
At some point, everyone will need some academic help. Whether it is asking the prof, talking to a mentor or hiring a tutor, we’ll show you how to get started. Read more.
ARTICLE:
Nothing can be harder than to someone about your mental health. There are countless barriers that you will face. What’s yours?
Take the quiz.
SKILL:
Learn how to foster friendships
Learn about what long-term friends do to maintain their friendships and why friendships are so important. Find out what you are doing and what you can do more of. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to make friends.
Research shows that it takes over 200 hours of contact to turn an acquaintance into a friend. Read more.
ARTICLE:
Knowing how to talk to people can be harder than you think. Learn how to get started on mastering the art of chit-chat and conversation. Read more.
ARTICLE:
Not sure what is making it so hard to stay on top of your finances? Is your worry about money affecting your wellbeing and grades? We’ve got six great strategies for dealing with financial stress. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to ask questions
Learning how to ask and answer questions is an important life skill tht you will need in class and throughout your life. Find out how to take the fear out of speaking up. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn what to do before dropping out
There are a lot of good reasons to change programs, switch schools, and even take a break from studying altogether. Learn what you should do before deciding to drop out.
SKILL:
Learn how to deal with unfairness
Know the facts about the unfairness and discrimination students experience on campus and how to get started on a plan to make things right.
Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to build grit
The end of the term is still weeks away, but you are already running out of gas. Whether you are bored or tired, learn how to motivate yourself and build grit
Get started.
SKILL:
Learn how to deal with failure
I just failed my exam and the panic is setting in. Research shows that student’s fail tests more than you might think. What happens next is what matters most.
SKILL:
Learn to have tough conversations
How do I tell my parents I did badly this term? We asked our expert how best to break the bad news to parents and convince them you have a plan to get back on track. Read more.
SKILL:
Learn how to improve your wellbeing
Contemporary psychologists, such as Martin Seligman, believe that there are five domains that contribute to your overall wellbeing and happiness. What are yours? Read more.
SKILL:
Learn the gratitude fix
Looking for a quick and lasting happiness fix? The tried and true benefits of expressing gratitude are just what you need. Read more.
ARTICLE:
What to expect at college and university
Attending university Is one of the most important and fullfilling times in your life. Most students report not feeling ready. Find out what you can do.
Learn more.
