Problem: Article: Meditation will clear your mind of the distractions that might keep you from focusing on your studies. Before you sit down to study, set aside fifteen minutes to meditate; this will help you get in the right state of mind for working toward your goals without distractions. Find a quiet environment. Sit cross-legged on the ground in a comfortable position, supporting your back against a wall if you need to. Close your eyes and focus on the darkness. Think about nothing but the darkness that you see. Don't let yourself think about anything else. When fifteen minutes have passed, get to work! Even if you don't like to read for homework, you probably read every day. You read interesting articles online and watch interesting videos online and on TV. Summary is one of the most useful skills you can have, and it's the foundational building block of everything you do in school. By practicing this skill on stories and information you find personally interesting, you are honing an important academic skill while thinking about something you enjoy. Whether you're in class or sitting at your desk at home, you might find yourself nodding off or getting lost in a daydream because you're bored. A good way to bring your mind back into focus is to practice mindfulness tricks. Create a simple but distinct action that sends a clear message to yourself It should be something you don't do regularly wiggling your toes, for example. Every time you feel your mind drifting away, wiggle your toes to snap yourself back into focus. If you feel like your mind is scattered and you can't focus on your goal, give yourself a task that you know you can accomplish that will take up a couple of minutes and that is just difficult enough to require concentration, but not difficult enough to frustrate you. Counting backward from 100 will help calm you down and focus your mind. Studies have shown that exercising for as little as ten minutes before tackling a task can improve performance by increasing the flow of blood to the brain. The effects can last up to a few hours, so there's a big payoff for a little bit of exercise. Try jumping rope, doing jumping jacks, running in place, or any other simple activity you can do easily in your room.
Summary: Practice meditation. Summarize interesting readings and videos. Practice mindfulness tricks. Count backwards from 100. Raise your heart rate.

Problem: Article: One of the easiest ways to hide signs of your period is knowing when your period will arrive. Find a small wall calendar or desk calendar that you can keep at home. Make sure it is a 365-day calendar. You will use this calendar to track your cycle so that you can be prepared. An alternative to a physical calendar is an app that you can purchase on your phone. If you have ready access to a smartphone, consider finding a period tracking app that can help remind you when your period is expected to begin. At the first sign of your period, note it on the calendar with an X or a red checkmark. Make the same mark on the calendar on the day that your period has concluded. This will help you figure out how long your cycle is and will help you estimate when your next period will arrive. Most periods last 2-7 days. Keeping a menstrual calendar is also useful to women who are interested in getting pregnant or in avoiding pregnancy since it will help you determine when you ovulate each month. These details include the rate of your flow (light or heavy), changes in the period's texture (such as clots), and whether you experience other period symptoms such as cramping or tiredness. All of these details can help you determine the supplies you need each month and when you will use them. These details might also be useful information to share with your doctor if you notice any significant changes to your cycle. Period calendars work best when you keep them consistently and regularly. The more exact and careful you are, the better. Remember that having knowledge about your body is the best way for you to get comfortable with your period. Count the number of days between the start of your last cycle's period and the start of this cycle's period. For most women and girls, their cycle will be between 21-34 days, with 28 days being the average. However, a period cycle can be quite a bit longer than that, up to 45 days. Keep in mind that many girls who have just begun their periods will take a while before developing a consistent cycle. Many girls who have just started menstruating have irregular periods for a year or two. This is normal. Note that period cycles can shift over time and in various situations, even for women who usually have regular periods. For example, some women notice changes to their cycles when they are stressed out, traveling, or in the company of other menstruating women. Often your period cycle will return to normal afterwards, but sometimes your cycle can make a lasting shift. Your calendar will be able to help you sort out the differences between a temporary change and a permanent change. If you have a consistent cycle, you will be able to predict the day that your next period will arrive. Note these days when you expect your period on your calendar. On these days, be extra sure that you have extra period supplies such as tampons and sanitary napkins ready. Remember that it is not safe to use tampons before your period begins. You can, however, use a panty-liner or sanitary napkin on days when you expect your period to arrive any moment.
Summary: Buy a calendar. Mark the first day and last day of your period on the calendar. Note important details of your period on the calendar. Repeat every cycle. Determine your period cycle. Predict when your next period will begin.

Problem: Article: If you feel your boyfriend is being disrespectful, learn to assert yourself. In the moment the disrespect occurs, let him know you will not tolerate it. You do not have to be aggressive or mean. Simply state your needs in a calm fashion When your boyfriend is being difficult, say so in the moment. Calmly let him know what he's saying is not respectful and you don't appreciate it. Do this in a calm fashion to avoid escalating the argument. For example, your boyfriend is on your case about you going out with friends from work because he feels these friends are not responsible. Say something like, "I appreciate your concerns, but I know how to stay safe. I'm allowed to have a social life and I need you to respect that." If your boyfriend is chronically disrespectful, he may not always listen when you assert yourself. Instead of hearing your needs and backing off, he may become hostile or even aggressive. For example, "I don't care what you think you need. I don't want you going out with those girls from the office." In this case, just walk away. You need to back up your words with behavior. If you want your boyfriend to respect your social life, and he isn't, show him you won't tolerate this lack of respect. Say something like, "You're not listening to me and this isn't getting us anywhere. I'm going for a walk." Then, leave for a few hours to give your boyfriend a chance to calm down. Living with a chronically disrespectful person can drain your self esteem. You may start to feel you are not worth things like love and respect. This is not the case. Everyone has worth, so remind yourself of yours when necessary. Most people have some areas in their lives they could use to improve. However, this does not mean you don't deserve love or respect. Just because you're, say, a little messy does not give your boyfriend the right to yell at or berate you constantly. Remind yourself of of this. Adopt a personal mantra. Try something like, "I matter. I deserve respect. I deserve love." If someone keeps disrespecting you, you don't have to stay in the relationship. If you consistently feel controlled, uncomfortable, or unhappy with someone, the relationship is probably not worth your time. There's nothing wrong with walking away if someone is not respecting you.
Summary:
Assert yourself when necessary. Exit conversations if you're not being respected. Remind yourself of your own worth. Think about taking a break from the relationship.