MAKE A LIST
Before you get out there, and sign up for every club or activity going, stop and think for a second. I'm not trying to be a dream crusher here, but be realistic. So take some time out and write a list (Tell I'm not the only one who loves making lists). Think of all the school activities that you'd like to try this year, and write them down. Now look over it, and think practically. There's no point trying to do cheerleading, and join the art club, and audition for the school play, if after all that, you won't have any time for homework, or to just hang out with friends. So shorten it down to the stuff you're really passionate about it, and that you think you'll stay committed to.
Also, think about why you're doing it. Don't just do something because a friend or parent is pressuring you to, do it for yourself.
Now, keep that pen and paper handy, because it's time for another list. Now you've chosen the particular activities you'd like to try, put them down here as subheadings. If you have other goals for the year as well, such as improving your grades, or making new friends, put them down as subheadings as well. Now, for each subheading, put down small, and realistic targets for each. For instance, say we're using Cheerleading as an example, instead of just putting 'Become more flexible' down as a target, write how you can do this. For example:

- I will stretch for 30 minutes every day.

Or say you want to improve your Science grade, instead of writing 'Study more' you could put down:

-I will spend 10 minutes each day going over what we learnt in class that day.

Catch my drift? It doesn't matter if the targets seem too simple, you have to start somewhere. And it's much easier to start off small and work your way up than jumping right in the deep end and finding it way too much to handle. So make sure your targets are achievable.

PUTTING THE PLAN IN ACTION
Now writing the list is the easy part. It's the doing it that's the hard part. But don't let that stop you! Usually, there are two things that stop us from achieving our goals - fear and laziness. I don't expect you to be able to get rid of these traits completely, it would be unnatural if you did, but here are some tips to help you overcome them enough to do all the things you want to do!

Fear:
We all know how it feels to be nervous. Think back to your last exam, and I bet right before it your stomach was full of butterflies. But I can also bet a lot of you did well in that exam, despite the nerves. I think the problem is that a lot of people over dramatise things in their mind when they're about to do something nerve wracking. Think of how in the past before doing something scary you've said 'This is the end of the World' or 'I'm going to die'. I know I've said that latter one myself many a time before doing a presentation. But I'm still here now, aren't I? Before and during exams, I'm actually quite calm, and do you know what my secret is? I think rationally. I'll keep saying to myself, 'You know what? If I fail this exam, it won't be the end of the World. I have so many options, no matter what my result, it doesn't matter. Sure, I'd like to do well. But even if I fail, there's always a solution. So just do your best.' And it's true. I like to think about a year's time. In a year's time, will you care that you stuttered a bit in the school play? Will you care that you didn't do so well in that one Science test? No, probably not. So you might as well just give things a try. Maybe it wont work out as you planned, but then you can move on and try something else. You wont know if you don't try. Another thing that really helps with feeling less fearful is confidence. And a great way to get this confidence is practice, practice, practice. If you know that you can do something, you'll be less scared when it comes to that audition, exam, whatever. If you do something enough, it almost becomes second nature, and then you have much less to worry about. Of course, as much as we want to do something, sometimes we just can't be bothered to work for it. Which leads us to...

Laziness:
You've probably got one of those friends who seems so organised and motivated. You know, the types who always do their homework the night it's set. And maybe you're more the kind of person who leaves things to the last minute. I must admit that's what I am like. But when I know there's something I HAVE to do, such as an English essay, there are certain tricks I use to get me working. Hopefully, they'll help you out a bit too.

1. Think
Again, it's time to start thinking rationally. So, if you're given the choice of doing that essay, or watching television, I think I know which most of us would choose. But think about how you'll feel later. Okay, okay, watching television might be fun, but that really won't matter on Monday when you're teacher asks for your essay and you haven't done it. Eek! So get the hard stuff over with first, and then you'll have time left to chill out, without the worries of that essay looming over you. This can apply to anything, really, whether it be stretching for Cheerleading, or learning your lines for the play. They might not be the most fun aspects, but you have to do them, so you might as well get them over with.

2. Make it manageable
Things are lot easier if you put them into small manageable tasks. I hate to bring the essay idea into it again, but it fits. For example, I got set a 1500 word essay for my Religious Studies class not long ago. I was silly and left it all to the weekend before it was due. I could have been even more silly and tried to do it all the night before (which I have been a culprit of before) but that would have just resulted in stress, tears and probably not a very good essay. However, because I had time to space it out, I could do a much smaller amount of words each day, instead of struggling through it all night long. It's so much easier if you do a little here and there. So if you need to do that stretching, do 10 minutes, have a break, then come back and do another 10 minutes, and so on.

3. Rewards
Another thing that really helps me get down to work is to give myself rewards. For example, I'll tell myself once I've done an hour of studying, I'll watch an episode of my favourite show and have some chocolate or call up a friend to talk. Knowing after the work is done that there is something to look forward to will make it so much easier and inspire you to keep working.