Tips for sensible drinking

So many people drink alcohol that we can sometimes forget the damage it can do - to our physical and mental health - if we drink too much. Here are some tips to help you drink sensibly:

Give your liver a break. Your liver works hard to remove the alcohol so give it a decent rest for at least two days in the week. Alcohol can damage the liver and it needs time to repair itself.

Drinking coffee or having a shower doesn’t make you sober. It can help you stay awake but it won’t get rid of the alcohol in your system – only your liver can do that! The only thing that gets alcohol out of your system is time.

Have a meal. It’s a good idea to eat before and during drinking, as food can help to absorb the alcohol more slowly so it that doesn’t go straight into the bloodstream. Alcohol also irritates the lining of the stomach and intestine which can cause sickness and vomiting. This is less likely to happen if you eat a balanced meal.

Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water before you start drinking alcohol and in between drinks. It will slow down your drinking speed, giving your body more time to process the alcohol. Drinking water or other soft drinks will stop the dehydration and you’ll have less of a hangover in the morning.

Don’t mix alcohol with medications. Mixing booze with medication can be dangerous as it can change the effects of the medication, the alcohol or both.

Don’t mix drugs with alcohol. Some might think that mixing drugs with their drink will increase the buzz but in reality it’s seriously dangerous. Alcohol slows down your nervous system and combined with other depressant drugs, it could shut down your body altogether.

Set a 'drinking budget' and stick to it. Think about how much you're going to drink before you start. One way to help stick to this is to take only enough money to buy the drinks you decide you want to drink (and a bit more to see you home safe).

Keep a drinking diary. Trying to remember exactly what we drank over the last week can be hard. Keeping a daily diary for a couple of weeks can help give a better picture of your drinking patterns. Have a look at our Self Monitoring page for more information.

How to Maintain a Sensible and Classic Look for School

School is important. You learn there, see your friends and, as hard as it is to believe sometimes, have fun! Most girls would happily like to be noticed and be seen as unique, but having strict school uniform rules can be difficult to get round....if you don't read this article, that is!

Steps

1. Look at the school uniform rules and take them in mind. Brightly coloured tops, leggings, make up and shoes may be your thing, but if you have a uniform, then you've got to make do with that instead. Breaking rules is a big no-no and does you absolutely no favours.
2. Make sure all your school uniform is in good condition and washed regularly. If not, then try your best to fix it! Make sure you shoes are polished when needed too.
3. In an organisation or club at school and own a badge? Then proudly pin them on your jumper! Not allowed pin badges? No problem, look at the tips section for ideas.
4. Opt for the natural look with make up for your school so you can glam up at the weekends! Every morning use a facial wash or cream cleanser to keep your skin fresh and if you like a rich moisturizer to keep your skin fresh, soft and smooth. Your make up could be some pressed powder, a little bit of blush, some lip balm, black or clear mascara and a touch of lip gloss?
5. Every girl loves to keep her hair in a cool style! For school, it's better if your hair isn't down with nothing, as it will get in your face easily. If you prefer it down, keep it back with a headband or some cute slides. Like it up? So many choices are available! Ponytails, bunches or plaits look seriously pretty! Accessories? Express yourself! Use some classic bow clips or headbands, coloured hair elastics, skinny headbands, clips with any decoration you like, slides...anything! If you need a little gel or spray to keep it in place, don't go overboard and don't wear too much at once.
6. Limit your jewellery to a watch and a flat pair of earrings, as normally this is how much schools will accept.
7. The final touch...a smile! No one will usually go near someone gloomy with a bored expression, so think of a good memory or something you'll do to get you going! You also will look like a happy person.
   
   

Tips

• Make a statement with stationary! Notebooks and folders come in a wide variety of brilliant covers and there are all sorts of stationary and pencil cases to brighten up your school days!
• Have a locker key? Add a few cool keyrings.
• Have a fun, bright bag!
• Try and have your hair different every day! It's so much fun to experiment with your looks!
• Allowed to customise your lockers?Have a go!Stick up copies of photos, posters, pics...anything that you'll like to look at when you collect your books!
• Select a book that you want to read, not just one which is popular.
• Have a black or couloured coat to keep warm on those cold, wintery days. Scarves also come in a wide range of colours and materials. Take your pick!

Warnings

• Only wear stuff you are allowed to at school to avoid future hassles.
• Make sure that your look is OK for school.

Things You'll Need

• Your uniform
• Keyrings
• A fun bag
• Stationary, notebooks, etc. that you like
• Natural make up(optional but don't go for bright!)
• Hair stuff that you adore
• Locker stuff(but only if you're allowed)