The saying that the only certainties in life are death and taxes is certainly true but that doesn’t mean that most of us don’t still have a fear of death.

When we’re young, death seems to be somewhere in the distant future (and that’s almost always true). But as we get older, the thoughts of leaving our mortal coil and ceasing to be part of life as we know it grow ever larger. It’s then that our fears swell and we run the risk of them taking over our life.

How to get over your fear of death

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All too often, our listening skills only go as far as listening to when the other person has stopped talking so that we can start talking and become the focus of attention. The trouble is, that doesn’t do us any good.

There’s a well worn – and quite corny – phrase that says we have one mouth and two ears and that we should use them in that ratio. But too often our brain ignores that and babbles on anyway.

So how can you improve your listening skills?

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If you’re just naturally a bit stand-offish or aloof then maybe it’s time to make yourself appear to be more approachable. This applies whether it’s a work environment (unless you’re the autocratic boss right at the top!) or in social meetings.

How can you make yourself more approachable?

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It happens to almost all of us: getting exam nerves before a big test. After all – at least at the time we’re taking the exam – the results matter to us. With some exams such as a driving examination the result does last near enough the rest of our lifetime. Other exams are a stepping stone to somewhere higher up our education or career path.

So, what can you do to reduce your exam nerves?

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Let’s face it, sugar is addictive. We get sugar cravings at the drop of a hat. It’s actually wired into our biological systems. Our ancestors would only have had sweet things as a very occasional treat – usually when fruit was in season.

Of course we’ve now got access to sugary things 24 hours a day. So we give into them “just this once”. Except it’s not really once, it’s every day. Probably lots of times a day.

So how can you curb your sugar cravings?

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You’ve been told that you are due to have an MRI scan and there are some niggling worries in your mind that seem to be growing bigger by the day. Is there anything you can do to reduce your MRI scan anxiety?

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Some people put their guard up as soon as you walk in the room. If you’re always on the back foot, being defensive all the time, maybe it’s time to change…

Sometimes it’s fine if you’re being defensive – if you’re looking after a friend or sibling when they’re being attacked verbally for instance. But that’s a different meaning to the one we’re dealing with here.

Being defensive too often is something you can overcome if you put your mind to it.

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It sounds like the kind of phrase that would have been used as a put-down at school: “you’ll never achieve your potential if you carry on like that”. Sometimes those embedded commands follow and dog us through our life. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Of course, you need to know what your potential could be – which isn’t always easy to figure out. But assuming you’ve got at least a vague idea about what your potential could be and the almost-certain knowledge that you’re nowhere close to achieving it, what can you do?

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You’ve heard all the boring government advice about drinking in moderation but not done much about it. Then your doctor or some of your friends or work colleagues start to mention that maybe you have a few too many, just that bit too often. If that’s you – or if you’re just strong willed enough to recognize that you need to cut down the amount of alcohol you consume – then here are some ideas to help you start drinking in moderation.

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Athletes often talk about getting into the zone – the place where everything is just right and they can take their performance levels to an ultimate peak. But this state doesn’t just apply to athletes: creative types and top business people also get themselves into the right state (i.e. zone) to make sure that they perform to the best of their ability.

So, how can you get into the zone more often?

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