The Book of Lists for Teens

Copyright © 2002 by Sandra Choron

All rights reserved

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to trade.permissions@hmhco.com or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 0-618-17907-0

Mattel, Barbie, the Barbie doll likeness and character, are U.S. trademarks of Mattel Inc. All rights reserved.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This book contains information on a broad range of subjects. None of the information is intended as a substitute for the advice of a professional in each of the relevant areas. The reader should consult a professional in connection with matters that may require professional or expert attention.

eISBN 978-0-547-34697-7

v2.0416

For Kristen Ann Carr,

who graduated with honor

Acknowledgments

There are angels all around us, and we’re grateful to them all: Brandy Vickers, our talented editor, understands more about patience than anyone we know; we thank her for her tenacity and enthusiasm. Amy Wuhl contributed her talent and skill as a young journalist who seems to know something about everything. Katie Leeds, Sophie Leeds, Tammy Hull Awtry, and Grace Yang are the best cheerleaders in the world. Dave Marsh, Tony Goldmark, Shannon Garrahan, Shirley Glickman, and Lee Ballinger contributed their kind support and valuable professional opinions. Casey Choron helped by inspiring us always to be as interesting and as funny as he is.

Grace Townley single-handedly organized her army of teens to make sure this book reflects the real opinions of real people. We thank them—

We also gratefully acknowledge the help of about.com and its generosity in allowing us to reprint information from its excellent Web site.

Introduction

6 Reasons We Wrote This Book

1. Now that the world is completely wired, there are more choices and opportunities—and information—available to almost everyone. Making lists is a way of organizing information, a skill everyone needs in order to participate in today’s action-packed world.

2. We wanted you to read about the lives of other people in the hope that this will make you sensitive to their experiences—and their cultures. So we’re hoping that when you read this book, you’ll pay special attention to the lists that don’t apply to you. You may not have a fear of public speaking, but some people do. Read the list called 14 Tips if You’re Nervous About Public Speaking on page 177 to find out what life is like for them. Maybe it will change how you behave during lectures and speeches.

3. Our previous book, The Book of Lists for Kids, which was first published in 1985 and reissued in 1995 and 2002, has been a popular book for kids from 9 to 12. This book addresses the next group up—teens—and covers subjects that are more relevant to the many new experiences that await you.

4. We believe that Truth and Fun are central in our lives. So we’ve included plenty of both.

5. We know that, as a teen, you are busy and stressed. Yet there’s so much you need to remember to cope with it all. This book dispenses with the lectures and tells you only the stuff you need to know.

6. For the money—although it’s hard to believe that we got paid to have this much fun!

1.

ME, MYSELF, and I

40 Ways to Simplify Your Life

1. Buy all your clothes in colors that work together. That doesn’t mean you need to dress in black. Just make up your mind about which colors you like best—pastels? primary colors? hot colors? black, white, and gray?—and try to buy things that can be mixed and matched.

2. Create a filing system and use it. If you don’t have a file drawer, you can put the files in a box. Label a file for every subject you can think of—school subjects, report cards, birthday cards, memorabilia, letters, shopping receipts—and always file those items as soon as you get them. You’ll avoid a cluttered room and the trouble it takes to find something like the receipt for your stereo when it suddenly breaks down two days before the warranty is up. At least once every year, go through the files and get rid of stuff you don’t want to keep anymore.

3. Get an address book and keep it up to date. Get one that’s a little bigger than what you think you need so you have room to grow. Or create a file on your computer.

4. Get a calendar with big boxes for each day or a day-by-day date book and use it for everything—school assignments, upcoming events, birthdays, sports events. Having everything in one book makes it easier to keep track of the information. Just don’t lose the book. (Write your name and phone number in it.)

5. Always tell the truth. Lying is complicated, time-consuming, and wrong.

6. If you do tell a lie, confess as soon as possible.

7. Confront problems as soon as they develop. That way you won’t ever have to feel overwhelmed by what seems like a truckful of trouble.

8. Make lists. Keep track of your goals so you’ll always know where you’re headed. Make a Monday list: every Monday make a list of all the things you want to accomplish before the weekend.

9. Create a study ritual that triggers your brain into letting you know that it’s time for schoolwork—and nothing else. The ritual can consist of a snack, five minutes (no more!) at a computer game, or even a few minutes of clearing your workspace of distractions. This should satisfy the part of you that’s always tempting you with distractions while you study—at least for a while.

10. Keep a reading diary. Write down the title and author of every book you read and note the date you finished it. Write just a few sentences about the book that will help you recall it if you need to. You’ll save yourself the time of rereading books that are assigned in different classes.

11. Don’t wear makeup regularly. You’ll avoid having to take it with you wherever you go, you’ll save money, and you won’t feel weird when you have to go without it. There will be plenty of time for makeup!

12. Don’t get anything pierced or tattooed.

13. Don’t do anything to yourself that will require a regular commitment you might not be ready for. Hair coloring, for instance, might look like fun now, but will you have the money for another treatment once the roots start growing out?

14. Deal with each piece of paper in your life as few times as possible. For instance, if you get a letter from a friend, put it in your file once you’ve read it. If you leave it lying around, it will probably become part of a mess of clutter that then needs to be dealt with. Get these things out of your way as quickly as they come up.

15. Don’t be a prima donna. Use the same shampoo (and toothpaste and breakfast cereal) as the rest of the family.

16. Read a book about etiquette. Know what to do and what to say on certain occasions like the death of a friend, meeting someone really important, or dealing with an awkward situation. There are rules for this stuff, and you don’t want to spend half your life wondering what they are.

17. Set priorities. When you have 37 things to do and you don’t know where to begin, list them and give them each a number from 1 to 3. The 1s are the most important; the 3s can wait. Start with the 1s. (Hint: Always do the hardest stuff first so it’s then out of the way.)

18. Use sunscreen.

19. Don’t put your name on mailing lists because you think it’s fun to fill out forms and get mail. You’re wasting trees, money, and a lot of time. When you have to give your name and address to someone in order to make a purchase, ask them not to put your name on any mailing lists.

20. Learn to travel light, so you can get up and go when opportunity knocks. You can sleep in your T-shirt and borrow shampoo from whomever you’re visiting. Another reason not to wear makeup, ladies.

21. Play a sport that doesn’t require elaborate equipment, planning, or expense. The same goes for any physical fitness activity. Do stuff you can do anywhere.

22. Enjoy TV, but don’t get so addicted to any one show that you start to live your life around its schedule. Think of it as traveling light—through life.

23. Be realistic about donating your time to various causes. Don’t make commitments you can’t keep. If you want to get involved and aren’t sure how things will work out, start out with a trial period.

24. Keep a box in your closet for junk. When you have to clear the clutter, just throw it into the box. When the box is full, empty it and get rid of anything you don’t really need. Put everything else in its proper place. If it doesn’t have a proper place, there’s a good chance you don’t need this thing.

25. Color-code your school supplies by subject so, for instance, everything that has to do with math (the notebook, the textbook cover) is blue, all your stuff for history is red, etc.

26. Try not to have to carry all your books home every day. Can you get a second copy of a book out of the library to keep at home for reference? If you study with a friend, can you share your books?

27. Learn to cook easy stuff: pasta, eggs, pancakes, hamburgers. The more self-sufficient you are, the easier it will be to get through hectic times.

28. Learn to iron a shirt, do simple laundry, and sew on a button.

29. Listen to the music before you buy CDs. Use the listening devices at the record store, go online for samples, or try to catch it on the radio. Most CD collections are filled with stuff that’s only been listened to once.

30. Budget yourself. Don’t spend more money than you have. At the beginning of each month, make a list of your special expenses—birthdays gifts, new handlebars for your bike, club expenses—so that you’re prepared for them as they come up.

31. Learn to enjoy something without having to own it. Don’t clutter your life with objects that require storage space or maintenance (even if it’s just dusting) unless you’re sure you really want them and that they will benefit you for a long time. You can admire things from afar.

32. Meditate. Get into the habit of spending a few moments each day thinking about your goals for that day. What will you accomplish? Who do you want to spend time with? What problem will you have to solve? Clear your mind, take a deep breath, start your day. Wherever you’re going, you can get there a lot faster with a map.

33. Get to know the librarian. Ask him or her to let you know when books by your favorite writers are acquired by the library.

34. Don’t answer every e-mail you get. You don’t need to e-mail 37 e-pals on a daily basis. Pick just a few. Let others know you have commitments that keep you offline most of the day.

35. Form a study group so you can share research, resources, and expertise.

36. Create a message chain among your friends so if you need to tell someone something, you don’t have to call everyone on the list. You call one person, he calls the next, and so on.

37. Have a scrapbook and paste your memorabilia in it. You’ll love looking through it in later years, and it’s a way to keep all those little notes you don’t know what to do with from cluttering your space. Use one volume for each year of your life.

38. Don’t lend or borrow money.

39. Take vitamins.

40. Be a good person. Good karma will benefit you in the long run.

100 Things to Do When There’s Nothing to Do

(All Alone and by Yourself)

1. Take lots of deep breaths and listen to the sound of your own breathing.

2. Play music.

3. Rearrange the furniture in your room.

4. Reread your favorite book.

5. Look at the stars.

6. Exercise.

7. Clean something.

8. Make a list of all the things that stress you out.

9. Rent a movie.

10. Make up stories (in your head) about strangers.

11. Say a prayer.

12. Record a funny message on your answering machine.

13. Write a poem.

14. Sing a song.

15. Learn to do something new.

16. Burn incense.

17. Light a candle for someone you miss.

18. Plan a party.

19. Take a nap.

20. Paint a picture.

21. Teach your pet a trick.

22. Plant something.

23. Bake brownies.

24. Cry.

25. Take a bath with your clothes on.

26. Beat up your pillow.

27. Meditate.

28. Look at old photographs.

29. Go into a sealed room and scream.

30. Restyle your hair.

31. Make funny faces in the mirror.

32. Play a sport.

33. Drink a cup of tea.

34. Drink a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

35. Fix something.

36. Go swimming.

37. Take a hike.

38. Give yourself a good talking to.

39. Don’t talk for a whole day.

40. Climb a tree.

41. Write a letter to someone you’re mad at (but don’t send it!).

42. Dance.

43. Plan a trip, even if you can’t really take it.

44. Eat something for the first time.

45. Learn to do one new thing on your computer.

46. Practice belching.

47. Eat something yummy.

48. Buy new underwear.

49. Try role playing.

50. Practice kissing—on your own hand.

51. Wear something you never wear.

52. Smell flowers.

53. Daydream.

54. Walk in the rain.

55. Try to figure out how many grains there are in a quart of sand.

56. Read a story out loud.

57. Go to a movie.

58. Work on your collection of whatever it is you collect.

59. Throw out something you don’t need anymore.

60. Go to a museum.

61. Make a comic book.

62. Make a tape of your favorite song.

63. Leam to play the harmonica.

64. Learn some words in a foreign language.

65. Memorize the phone numbers you call most often.

66. Whistle.

67. Do tomorrow’s homework.

68. Learn to juggle.

69. Practice telling jokes.

70. Learn something about your ancestors.

71. Stand on your head.

72. Visit a playground and go on the swings.

73. Write a love letter.

74. Watch a ball game.

75. Practice writing with your other hand.

76. Make animal noises.

77. Skate.

78. Visualize your perfect place.

79. Blow bubbles.

80. Go to the library.

81. Take a ride on a bus.

82. Line your drawers with weird wrapping paper.

83. Write a letter to your congressperson expressing a political opinion.

84. Read about a religion you know very little about.

85. Go through your baby things and reminisce.

86. Update your address book.

87. Explore the jungle under your bed.

88. Ride your bike.

89. Read the newspaper.

90. Ponder the universe.

91. Play solitaire.

92. Fly a kite.

93. Make a collage.

94. Go jogging.

95. Make a list of all the great things about yourself. If you can’t think of any, make them up!

96. Play Scrabble and be all the players.

97. Write a letter to the children you might have one day and tell them about yourself.

98. Enter a contest.

99. Teach yourself sign language.

100. Just be.

4 Ways to Redecorate Your Room—Instantly and for Free

If you’re tired of staring at the same four walls and there’s just no money to pay for redecorating, try some of these instant makeovers.

1. Get rid of all the little items in your room that clutter the place: the science project you were so proud of in the fifth grade, the action figures left over from a previous life, the cute little party favors you’ve received over the years that you just can’t seem to throw out. Put them in a box if you really want to keep them; throw out everything else (or pass it on to someone who will appreciate it). Now you’re ready to decorate your room with new junk!

2. Rearrange the furniture. Go to the library and get a book on feng shui (pronounced foong shway or Jung shoy), the ancient Chinese art of managing luck. You’ll learn how to place furniture for the best possible flow of energy around you, and you’ll learn how to use color for the best possible effects. If you can’t move all the furniture, try just changing the position of your bed. A different view of the room can make it seem new.

3. Take everything off the walls. This doesn’t mean you have to give up your passion for your favorite band or that poster with all the cute puppies you’ve had up since you were 7. Pack them away safely—you might put them up again when you get tired of the new stuff. As for new stuff, you can get free posters from a variety of sources. Three are on the Web: www.p-rposters.com, www.webfreebees.com, and www.successcertificates.com, where you can print out anything from a certificate congratulating yourself on terrific grades to an award for having finally cleaned your room. Free posters are also available from travel agents, or you can arrange pictures from your photo album into an interesting collage. A word of advice: live with bare walls for a few days before you cover them with new stuff. You might get a completely different idea of what you want to do.

4. Have a painting party. If anyone in your neighborhood is painting their house, ask if you can have any leftover paint. Hardware stores sometimes have extra cans of paint colors that have been discontinued. Ask your friends to come over and help you get the job done. Each one has to bring a brush; you supply the music.

How to Make It Appear as Though You Have Cleaned Your Room in Only 26 Minutes—No Matter How Messy It Is

First admit that the reason your room looks like something out of the last few scenes of Die Hard is because you don’t take a little time each day to curb the mess. So now you’re stuck at home, cleaning up this disaster, when all your friends are at the movies watching I Really Still Absolutely Positively Know What You Did Last Summer. Poor you!

If you use a timer for each of these steps, you can turn it into a game. Reward yourself when it’s all over by cleaning out a few drawers (not!). And hey, if you hurry, you might still make the movie!

1. Start by getting a few large trash bags. The first thing you want to do is get in there and toss out all the garbage—the plastic wrapping from the last six CDs you bought, the movie ticket stubs, the party favors you got that you know are junk, the free stuff you sent away for that wasn’t even worth the $1 you included for postage and handling. Time allowed: 8 minutes.

2. Throw dirty clothes in the hamper and put clean clothes back where they belong. For now, just throw most of them in the closet—but you’re going to have to clean out your closet at some point! Time allowed: 3 minutes.

3. Now you’re ready to sort stuff into the following piles, which you will without fail tackle—one pile at a time—in the next two days:

• stuff that belongs outside your room (the books you borrowed, the letters that need to be mailed)

• school stuff

• computer and music disks, electronic game cartridges

• pencils, pens, and other writing and drawing tools (stick them in an empty jar)

• loose change

• everything else

Make neat piles and keep them out of the way of traffic. If you can sort the stuff into boxes or bags and then store them in the closet, even better. Time allowed: 12 minutes.

4. Make the bed. Time allowed: 12 minutes.

5. Open a window to air out the place. Time allowed: 1 minute.

6. For extra credit, vacuum the room.

The 9 Most Common Social Fears

According to TeenOutReach.com—a great Web site that covers everything from advice, homework help, and games to health, self-help, and trivia—these are the top causes of sweaty palms among teens from 13 to 17.

1. Being the center of attention

2. Having to speak or perform in front of an audience

3. Being teased

4. Being introduced to strangers

5. Making eye contact

6. Eating in front of other people, especially when it’s something messy

7. Being stared at

8. Talking with an important or famous adult

9. Being in any unfamiliar social situation

10 Childhood Habits That Are Hard to Outgrow

Even though you’re older now, you may be having trouble letting go of some of the trappings of childhood. Guess what? You’re not alone. Here are some things that a lot of little kids—and plenty of big ones—tend to hold on to.

1. Nail biting

2. Hair twirling

3. Thumb sucking

4. Sleeping with a stuffed animal

5. Arguing incessantly with your parents

6. Talking with a lisp

7. Playing with your food

8. Whining

9. Throwing temper tantrums

10. Nightlights

The 7 Most Common Recurring Teen Dreams and What They Mean

Your subconscious holds the key to your hopes and dreams, your fears and fantasies. When you sleep, it takes over, and that’s when you dream. Paying attention to your dreams can help you solve your problems. If you’re a vivid dreamer, keep a pencil and paper near your bed and write down your dreams as soon as you wake up. Dreams disappear quickly, so write them down before you even get out of bed. Try to figure out why you had the dream and what problem it might be pointing to. Keep a dream diary! The following are all common dreams. They do not mean that you’ve finally lost it.

1. Being naked. This dream represents feelings of being exposed in some embarrassing way, not the fear that you will forget to wear clothes one day. Finding yourself naked in a classroom may mean that you aren’t prepared for a test or project at school.

2. Falling. You may be afraid of failing at something. Or it could mean that you feel you can’t keep up with your friends or that you don’t measure up. Falling dreams can also mean that you have a sense of failure about a specific situation.

3. Teeth falling out. These dreams can mean that you’re concerned about your appearance and that gorgeous smile of yours. But it can also mean that you’re worried about what your friends and teachers think of you.

4. Taking an exam. If you dream that you can’t complete an exam in the allowed time, if you are late for the exam, or if your pencil keeps breaking during a test, you are feeling insecure and worried that you are letting others down.

5. Being chased. If you are running away, hiding, or trying to outwit your pursuer, it may mean that you’re afraid of dealing with fears, stress, or problems in your life. Instead of confronting the situation, you’re avoiding it.

6. Flying. Many people have found flying dreams an exhilarating, joyful, and liberating experience. It may mean that you are prepared and on top of a given situation or that you have gained a different viewpoint on things. You feel undefeatable, and nobody can tell you what you cannot do and accomplish. You have a sense of freedom.

7. Weird dreams that make no sense. If you dream, for example, that a large blue shoe is sitting next to you in a spaceship made of marshmallows, your mind is probably searching for a solution to a specific problem.

What Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Says About You

Ever hear the saying You are what you eat? Alan J. Hirsch, M.D., of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, conducts many fascinating tests about how our senses operate. Here are his latest scientific findings.

1. Banana cream pie. You’re a well-adjusted person who is easy to get along with.

2. Butter pecan. You’re serious, competitive, and a perfectionist. You hold high standards for yourself and you have a fear of hurting others.

3. Chocolate chip. You’re competitive, ambitious, generous, and imaginative.

4. Coffee. Lively, dramatic, and flirtatious, coffee lovers often throw themselves into everything they do and then become overcommitted. You’re easily bored and so must always surround yourself with interesting people.

5. Double chocolate chunk. You like attention and excitement. You’re creative, enthusiastic, and charming. You are easily bored.

6. Mint chocolate chip. You’re ambitious and confident. You can also be very argumentative. You’d make a great attorney.

7. Rocky road. You are charming, aggressive, and goal-oriented. You’re generally relaxed and secure, but you do have a temper. You sometimes inadvertently hurt the feelings of those around you.

8. Strawberry. You are thoughtful, logical, and intuitive. You have strong opinions, you’re generally introverted, and you pay attention to details. You’re generally shy.

9. Vanilla. You’re impulsive, you take risks, and you have high expectations. Close relationships are important to you; chances are you come from a close family. You often display your affection for people publicly.

What Your Favorite Snack Food Says About You

1. Cheese curls. Formal, proper, and conscientious, you have strong principles and morals. You plan for the future, taking into account any obstacles you’re likely to encounter, and you take care of details. You are extremely neat and clean. Cheese curl lovers make good psychiatrists and movie producers.

2. Meat snacks. Meat snack lovers are at their best in large groups. You talk a lot, love to socialize, and do incredible things just to please others. You are a loyal, true friend and you can always be trusted. You’d make a great bartender or dentist.

3. Nuts. You are easygoing and understanding. When confronted with chaos and emotion, you can be counted on to create peace. Your even temper allows you to handle emergency situations with skill. You’d make a good politician, architect, plumber, or sanitation worker.

4. Potato chips. You are an ambitious high achiever, programmed to be a winner. No one wants to compete in sports with a potato chip lover. You are furious when something stands in your way, however, and have no patience for standing in lines, for instance. Potato chip lovers are success-oriented: you make great lawyers and police officers.

5. Pretzels. Lively and energetic, you become bored by routine. You love challenges, whether in sports, in school, or at home. You’re the first to pick up new trends (how many Beanie Babies have you collected?), but you tend to initiate projects that don’t always get completed. Your most likely avocation would be journalism, fire fighting, or medicine.

6. Snack crackers. You are shy and introspective, thoughtful and logical, rather than emotional. You avoid confrontation because you hate the idea of hurting other people. Your private time is very important to you. You may become a stock broker or race car driver.

7. Tortilla chips. You’re a perfectionist with high expectations of yourself. You’re not satisfied with an A. For you, only an A+ will do. You are concerned about the injustices of society. You are always on time for everything. You’d be a good news anchor, farmer, or travel agent.

Oreo Psychology (What How You Eat an Oreo Says About You)

This has been a favorite subject of serious scientists for many decades.

1. You eat the whole thing at once . . . You are fun, reckless, and carefree. Consequently, you cannot be trusted.

2. One bite at a time . . . You’re in the majority—that’s how most people eat them. Which means you are ordinary and boring.

3. Slow and methodical nibbles, examining the results of each bite afterward . . . You follow the rules. You’re tidy and orderly. You pay great attention to details. No one likes you.

4. Dunked in milk . . . Everyone likes