According to statistics published by the University of Scranton, about 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year's resolutions—and the most popular resolution is losing weight. Of those who make resolutions, a mere 8 percent achieve them.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Are we just setting ourselves up for failure? Learn how to make realistic resolutions and how to overcome the roadblocks along the way.

    Setting a resolution to lose pounds isn't a goal that's achievable now. It may be a good long-term goal. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Registered dietitian Elisa Zied says “… to be real when you make a resolution. It's okay to shoot for the stars like making a resolution, but why not set a smaller goal and train smart?”

    The same concept applies to weight loss. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These goals should help develop healthy habits that will finally help achieve your long-term resolution.

    Notice that these goals are simple and achievable. “Instead of going from zero to 60, from never going to the gym to going four to five times a week, why not start with three days a week, get consistent and build from there,” Zied says. Set yourself up for success and map out your course by making appointments with yourself to be active. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You also need to be aware of your current exercise and eating habits to make achievable goals. Keeping a diary of your food and exercise habits can help. Record everything you eat and drink for three to five days and review it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}For example, if you notice a tendency to snack on unhealthy fare, set a goal to eat a fruit or vegetable with each snack. Building on these smaller goals over time can help you achieve your long-term goal.

A. So why do so many of us fail to achieve our goals?

B. Once you notice your not-so-good habits, start fixing them.

C. Set between one and three weekly goals that you want to achieve.

D. Resolutions usually involve a commitment to sticking to your goals.

E. However, in order to reach it, you need to take baby steps to get it down.

F. If you treat your goals like set appointment, you're more likely to achieve them.

G. Losing weight, as well as getting a better job, is among the most popular resolutions for adults.

    Reading is really a good way to improve ourselves.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you don't believe me, please consider these reasons to read more books.

    ⒈You will optimize your brain power.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Unlike watching television, which requires no thought process, reading is an active learning experience that will keep your mind sharp（even in old age）.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you're looking for entertainment on a budget, you can't beat books. Thanks to the popularity of electronic reading devices like the Kindle and re-selling websites like eBay, it's never been easier to entertain yourself for hours at a time, for the low cost of a few dollars.

    ⒊You will reduce stress and get into a good night's sleep.

    Exposing yourself to artificial light on your cellphone or TV reduces your body's production of melatonin （褪黑激素）, which can make it difficult to get a good night's sleep.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Just replace that with a good book, which is a much better sleep-friendly alternative.

    ⒋You will change your life.

    I firmly believe that if it were not for books, I wouldn't have achieved so much in my life; nor would I have the knowledge, imagination or creativity that I depend on as a writer, business owner, and coach.

    Do you have the desire to read books now?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. You will entertain yourself at any time.

B. You will entertain yourself at a low price.

C. The more books you read, the better your life will be.

D. This shouldn't come as a shock, but studies suggest reading makes you smart.

E. I hope these reasons encourage you to unlock your potential with the power of reading.

F. You should know that it is wise to keep a book in your purse or car at all times.

G. You would be wise to cut off all electronics at least an hour before bed.

    We all want to do so much: complete our never ending list of tasks and projects, help everyone, travel everywhere, learn a lot of new skills, read every book and watch every good film. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} There isn't enough time in the day, nor do we have much attention to devote to everything.

    Give up on trying to do it all. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is important for you to make your days count（有价值）. How do you do that? Here are some ideas:

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When you eat a good meal, it's wasted if you actually ignore（不理会）it and are reading on your phone instead. It's an amazing meal only if you really enjoy it. In this way, if we enjoy each moment, they really matter.

    Be satisfied. We always want to do more, be more, experience more. And so, we're never satisfied with the little we actually can do and experience. Instead, we should learn to be happy with what we've chosen to do, knowing that we let go of the rest for a reason. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Realize that we're not really in control. The first few items on this list might give you the idea that you can control your life by simplifying…but the reality is that your day will never go as planned. You can try, but there will always be the unexpected, the unplanned. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} We should learn to appreciate that experience as it comes, whatever it is.

House Sitting

    In many countries of the world people do what is called house sitting. It means that if owners of the house are going away, they want someone to come into their home and look after the house and maybe pets while they are away.

    In Australia, many people travel. After people retire, they might buy a van and travel all over the country. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    So if someone wants to travel or go away for some reason, they might want someone in their home to care for it and keep the gardens tidy. House sitters might have to care for pets. Also, quite a few people have swimming pools in their back yard and they need cleaning. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I feel it is a great way of seeing the country, because you go and stay in a new city, get to meet new people, and have time to go sightseeing in a new area.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} There are websites where you find the advertisements by people who want to travel, and by replying to the advertisement, you can make arrangements to go and look after their home. There are some requirements to be a house sitter. You must be a trusted person, so that the home owner knows you will not steal anything. You must be able to go when the house owner wants you to go, so you need lots of free time. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You need to be good with pets, able to care for cats and dogs, or other pets they may have.

    Some house sitting Jobs are just for a few days or a couple of weeks while the house owner have a short holiday. Sometimes it is for much longer. We have had one house sit for six months, while the home owner travelled to Europe.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Then you can travel to many different countries and stay there. One of the important things to get are references from the home owners where you have stayed. A reference is a written letter to say that you are trustworthy and have looked after their home well. You can show these letters to prospective house sitting Jobs and they know you will do a good job.

A. I have done house sitting many times.

B. Thousands of people do this all the time.

C. It is also possible to do house sitting in other countries.

D. Generally you have many opportunities to get a house sitting job.

E. You must take a little care over what your description says about you.

F. This is an international house sitting service for all city and country areas.

G. You must have a good car, so you can travel to different parts of the country.

    Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy, as there's no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, children can give more logical, complete and creative answers.

    Watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don t jump in with "That's right" or "Very good". {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep things going by saying "That's interesting or "I have never thought of it that way before", or coming up with more questions or ideas. Never force a child to think. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, as children are always thinking, without your telling them to.

    What's more, giving them freedom to think can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target for your disagreement.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass (放大镜) and they'll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates (蒸发), set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.

    With a tough economy, it's difficult to meet our employees' expectation of salary increases. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Well, here are four important factors that help keep employees motivated, in addition to money.

    The first one is recognition. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Examples include taking someone to lunch and letting them know how much you value their performance and how you thank them because they're loyal, publicly recognition someone's performance with details of what they did, and presenting certificates of recognition for "extraordinary contributions to the business and the organization".

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you can't afford to give every deserving employee a raise, invite them to a party to simply celebrate their good work, and tell them how much you appreciate their hard work and loyalty. Ask them to help you achieve your business goals so that next time you can reward them in better ways.

    Another one is motivational climate. Take a look around at the work environment and do whatever you can to make it a more pleasant place. Redecoration, better work spaces and working environment that isn't expensive will be appreciated by those who spend 8-10 hours a day working there. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The last but most important factor that can motivate employees is trust. It's important to build trust in all your work relationships. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Take an interest in their families, their hobbies, and their development. Treat people with respect.

A. The next one is celebrations.

B. The second one is persuasion.

C. Conduct team discussions on ways to increase business profits.

D. Appreciating a person's strong contribution can make a difference.

E. To achieve this, spend time with your employees and show your care about them.

F. If you aren't sure what to do, ask your employees what they'd like in terms of it.

G. How can we motivate them in other ways to keep them from leaving the company?