There are so many things we do in our daily lives that have become a “habit”, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} How you answer the phone is a habit. The way you sit in the car when you drive is a habit. Have you ever tried to change the way you do something, after you've done it in a certain way for so long? It's easy to do as long as you think about it. The minute your mind drifts to something else, you go right back to the old way of doing things. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's a way of doing things that has become routine or commonplace. To change an existing habit or form a new one can be a tedious(单调乏味的) task.

    Let's pick something fairly easy to start with, like spending 15 minutes in the morning reading the  Bible. If you want to turn something into a habit that you do every day, you have to WANT to do it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Make a firm decision to do this on a daily basis.

    Imprint(铭刻) it in your mind. Write several notes to yourself and put them in places where you will see them. By the alarm clock, on the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator door, in your briefcase, and under your car keys are good places to start.

    After the newness wears off, then you will have to remind yourself, “Hey, I forgot to. . . ”. Keep using the notes if you have to. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Some people say it will take over a month to solidify(变得稳固) it and make it something you will do without having to think about it. I tend to agree with the last statement. Two to three weeks will help you to remember, but thirty days or more will make it a part of your everyday routine. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. What is a “habit” anyway?

B. Is doing things in an old way good?

C. Brushing your teeth is a habit.

D. Forming a bad habit is easy.

E. It takes 16 to 21 times of repeating a task to make it a habit.

F. If you don't, you will find a way to do everything but that.

G. That's something you won't necessarily have to think about before you do it — habit.

How to help children improve the ability to study

    Children often have trouble studying because they haven't developed good study habits. Teaching your child study skills early will give those skills to become habits.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Create a Positive Learning Space. To increase concentration, set up a workspace for your child.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.  His or her desk should have as few distractions as possible and be well equipped with school supplies, like pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, loose leaf paper and even a computer if your child is at a grade level where a computer is helpful or necessary. The environment should also be cheery and fun so that he or she has a good mental association with it.

Maintain a Reliable Schedule. Make sure your child studies at the same time every evening. This habit keeps children from wasting time ,and helps them focus. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Most children have trouble focusing for more than an hour. Encourage your child to take a brief break can help him or concentrate more deeply when it's time to do so.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Encourage your child to turn off his or her cell phone, video games and computer unless the computer is needed for the task at hand. These devices often distract children and can lead to wasting time. You should also be reasonably quiet and calm while your child is studying. Avoid noisy activities like talking loudly on the phone, vacuuming or watching television while your child is studying.

    Give Positive Reinforcement(强化).Positive reinforcement is not simply a matter of rewarding good study habits or high test scores, but also of acknowledging a child's progress no matter how small. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.It will help to improve his or her study skills in effective ways.

A. Studies show kids and teens are more willing to study when praised.

B. A loving, caring and optimistic reaction will often be just the thing that your child needs.

C. The following tips can help your child study better.

D. Keep your child away from electronic devices.

E. If possible, only use the space to complete homework.

F. Avoid Distractions.

G. Also, let your child take a brief break every hour or so.

    Here come some of the ways advised to keep delighted and a healthy mood by Harvard.

    Be grateful and say thanks often

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the tiny purple flowers on the sidewalk, the beautiful sunset, and the smile in your partner's eyes. When you have a grateful heart that is appreciative of life's beauty, wonder and blessings, you're automatically filled with delight. Always be appreciative of the blessings in your life. And it's equally important to express your appreciation to those who've made your life better in some way.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    If your tendency is to imagine the very worst case whenever you have a trouble, train yourself to change that tendency. Ask yourself what good can come from the situation or what you can learn from it. Optimism surely fuels success and delight.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Try to find humor and laughter in life's everyday struggles.

    Understand and forgive

    Step into others' shoes and understand a situation from another's perspective, and we're more likely to handle the situation with objectivity and effectiveness. There will be less conflicts and more delight.

    Hate and anger are forms of self-punishment. When you forgive, you're actually practicing kindness to yourself. Most importantly, learn to forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Keep learning and be a problem solver

    Learning keeps us young and olive. When engaging our brains toward productive uses, we're much more likely to feel delighted and fulfilled.

    Delighted people are problem solvers. When facing a challenge in life, they don't beat themselves up and fail into a depressive state.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. By becoming a problem solver, you'll build up your self-confidence and your ability to accomplish whatever you set to.

A. Be optimistic and laugh often

B. Pay attention to the little details in your life

C. Do what you love freely and live happily in the present

D. Laughter is the most powerful treatment to anger or depression

E. It's through our mistakes that we learn and grow to be bigger and better

F. Only by making mistakes repeatedly will we realize it is normal to make mistakes

G. Instead they face the challenge and channel their energies to finding a creative solution

    Life is full of surprises and events that sometimes change one's daily routine. Some of them might be good and pleasant. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For example, during an examination, you discover that you don't know the answers; one morning you are suddenly told that you get fired from your job. These unexpected events may cause anxiety and stress. So you need to find some ways to be less affected by them.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Even if you live the same kind of life, doing the same things day after day, there could be unexpected events. So you need to realize that such events can't be avoided and you need to be prepared for them. In this way, you'll find it easier to deal with whatever happens in your life.

    Have a positive attitude. Not all unexpected events are bad. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, even getting fired for work could finally turn out well, as you might find a more satisfying job.

    Introduce small changes into your life. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can try eating a different breakfast or drink tea in the morning instead of coffee, or do things that you usually do, but in a different way.

    Always focus on the present moment, learning from it and making use of new changes that come your way. In other words, make the most of the present moment, instead of thinking about what you lost, or how bad the situation is. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Every day can be a fresh, new beginning—this is very important if you had a difficult day before. By starting with some preparations, you can face the problems of the day in a good mood(心情). {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Exercise. Exercising is one of the best methods to start your day for your mind as well as the body. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In addition, it also reduces stress and improves your metabolism(新陈代谢). So go for a walk, go for a bike ride, or go to the gym in the morning.

    Organize yourself. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Make a to-do list and try to follow it. It will keep you organized(有条理的) and make your day easier. However, make sure that your to-do list is manageable. There are only so many things you can do in a day.

    Smile. Starting your day by acting the way you want to feel can help you be in a good mood.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The easiest thing to do is smile. Just smile because you are alive and you can. Watch or listen to something humorous so you can laugh. It makes you feel positive and really good about yourself and the world that surrounds you.

    Keep important items in the same place. To make mornings less busy, start a habit keeping your important items in a place easy to reach.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}This way, you are never looking for that lost item when you are running behind.

A. Write down the tasks for the day.

B. Try other actions to get yourself to feel happier.

C. Try some of the following tips to start your day right.

D. Put your keys, wallet, purse, and other important items there.

E. Instead of rushing through the rooming, go slow and take your time.

F. It increases brain's working speed, which can help you get a jump-start on the day.
G. If you feel angry or tired, do something physical to make yourself feel happy.

When did we start walking for leisure?

"Going for a walk" is a popular pastime among older and younger generations alike because of its well-known benefits for our physical and mental health. But you may be surprised to hear that wandering through pretty streets or hiking in mountainous have not always been considered leisure activities, according to Daniel Gale, a researcher of pedestrianism (步行运动).

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Before that, it was just something people did out of necessity, some of whom even associated it with criminal activity. But for Charles Dickens, the famous English 19th Century author, marching through London streets and tramping around the countryside was a big part of the creative process. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He walked at an impressive pace of four miles per hour, according to his biography by Peter Ackroyd.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Perhaps you can take inspiration from another big-thinking wanderer. 19th Century American writer Henry David Thoreau took a slower approach, preferring to stroll over hills and fields and through the woods. He said that he could not preserve his health and spirits without walking at least four hours a day.

This idea of taking a stroll to clear your head has survived through to the 21st Century. But have pedestrian manners remained the same? A 1780 article for the London Magazine advised pedestrians to avoid things such as hanging around in conversation and obstructing people behind you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

In this modern age, when many of us are tied to our desks and to our screens, try the simple act of stepping out onto the city pavements, or getting lost in nature. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Whether you see yourself more as a casual stroller or a purposeful strider (阔步者), why not build a habit out of it?

A. What if speed-walking isn't your thing?

B. This may make all the difference to our wellbeing.

C. Nowadays, we could add distracted phone-users.

D. He brought the recreation of walking into fashion.

E. Going on an urban walk is much more pleasant now.

F. It was a time to absorb what was going on around him.

G. In Britain, walking for fun wasn't really a thing until the 1780s.