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.

    The key to dealing with test-day anxiety is through preparation! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is important to prepare your mind and body for the experience of working under pressure.

    Get some sleep. I know you've heard this before, but it's often repeated because it's so important. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test! If you don't have enough rest, you'll find it much harder to concentrate. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Leave early. Be sure to leave earlier than normal on the day of a test to avoid the added fear of arriving late. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The embarrassment will cause you to be distracted and lose valuable time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Once you arrive at school or at the testing center, find a quiet space where you can be all alone. You can use your car if you drive, or you can find an empty locker room or office (ask a teacher). Once you locate in a quiet place, do a relaxation session. Close your eyes and try to relax completely. Take deep breath and keep calm.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's possible that some students start to stress out as other students discuss the material. When you hear others chatting, it might sound like you skipped over something important or you misunderstood a concept. It's probably not even true——but it can seem like it!

A. Take a quiet moment.

B. A sleepy brain is a foggy brain!

C. Watch out for the road conditions.

D. Walking into an exam late is the last thing you need!

E. You might also find time for a quick bite during a break.

F. Don't talk with other students in the minutes before a test.

G. But full preparation means more than knowing the test material.

    Some people are naturally better than others at social activities. There are the lucky few that draw people to them without any effort. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Put yourself at ease and remember these tips:

    Smile! A smile is understood in any culture and any age as a sign of friendship. So go ahead! It will put the other person at ease. You will seem approachable and happy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Make eye contact. Good eye contact engages the other person to you. When you are introduced to someone, shake their hands and repeat their names. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Making eye contact shows you have confidence and shows you are interested in the other person.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Having a trusted friend next to you makes it less frightening to walk into a room full of people. But remember that even if you walk in as a pair, it doesn't mean you just stick together the whole time. The point in a social gathering is you make friends with other people.

    Go to social settings with a shared interest. For example joining an art class automatically puts you in a setting with other people you already have a common interest in. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Go with friends.

B.Ask the other person questions.

C.That will help you remember their names.

D.This is the worst impression to make in any setting.

E.It will let the other person know that you are safe to talk to.

F.But for most of us, we feel shy and awkward in social activities.

G.You now have something to talk about and work it from there.

    Someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer every three minutes. And although about three in ten blood cancer patients can find a matching donor in their families, 70 percent of patients depend on a stranger to step in. That was enough for me to know I wanted to help.

    I registered online with Delete Blood Cancer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Four years later I got an e-mail from the organization and it said I had a possible match. To make sure all systems were a go, I had a couple of extra blood tests. I needed to donate bone marrow (骨髓).{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And my bone-marrow recipient was a little girl.

    Four months later, donation day arrived. At 9 a.m., the procedure started. By noon, I was already on my way home from the hospital. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}My legs were sore, like I had bruised my bone or something. The doctors said the pain would gradually disappear a few days later.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The discomfort was secondary to the emotional high of helping a little girl with cancer. To me, it doesn't matter that I've never met the girl who received my bone marrow or that I don't even know her name. I still feel like I have such a powerful connection with her.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A year later, I haven't heard how my bone-marrow recipient is doing, Delete Blood Cancer hasn't come back to me asking for another bone marrow donation, so I hope that's a good sign. But if they do call me back, whether it's for her or someone else, I'd do it again.

A. I won't lie—for a while, I was in pain.

B. I immediately broke down into tears on the phone.

C. There's something in our DNA that brought us together.

D. That's most often the case with young blood-cancer patients.

E. Even though the doctors gave me painkillers, I didn't try any.

F. I met with all of the doctors who would be performing the procedure.

G. Then my DNA was collected to see if I was a match for any patients in need.

Five steps to better handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this — hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard? But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index (食指) and middle fingers.

    Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend! Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion (均衡). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

    Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure (压力)

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games

B. Ask for more advice

C. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

D. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

How to Keep Personal Art Journals

You might have heard that keeping a journal is a great way to record your thoughts and understand your emotions. Typical journaling involves only writing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. And because there are so many ways to express yourself in an art journal, it's a wonderful creative outlet for both beginners and more experienced creatives.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It combines elements of writing, drawing, painting, collage (拼贴画), and even graffiti to express yourself. This includes your everyday life, as well as your hopes, dreams, and fears. A single page will often have both words and illustrations to offer a look at what's going on inside your head.

Art journaling is a way to practice self-care. It encourages you to take a little time for yourself — even if it's just for 15 minutes a day. When you look back at what you've written or drawn, you can gain valuable insight into the challenges in your life. The point of creating a visual journal is not to make every page a masterpiece. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Art journaling is completely customizable (可定制的) depending on your skills and interests. Many people choose to use mixed media and decorate their pages with drawing and painting materials. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. The most important thing when beginning your art journal, however, is selecting the right book.

There are many considerations when it comes to picking your journal book. Size is one. If you enjoy making large drawings, for instance, then a bigger book might be best. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Since it's a good chance you'll be using mixed media, select a journal whose paper can handle both drawing and painting.