In today's busy and competitive world, we all lead incredibly stressful lives. When stress becomes overwhelming, it can affect our mood and productivity.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} The good news is that it is manageable and can be reduced, or even relieved completely.

    Enter the world of books. Feeling stressed out? Pick up your favorite book and leave the reality and worries behind. It is the most effective way to relax and overcome stress.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Getting lost in a book before bedtime can calm your mind and prepare your body for a good night's sleep.

    Connect with people. Another way to successfully beat stress is meeting with friends. Friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle. If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and just can't seem to shake it off, call your best friend or a member of your family and talk to them.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Walk it off. You can also effectively relieve yourself of stress by simply taking a walk around your neighborhood.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} There's a whole new world up there that you never seem to notice while rushing to work or talking to someone. Take a moment to admire a new building or a balcony somewhere high up that reminds you of a castle from your favorite movie. Enjoy your time alone and seize every moment of it.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Nothing brings you back on track like a good laughter. It is the most powerful antidote(良方) to stress and it brings joy into your life. Laughing brings people together and drives away all stress-related problems as if they never existed. It is absolutely the best medicine there is, and it will keep you both physically and emotionally healthy.

A. Laugh it off.

B. Take some medicine.

C. As you walk, remember to look up.

D. Reading may also help you sleep better.

E. Your hobby could be reading books, or even writing one.

F. But most importantly, it can affect our physical and mental health.

G. The conversation with a close person will immediately make you feel better.

Things to do when you are feeling down

    Let's start with a fact. We all have days when we feel down and discouraged.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here is a list to help you get back on track.

    Take care of yourself

    This may seem like an obvious thing, but try your best to get a good night s sleep and eat healthy food when you're hungry{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Consider setting an earlier bedtime than usual and stick to it. Make some nourishing snacks that you can easily grab instead of sugary junk food. Fresh fruit, a piece of cheese, some cut-up vegetables, homemade soup, they are all quick and easy options to consider.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you are going through a tough time, think about some healthy comforts that will make you feel better. Take a bike or go for a walk in nature. Treat yourself to a lunch at your favorite restaurant. Listen to some good music. Call a friend. Watch a funny movie. Take a nap. Read a good book. The release from stress will add to your level of happiness.

Make an action plan

    Can you identify what's making you unhappy? If so, you have a good chance of changing it{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You don't have to figure out a whole plan to solve your conflicts; simply taking some steps in the right direction will boost your good feeling.

    This, too, shall pass

    What do you say to yourself when you are going through a tough time? Beating yourself up is not helpful!{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Examples are, “It is what it is; let me just accept it and move on.” “All I can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.” “And finally, this, shall pass.”

A. Science shows that both of these things can have a huge positive impact on both your mood and your blood sugar.

B. A lot of researches show that when we intend to be happy, our thoughts and actions follow suit.

C. What action can you take today that will make you feel better and change the pattern?

D. What can you do to pull yourself back from despair?

E. Try saying things that are comforting your heart and mind.

F. Other times, the blues just seem to hit for no reason at all.

G. Find things to comfort yourself.

    Do you want to be at the top of your class？Add these tips to your life and you should be on your way to being a top student!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I cannot stress enough how important it is to pay attention to what your teacher is teaching you. Take part in class discussions if you have something worthwhile to add. Pay attention during class，especially during lectures.

    Taking notes is important. You don't need to write down every word your teacher says but write down what he/she writes on the board，or any special fact you think you might need for a test.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} This way it will help you learn more effectively by actually thinking about what you are writing.

    Don't skip school. You will missing out on stuff.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}However，you will have more work because you have missed lectures and in-class movies. Also，try not to be late for class. It's most likely that your teachers won't appreciate it and you will get yourself behind.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you have an "I don't care about school or this class" attitude，then teachers will be less willing to help you with problems or offer you extra credit(学分).The same goes for lazy attitude. Have a respectful attitude to the teacher and other students. Try not to laugh when other students make a mistake.

    Always ask questions.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you don't understand，ask someone. Read your textbook and notes，and then if that fails，seek help. Ask a teacher，friend，classmate，parent, ect. Get a tutor if you need one.

A. Be prepared.

B. Staying organized will be helpful.

C. Write in your own words.

D. It is true that you could make up the work.

E. Pay attention to everything the teacher says.

F. Keep a good attitude toward things.

G. There is no shame in needing some help.

Taking a Child Fishing

    There is nothing quite like seeing the smile on a young person's face when they catch their fish. Here are some simple steps that can be taken to help children and parents enjoy these early fishing experiences.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    It's easier to teach young children to fish if your attention is towards them and not towards your own fishing. If you are also trying to fish, this can make that difficult for both of you. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When they need your help, you can hand down your tool and they can keep fishing.

    Keep trips short.

    Children have short attention periods. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Take this into consideration when planning a trip. When it stops being fun for them, it's time to call it a day.

Bring plenty of snacks and drinks.

    Even though most of these trips will be short, they will get hungry and thirsty. Bringing plenty of snacks and drinks gives them a little break from fishing. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can use this time while they are eating or playing to do some fishing yourself.

    Other than fishing.

    Just because they are on a fishing trip doesn't mean that they have to finish all the time. Let them do things besides fishing as long as it isn't interfering (打扰) with the people fishing around you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A stop on the way home for ice cream or other treats can also be a fun part of the trip. Remember it's all about them having fun and hopefully wanting to go fishing with you again.

A. Let them help make choices.

B. Make the fishing trip about them.

C. Children love to feel like they are helping out.

D. This can be more exciting to them than the actual fishing.

E. The same is true if you bring a few small toys for them to play with.

F. One way to solve this problem is for you to use the tool the child can use.

G. An hour or possibly two will be about all of the fishing they can handle in a day.

Master Your Deadlines

The struggle begins in high school, sometimes earlier. Deadlines, and lots of them, start to pile up. At college, the pressure sometimes leads to last-minute rush and unsatisfactory work. At work, failing to meet deadlines can easily get you fired. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are a few best practices.

▪Assign deadlines to what matters.

If the task isn't of high importance, don't set a specific deadline. In this way, you are able to keep it on your radar for a while without feeling pressured. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This will provide just enough pressure to ensure you get it done.

▪ {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Set a personal deadline for yourself a day or two before the actual deadline. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're working with a group of people, add in even more time to account for potential follow-ups and the need for approvals.

▪ Keep communicating.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} This means letting others know when something is taking longer than expected, when a delivery didn't come in, when a client is not providing the necessary information, etc. Although it may feel embarrassing to admit that something is not on schedule, being honest is much better for relieving your stress.

A. Plan for flexible hours.

B. Finish your project as early as possible.

C. But if an activity is urgent, set a deadline immediately.

D. In this way, you'll never have to stay up late and feel stressed.

E. But handled properly, deadlines can actually improve productivity.

F. Whenever you feel challenged to finish work on time, communicate.

G. So if anything takes longer than expected, you can still wrap it up and submit it on time.

The most important thing to keep in mind when deciding to serve another is that service expects no rewards. When you expect something in return, and are not serving out of the goodness of your heart, others will notice. Sure they'll thank you. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

When you give from your heart, the real power of service comes into play. Serving is a great opportunity to strengthen your trust and respect for another, and for them to do the same to you. Not only do you feel great about helping out, but you build your relationship with them, and they will feel more willing to help you in the future. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

However, why is service so rarely seen these days? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Sure, living in this day and age does not leave us much time, and the last thing people want to do is more work. I'm too busy, there's too much work, or I don't have the time, " may run through your head when you hear the word service, but the truth is the benefits are worth the sacrifice. Gandhi once said that, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. " {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Some ideas of places you can serve are volunteer centers, nursing homes, boys and girls clubs, and so on. You can serve people as long as you want to.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Although it does take some work, the benefits are more than worth the sacrifice. Not only do you feel better about making another's day a little less stressful, but you strengthen your relationship with them and they will be more willing to help you in the future.