You'd think the human race would have understood sleeping very well by now, but many of us are still sleeping poorly. Part of the problem is that we have wrong information and beliefs about this important health need. Let's set the facts straight. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈More sleep is better for you.

    There could be such a thing as too much sleep. The amount of sleep we need varies by person and also changes as we age. Harvard researchers found that a lot of sleep (9 hours or more) is linked with poor sleep quality. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Aim for better sleep.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Alcohol can help most people fall asleep. However, it also can cause you to wake up more during the night, decreasing your sleep quality. Consider drinking non-alcoholic drink before bed instead.

    ⒊If you wake up in the middle of the night, lie in bed until you eventually fall back asleep.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We all hope to quickly fall back asleep. So we tend to stay in bed hoping it'll happen at any minute now. If that doesn't happen, though, within 15 minutes, most experts recommend getting out of bed to do something that occupies our bodies and brains without overstimulating us. Try not to check the clock either.

    ⒋You can catch up on sleep on weekends.

    When we lose sleep during the week, we accumulate a kind of sleep ＂debt＂. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Not so fast. This might actually make you sleepier the next week. Instead of waking up later on the weekends, you'd better go to sleep earlier or perhaps take a nap in the afternoon.

A. Alcohol helps you sleep.

B. Here are some things you might have been told about sleeping but aren't completely true.

C. Everyone should get 7—8 hours of sleep per night.

D. So don't aim for more sleep — even on the weekends.

E. Waking up in the middle of the night is the pits (烦心事), but it happens to all of us.

F. You'll have a better day and perhaps sleep better at night.

G. Can you pay that debt back by sleeping on Saturday or Sunday?

    Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. If you can stay positive no matter what life throws at you, you've got the freedom to change your life into anything you want it to be. But how?

    Enjoy the Moment

    While the present moment may be uncomfortable, it is the only one that is guaranteed. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Look beyond the present problem and find the moments that are worth enjoying and then enjoy each one.

    Five Happy Things Everyday

    Make it a rule to recognize and then celebrate five happy things every day. Whatever their size or significance is, be sure to seek these happy things out and then hold them close so you can see their positive power. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Embrace（接受）Your Mistakes

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Embrace your mistake as an opportunity to learn something new about yourself and others. By becoming aware of your mistakes, you are able to move past them and prevent regret from keeping you stuck in the past.

    Hold Yourself Accountable

    Keep focused. It's up to you to walk your path. When you feel your positive attitude slipping away, hold yourself accountable for getting it back on track. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's going to take a positive attitude to make your dreams come true.

    Let it Go

    Holding on to old, negative thoughts will prevent positive thoughts from getting through. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You weren't born to be consumed by constant negative thinking. You were born to make a positive difference in this world. It's time to let go and begin living the life you are meant to live. It's time to stay positive－no matter what.

A. Keep you safe from anxiety.

B. So let your negative beliefs go.

C. Would you rather be right or happy?

D. Thus, make the most of the present moment.

E. No one wants your goals and dreams more than you do.

F. This habit helps you to appreciate whatever you have.

G. Accept the fact that you are human and that nobody is perfect.

The Do's and Don'ts of Settling Family Problems

    Sometimes something more than consideration is necessary to resolve family issues. How should you cope with a family argument or conflict? Gad Krebs, a Positive Relationship expert, believes you should consider the following three options.

    Don't listen to random advice on how to have a successful relation

    Well intentioned people can offer relationship advice readily available.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Firstly, it's the case where those offering ideal solutions are struggling with miserable relations themselves. Secondly, even though they do enjoy harmony at home, the advice that works for them won't necessarily work for you. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. This is a result of the unique personalities of the couple. What works for one couple may be disastrous for another.

    Ask for professional directions

    Businesses employ consultants and the sick visit doctors. These professional specialists can be reliable. Relationships should be no different. Living as a couple will lead to conflict; this is unavoidable. Although some disagreements can be settled by the couple alone, others cannot. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Turning to a competent specialist during a crisis can allow the couple to gain a new perspective on the issue, as well as give them an opportunity to evolve themselves. However, proud people are always unlikely to expose their problems. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Never say “You never” or “You always”

    In the heat of an argument people can shift their focus from specific and technical complaints – “You are 10 minutes late” – to broad and summary statements – “You're always late!” {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. It defines not only who they are, but who they always are.

A. Rely on professional specialists

B. Accept this advice and then ignore it

C. Most people as for help when they find themselves lost

D. Each relationship operates according to its very own courses

E. Criticism can turn poisonous when a specific issue becomes an identity

F. It is at this point that they need to be mature enough to seek outside professional help

G. Similarly, proud couples, like them, suffer unnecessarily due to their inability to ask for help

How to Rent Your House

    Before handing the keys to your house over to a complete stranger for care, there are decisions you need to make. In fact, the decisions you make now, before searching for a tenant (房客), will make the biggest impact on the success of your rental. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

What Condition Do You Want Your House in?

    There is no end to the amount of improving you can do to your house before renting it out. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When is good enough, good enough?

    A house should be clean, empty (unless you are offering it “furnished”, which is uncommon) and free from any major repairs at the time the tenant moves in.

    Remember, the home does not need to be as fancy as you would want it to be. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Tenants will generally never take as good care of your house as you do―so don't spend too much time or money making unnecessary upgrades that will only be ignored or broken.

    Should You Use a Property Manager?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you have the time, abilities, and energy to manage yourself―you can save a good deal of money by doing so. However, if you try to manage without the ability―it could end up costing you much more than what a property manager might charge.

    How Much Can You Rent Your House for?

    Luckily, discovering what the monthly rent will bear for your house is not difficult. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In business, market research means to get out there and find out what others in your industry are charging; learning how much to charge for rent is no different. Your house will generally rent for about the same amount as other properties that are of similar location, size and condition.

A. The problem becomes learning when to stop.

B. No one wants to be a landlord with those problems.

C. The following are some questions to answer before you rent out you house.

D. Have a professional carpet cleaner clean the carpets before showing the property.

E. Look around at other rentals in your area and try to see what the typical quality is.

F. The best way to determine how much your house will rent for is to simply do market research.

G. The decision about whether to manage yourself or hire a property manager cannot be made by anyone other than you.

Tips to Be an Expert at Managing Your Time

    Do you have too much to do and too little time? Of course! Actually, it's the biggest problem facing most people today. The key to becoming more efficient is the ability to set priorities (优先顺序) and focus on one task at a time. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Learn from the experts.

    If you want to be a big success in any area, find out what other successful people in that area are doing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And do the same things until you get the same results.

    Be open to new ideas.

    The most foolish person of all is either the person who feels he has no time to learn about time management or, the person, who feels that he already knows all that's needed to know on the subject. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Develop a plan.

    Successful men and women are both effective and efficient. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Develop a plan, then decide what is the most important thing to do and how to do it.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Start with your top tasks. Focusing on your highest­value tasks is the starting point of getting your time under control, though small things are easier and are often more fun than the big, important things.

A. Focus on the key tasks.

B. Start from small things.

C. They do the right things in the right way.

D. But never forget to learn from their failures.

E. However, the truth is that we have much to learn.

F. Study the interviews, speeches, biographies of them.

G. Here are several ways to get organized and get started.

Apologizing the Right Way to a Friend

    Why are apologies so difficult? Saying you are sorry can be one of the most difficult things you do. But we all make mistakes, so you'll probably have an occasion when you need to apologize.

    Perhaps you had a big blow up and realized later you reacted poorly.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Whatever the reason, apologizing can help you both heal and move on from the situation.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} First, you acknowledge that you did something wrong. With an apology, you take responsibility for your actions, which allows your friend to forgive you. Second, an apology gives you sincerity as a friend.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, but that doesn't mean you still shouldn't apologize.

Now,  what are elements of a proper apology? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, depending on what the offense was, where it was done, and who you are apologizing to. In general, a good apology should include the following: a request for their attention, an acknowledgment of what happened, sincerity in admitting you did something wrong and the words. "I'm sorry" or "I apologize."

    Here are things never to say when apologizing. Note that the art of apologizing involves taking responsibility. Never apologize as a way to "shut someone up" when they are saying you hurt their feelings and you don't think you did.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, you should talk things through with your friend until you see why they are hurt or how you came across. You'll really need to self﹣reflect so you can see things from your friend' s point of view.

A. When you make your apology in person

B. If you really believe you did nothing wrong

C. Apologies benefit friendships in a variety of ways

D. The way you apologize is going to be slightly different

E. Or maybe you just didn't show support when you needed to

F. Apologizing the right way, however, may take a little practice

G. Sometimes our pals forgive us easily for the minor things we do wrong