Follow these steps and you'll be getting to bed earlier before you know it.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    If you're currently going to bed at 11 pm, don't decide that tonight you're going to get to bed at 9 pm. But more generally, it's also important to give your body time to adjust as you start changing your bedtime. So you should take smaller steps.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Write down your new bedtime.

    Set up your environment to avoid objections.

    What you'll need to do is to think through your specific plan, and identify potential objections.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Imagine your routine for this evening, think through any possible obstacles and decide on specific ways that you'll avoid them.

    Set reminders for yourself to stick to your plan.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The idea here is that reminders not only alert you in the moment, but they also help you build tiny habits for certain behaviors.

    Decide what time you're going to begin the process of getting ready for bed. Add it to your calendar.

    Make a public commitment.

    Making a public commitment to getting something done is a great way to create responsibilities for yourself.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Decide what time you're going to go to bed tonight and find friends to tell them what time you're going to bed in case you miss your bedtime.

A. Make a change gradually.

B. Studies show that once we make it, we are more likely to honor it.

C. Remind yourself to go to bed as early as possible tonight.

D. Decide to go to bed 15 minutes earlier tonight than you usually do.

E. Make sure you get success in one time when you plan to change your bedtime.

F. Once you've mapped out a plan for your evening, you can set reminders for yourself.

G. The idea is to design your environment to make it less likely that you'll give up your plan.

Are You a Prisoner of Perfection?

    Do you struggle for a goal that is beyond your reach?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Are you setting yourself up for failure and shame when you can't achieve the unachievable? Understanding what drives perfectionism is the first step toward releasing this self-created anchor that keeps us stuck.

    Shame and fear are often the hidden drivers of perfectionism. We believe that if we can fashion a perfectly polished personality, flash our intelligence, and perfect our humour, then no one can hurt us with criticism and we'll win respect and approval.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Politicians who display a desperate need to be right and refuse to acknowledge mistakes or uncertainty are often driven by a secret shame. They fear that showing vulnerability(弱点) will expose them to the accusation that they're weak. They stick to a desire to be right, perfect, and polished, even when it's obvious that the emperor has no clothes.

    Perfectionism keeps us leaning toward the future. We're constantly evaluating ourselves in order to do better.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}However, if we can't relax and enjoy lighter moments, then we become prisoners of our perfectionism. We get painfully self-conscious and take ourselves too seriously. Sadly, we deprive(剥夺) ourselves of the simple pleasure of enjoying the moment and being ourselves.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We realize that failing at any enterprise doesn't mean that we are a failure. Without failures, we'll never learn from our mistakes; we'll never move forward in our lives. Those who succeed have made countless mistakes. The important thing is to learn from our error, forgive ourselves and move on.

    Being human, perfection is impossible.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Releasing ourselves from the desire to protect our image, we're freed to sail gracefully through our successes and failures—and enjoy our precious life.

A. Do you hold an idealized vision that is impossible to realize?

B. A cure to perfectionism is to make room for our human shortcomings.

C. Do you fear that others will be horrified by what you judge about yourself?

D. The addiction to staying perfect protects us from any sign of being imperfect.

E. There's nothing wrong with wanting to do our best and self-correcting along the way.

F. People who are addicted to perfection are often isolated, even if they seem outgoing and popular.

G. By accepting ourselves as we are and doing our best, we begin to rid the shame that drives perfectionism.

    As Labor Day gets close, many Americans are trying to find some final vacation time before kids head back to school. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} With people still looking for that escape, it's important to know some tips to make your dollars go the extra mile when traveling. Choose places that are in their off-season during kids' school breaks. Over the Christmas/New Year's break, for example, the prices for flights and hotels in the Caribbean and Hawaii are sky-high. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can go to places that are in their low season but are warm and festive (欢乐的).

    For US trips, think about extended-stay hotels (常住酒店). Extended-stay hotels give you affordable suites (套房) with a lot of free facilities for the money. You get a door to the kids' room that you can close at bedtime. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A refrigerator, microwave and washing machines, as well as free breakfast, Wi-Fi and sometimes even dinner and snacks are available, too.

    For European city trips, rent an apartment. Hotel rooms in European cities can be expensive and tiny. They have no refrigerator or microwave, and neighbors can hear every sound. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It also gives you more space and thicker (更厚的) walls. The kitchen can help you save some money in hotel breakfast charges, and the washing machine can help you save the time for washing.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Hunting for specific items — maybe they're seashells from each beach you stop at, maps from tourist information offices or door handle do-not-disturb-signs from hotels—gives kids a task and keeps them busy in a trip. Collecting souvenirs on a certain theme is a lot cheaper than buying them.

    Today we begin a series of programs about learning disabilities. These are disorders in the ways that people understand or use language. They can affect the ability to listen or think, or to speak or to read and write. They can also affect the ability to do mathematics. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Researchers believe that learning disabilities are caused by differences in the way that the brain works with information. They say children with learning disabilities are not unintelligent or do not want to work.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Researchers say that as many as one out of every five people in the United States has some kind of learning disability. Almost three-million children in the United States receive some kind of help in school for a learning disability.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Experts look for a difference between how well a child does in school and the level of intelligence or ability of the child. But there is no one sign of a disorder. A few signs of learning disability include not connecting letters with their sounds or not understanding what is read. A person with a learning disability may not be able to understand a funny story. They may not follow directions. They may not read numbers correctly or know how to start a task. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}One person may have trouble understanding mathematics. Another may have difficulty understanding what people are saying. Still another may not be able to express ideas in writing. These different kinds of learning disabilities are known by different names. For example, a person who has difficulty reading may have dyslexia (诵读困难症).

    Experts say learning disabilities cannot be cured.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Teachers and parents can help young people with learning disabilities to learn successfully.

A. Different people have different kinds of learning disabilities.

B. Their brains just process information differently than other people.

C. People with learning disabilities have difficulty in communicating with others.

D. But people who have them can be helped.

E. Why does a person have a learning disability?

F. A person with a learning disability has unusual difficulty in developing these skills.

G. How can you tell if someone has a learning disability?

Reasons You Should Make Time for the Sunset

    Here's why you should consider making time to watch the sunset.

    ⒈It can slow down time.

Seriously. By witnessing the beauty of the sunset, you can slow down your perception (感知)of time. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Amazingly, by taking the time to look at the vast sky, we're actually empowering ourselves to regain control of the clock.

    ⒉It can provide energy for you.

    Even if you have to go back to the office after you watch that last sliver disappear below the skyline, taking a few minutes out of your day to experience some of the golden hour will be worth it.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Often when we feel exhausted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized (给予能量)is to connect with nature.

    ⒊It will force you to put your phone down.

    When we regard the experience of sunsets as special occasions, we feel the urge to document and save them——as if keeping photos of their beauty will help us remember that wonderful feeling.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ⒋It will inspire you.

    There's a reason sunsets are a timeless and constant inspiration to poets, writers and romantics.

    ⒌{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    All of us are drawn to sunsets, but people in a few special places really regard the sunset as a daily opportunity to give thanks；{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Crowds gather to cheer and applaud it, reinforcing (加强)the idea that we should celebrate and be thankful for each day.

A. Nature is fuel for the soul.

B. It will help you appreciate life's gifts.

C. Do you draw inspiration from the sunset?

D. It will allow you to exercise in a healthy way.

E. Do you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day?

F. But if you experience the sunset more regularly, you'll no longer see it through a screen.

G. In places like Santorini, Greece, and Maui, Hawaii, the sunset is regarded as a nightly celebration.

Nowadays, the term "superfood" has become the nutritional buzzword. Simply put, these superfoods are those that provide large amount of nutrients through minimal calories. 

The term "superfood" may have taken the modern food scene by storm. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Although only popular in recent years, the concept of certain foods with special nutritional qualities has been around for a long time. The nickname "superfood" gained widespread popularity in the early 2000s as health enthusiasts and the food industry sought to identify and market foods with special health benefits. Today, it is a trend in diet. 

In an age when we share all kinds of superfoods on social media, ignoring the phenomenon is impossible. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's easy to understand. These nutritional superheroes offer a perfect combination of substance and style, tailored for the digital generation. Their lively colours, exotic origins and impressive nutrient profiles make them candidates for the next viral food trend. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} They offer a lifestyle that reflects the global shift towards a more healthconscious society. As the world wrestles with an increasing burden of diseases and the fast pace of modern life, people are seeking dietary solutions from superfoods. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They are rich in vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system, avoid chronic diseases, and improve your overall wellbeing. Another remarkable benefit is their potential to promote heart health, helping you build a strong heart. Don't forget their role in skin regeneration. The antioxidants(抗氧化物) can provide a natural glow, reduce skin ageing and fight against skin conditions. 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Superfoods, while nutritionally dense, should be part of a comprehensive diet rather than the only guarantee of our health.