Tips for Staying Sharp

    It's not abnormal to feel out of it from time to time or perhaps you're feeling a bit sluggish(迟钝的)when it comes to remembering things. If you're worried about your forgetfulness, try out these five tips to stay sharp.

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    You've probably heard the term “you are what you eat.” If you decide to eat sugary foods that are heavy with fats then expect to feel lazy and have no energy. But if you decide to eat fruits, vegetables and make other healthy eating decisions you'll find that you're full of energy.

Never stop learning

Challenge yourself constantly—whether it is puzzles, reading, cooking or other tasks that will keep your mind working. If your mind is always learning new things and active, you'll realize that it's much easier for you to learn new things and to function.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Stay fit

    Being in good health and staying in shape is a big part of staying sharp.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you choose to be lazy then your body is not going to give you the energy that requires remembering things and completing tasks. However, if you put forth the effort into being health then your body will expel(释放)the energy you need to achieve your goals.

Ensure enough sleep

    Be sure to get the necessary amount of sleep that your body needs to function on a daily basis.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}It also helps your body build up an energy reserve so you can improve your ability to focus and avoid distractions.

Socialize more

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Social interaction will help you develop multitasking, problem solving and other skills that are necessary in life to keep your mind sharp.

A. Feed your brain

B. Avoid eating too much

C. Your body will only give you what you put into it

D. Lack of sleep contributes to tiredness and slow reaction

E. Conversations require individuals to stay aware and active

F. According to studies, sleep helps strengthen and recover your memories

G. Remember you brain is a muscle and if you want to get the most out of it, you must use it

    Recently, I've been following a simple rule that is helping me crush procrastination(拖延症) and making it easier for me to stick to good habits at the same time. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are two parts to the 2-Minute Rule.

    Part 1—If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, washing your dishes immediately after your meal, tossing the laundry in the washing machine, taking out the garbage, sending that email, and so on.

    If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, then follow the rule and do it right now.

    Part 2—When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.

    Can all of your goals be accomplished in less than two minutes? Obviously not. But, every goal can be started in 2 minutes or less. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    It might sound like this strategy is too basic for grand life goals, but I beg to differ. The 2-Minute Rule works for big goals as well as small goals because of the inertia(惯性)of life. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I love the 2-Minute Rule because it embraces the idea that all sorts of good things happen once you get started.

    The most important part of any new habit is getting started—not just the first time, but each time. It's not about performance, it's about consistently taking action.

    I can't guarantee whether or not the 2-Minute Rule will work for you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Anyone can spare the next 120 seconds. Use this time to get one thing done. Go.

A. I call this little strategy the “2-Minute Rule”.

B. And that's the purpose behind this little rule.

C. Here's what you need to know to stop procrastinating.

D. Once you start doing something, it's easier to continue doing it.

E. But, I can guarantee that it will never work if you never try it.

F. The goal is to make it easier for you to get started on the things you should be doing.

G. It's surprising how many things we put off that we could get done in two minutes or less.

    While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Try physical activity.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Running, walking, playing tennis, and working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try.

    Make time for yourself.

    Arrange time for both work and fun. Don't forget, play can be just as important as your overall well-being as work. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Go window-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy.

    Take care of yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you easily get angry and can't sleep well enough, or if you're not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should go to see a doctor.

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    Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there's so much to do, not enough time". Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, than do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important task first.

A. Make a list of things to do.

B. Do whatever you like and want to do.

C. You could smile to yourself in front of a mirror every day.

D. The following are suggestions for ways to deal with stress.

E. You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest.

F. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun.

G. When you are nervous, angry or upset, try reducing the pressure through exercise or physical activity.

    Really organized people are not born organized people.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} ,which then help them stay organized. Here are four habits they use to keep their lives in order.

    Write things down. A pen and a notebook are needed to record things. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} .You will only further make your life complex(复杂的) by trying to contain important dates and messages in your head.

    Make schedules and deadlines. By leading a cluttered(杂乱的) lifestyle, you will not have the time or space to make your deadlines or achieve your goals. Organized people don't waste time.

    They recognize that keeping things organized goes hand in hand with staying productive(富有成效的). They make and keep schedules for the day and week. They make deadlines and set goals.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Don't put off doing what you should be doing .{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.If you want your life to be less stressful, then take action as soon as you can. Put in effort to get things done as soon as possible.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.People who live organized lives only keep what they need and what they really want .Have you ever felt like you don't have the space to keep all the things you own? Instead of buying a larger house, get rid of some.

A. Give everything a home

B. Keep only what you need

C  They have to develop some habits

D. And most importantly, they stick to them.

E. You can also use a computer or a smart phone

F. Organized people find time every week to organize their things

G. The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done

Tips for healthy travel with children

    Children make up a small but important group of travellers. Their smaller bodies and developing immune(免疫) systems make their travel health needs important. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Vaccines(疫苗) for children

    In general, there is a higher risk for most vaccine-preventable diseases when travelling abroad. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. If you are planning to travel, check whether your child's normal vaccine schedule needs to be changed to make sure that they are fully protected before travelling.

    Malaria(疟疾) and children

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Children are particularly at risk of developing severe malaria. If you must travel with children to a malaria risk area, visit a doctor to determine if anti-malarial medication is recommended. If anti-malarial medication is allowed to take, keep them in child-proof containers and out of reach of children.

    Transportation risks

    Air travel is safe for healthy children. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Some airlines will not allow newborns to fly. Ear pain caused by changes in pressure during landing is more common in children than in adults. To lessen the pain, babies should bottle or breast feed. Older children can chew gum or be encouraged to swallow or yawn.

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    Signs and symptoms(症状) of altitude sickness in children are often mistaken for other illnesses. A child with altitude sickness may throw up, hate to eat, or be anxious. Older children may also show headaches, or difficulty breathing. As it is difficult to tell if a child is developing altitude sickness and since altitude sickness can develop rapidly in children, you may travel to no higher than 2,500 m (8,200 feet).

A. High altitude sickness

B. Pack a travel health kit

C. Avoid taking children to areas with a risk of malaria

D. And these diseases tend to be more severe (严重的) in children than in adults

E. There are many facts to take into consideration when travelling with children

F. It may be difficult to give children anti-malaria medication because it tastes unpleasant

G. However, it is necessary that you wait until newborns are one to two weeks old before flying

How to Make a Chinese Hot Pot

    Eating a Chinese hot pot is a very common experience. People gather around the pot, dipping their food, waiting for it to cook, mixing their own seasonings (调味品) and enjoying each other's company. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Firstly, prepare a large pot of soup. There is no right or wrong way to prepare a soup, so feel free to make your own. A simple soup can be made by boiling water with the addition of meat bones or fish heads and a mixture of herbs, seasonings and vegetables.

    Then, cut a variety of meats and fish into thin slices.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Choose any food that you enjoy. Some common choices for Chinese hot pot include thin pieces of beef, pork, lamb and so on. You can make your hot pot using the more traditional method of using the meats and seafood that are local to you. Meanwhile, select, wash and prepare some vegetables. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Mushrooms of all kinds are also common to Chinese hot pot preparations.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. At home, a single hot pot would work well up to 4-8 people depending on the size of the pot. Make sure everyone is sitting in a circle and has easy access to everything on the table. Prepare a separate small dish for each guest to mix their seasonings. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}!

A. Finally, arrange the seating reasonably

B. Now comes the turn to enjoy your hot pot

C. It will guarantee that the items will cook quickly and fully

D. Here are some easy steps to make a Chinese hot pot at home

E. For more variety, consider dumplings, rice cakes and tangyuan

F. Popular choices include: cabbage, pea leaves, winter melon and tomato

G. It usually lasts a couple of hours because you are cooking and eating in small parts