How to make Quick Decisions For Your Life

    We make decisions every day{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When it comes to making decisions, choosing the right one can at times be stressful, especially if the decision must be made quickly. Indecision often weighs us down, but there are some useful tips for making quick decisions more easily.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Sometimes the key to making a quick decision comes down to planning ahead of time for just such an occasion. We all know we're going to come to an important decision-making point sooner or later, so having a plan already in hand can put our mind at ease when that time comes.

    Overcome fear.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}While it may seem difficult to overcome the fear of making the wrong choice, many experts agree that we shouldn't be afraid to make the wrong decision, even if it seems important. The vast majority of wrong decisions can be corrected, while delaying decisions can often lead to more problems.

    Write down all the advantages and disadvantages of your decision. Even if you don't have all the information, writing down all the pros and cons（优缺点） is a good starting point for figuring out what to do. In cases where there simply isn't enough time to write things down, make a mental list in your mind. Thinking of the pros and cons can help you organize your thoughts.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Determine criteria. Remember that every decision you make should come with a certain list of criteria.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}But once you know the requirements you're looking for, making a decision will become easier. Look for the choice that satisfies the list you've made, and once that choice is found, you should move ahead with it.

A. Have a plan.

B. The list may be short or quite long.

C. Communicate your decision with others.

D. And this can always lead to a clear answer.

E. So cut out any options that you know you will not choose.

F. Often, one thing that keeps us from making decisions is fear.

G. Some can be very important while others are not serious in the long run.

    Your telephone is running low on power while you are waiting to fly out of an airport.

    Then you discover a public USB charging area close by.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Then you take a deep breath and sit back, happy to get the power for free.

What could go wrong? Plenty.

    In addition to providing an electrical current, phone charging cords can send and receive data. That free USB charging hub at an airport, hotel or any other public place may not only charge your phone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The USB charging hub could be connecting to your phone and copying your contact list, email and text messages, voice mail, photographs and videos. It can also copy passwords, banking information and any other information stored on your phone.

    If you want to charge your phone while traveling, you have other choices that do not increase your risks.

    Connect your phone only to electrical outlets so data transfer is not possible.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is better to use a distant wall outlet than a nearby USB charging hub.

    Carry an extra, fully-charged battery. Having one means you can charge your phone without having to worry about carrying a special cord or finding a power outlet.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you must use a public USB charging center, be sure to turn off your phone completely.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}But it will reduce the chances of it happening, depending on what phone you have.

A. Remember to fully charge your phone before you leave home or work.

B It also could be transferring information to and from the device.

C. The public USB charging hub may even download programs to your phone.

D This may or may not prevent data transfer.

E. You can charge your phone with the extra battery wherever you are.

F. An available outlet may not be as near as a USB charging hub, but the few extra steps may keep you safe.

G. You quickly reach for a charge cord and connect your phone to the charging hub.

    Worry problems are everywhere in our daily life. How to solve them? The answer is that we must equip ourselves to handle different kinds of worries by learning the three basic steps of problem analysis. The three steps are:

Get the facts

    Why is it so important to get the facts? Unless you have the facts, you can't possibly attempt to solve your problem intelligently. Without the facts, all you can do is wondering around in confusion{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When you are worried, your emotions are riding high. But here are two ideas that can help you see the facts in a clear and objective way.

    When trying to get the facts, you can pretend that you are collecting this information not for yourself but for some other person. This will help you to take a cold and fair view of the evidence. You can also pretend that you are a lawyer preparing to agree{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You will generally find the truth lies somewhere in between.

Analyze the facts

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}And write out all the various steps you could take and then the probable consequences(后果) of each step. For example, what am I worrying about? What can I do about it? Here is what I'm going to do about it. After carefully weighing all the facts, you can calmly come to a decision.

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Unless you take your action, all you face—finding and analyzing—is a waste of energy. How can you break the worry habit before it breaks you? Crowd worry out of your mind by keeping busy.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Accept what can't be avoided. If you know a situation is beyond your power, say to yourself: “ It is so; it can't be otherwise.” Don't permit little things to ruin your happiness. Try to develop a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness.

A. Act on that decision

B. It is not an easy job to get facts.

C. Decide how much anxiety a thing may be worth

D. Plenty of action is one of the best ways to cure worry.

E. There comes a time when you must decide and never look back

F. Try to get all the facts both on your side and the other side of the case

G. Whenever you are worried, write down the questions that make you worry.

    Small talk is the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.

    When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

    ⒉Ask open-ended questions

    These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} the conversation will go on longer.

    ⒊Become a student

    Nobody knows everything. So，as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's a win-win situation.

    Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.

A. Have some conversation starters ready

B. If you make small talk in your native language

C. However, some people are not good at small talk

D. If you ask questions that need more details to answer

E. You can talk about something that you recently learned

F. Many people find these small conversations about random topics easy

G. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” —Lao Tzu

    If you are in a city where everyone rushes, realize that you don't have to be like everyone else. You can be different. You can walk instead of driving in rush hour traffic. You can be on your iPhone or Blackberry less, and disconnected sometimes. Your environment doesn't control your life you do. I'm not going to tell you how to give you a step-by-step guide to moving slower. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Do less.

    Cut back on your projects, on your task list, on how much you try to do each day. Focus not on quantity but on quality.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Save smaller, routine tasks for later in the day, but give yourself time to focus.

    Have fewer meetings.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}And they eat into your day, forcing you to squeeze the things you really need to do into small windows, and making you rush.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    When you do the important things with focus, without rush, there will be things that get pushed back, and that don't get done. And you need to ask yourself: how necessary are these things? What would happen if I stopped doing them?

    Practice mindfulness.

    Simply learn to live in the present, rather than things so much about future or the past. When you eat, fully appreciate your food. When you are with someone, be with them fully. When you are walking, appreciate your surroundings, no matter where you are.

    Try these things out. Life is better when unrushed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Start to put off or cancel the unnecessary.

B. Meetings are usually a “big waste of time”.

C. The world likely won't end if you don't pass one of the examinations.

D. But here are some things to consider and perhaps adopt, if they work for your life.

E. Remember the quote: if nature can get everything done without rushing, so can you.

F. Pick 2-3 important things—or even just one important thing—and work on those first.

G. Give yourself more time to get ready and get there.

    Every new person added to the planet needs food, water, clothes, and so on.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Those things require extra natural resources，including land and water. But Earth's riches are limited. Less than 1 percent of Earths water can be used for drinking and washing. One out of every thirteen people around the world does not always have enough clean water. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Too many people are using too much water, especially in the already dry areas of the southwestern United States.

    Food shortages(不足)are even more common. Worldwide, one out of every seven people does not get enough to eat. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Over time, the soil loses its nutrients (营养）and the farmland becomes useless for growing food. As the world becomes more crowded (拥挤的）， more land is needed to make way for growing cities.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. That's a problem because trees help take in a gas called carbon dioxide. Humans produce carbon dioxide by burning coal and oil. Fewer trees mean more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The buildup of carbon dioxide traps heat and pollution above Earth.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, although every person uses the planet's resources. The richest billion people, Americans especially, use the most resources. They also produce the most waste.

A. Forests are cleared away

B. Some people use a lot more than others

C. Water shortages have hit many parts of the world

D. Water pollution is a serious problem in some areas

E. More trees should be planted to handle air pollution

F. Huge needs for food force farmers to overuse their land

G. More people mean more cars, roads, schools, hospitals, and stores