2 . The environment has never been more in need of a helping hand from us. Schools, in particular, are in a great position to educate future generations and make sure that good environmental habits are learned and adopted from an early age. So, ranging from energy efficiency to recycling, here are our tips to make your school more eco-friendly and sustainable.

☆    1    

Sending waste to landfill to slowly rot away isn’t the best use of the world’s resources. Plus, the space available for landfill is rapidly running out. Instead, boost recycling by providing appropriate and appealing facilities with clear signage (标识).     2    .

☆Turn off the lights and fit energy-efficient light bulbs

Saving energy used for lighting is one of the easiest things that we can do.     3    . Turn off lights when they’re not needed. Signage asking people to turn off the lights can act as a useful reminder.

☆Go paperless

    4    , with paper now being seen as outdated in many cases. This is good news for the environment, but it sometimes needs people to change how they do things. Look into options for creating and using fewer paper-based administration systems at school and think twice before printing or photocopying all those A4 pages, for example.

☆Reject plastic water bottles

Recent television programs and campaigns have raised the issue of waste plastic towards the top of the environmental agenda. In some ways, this isn’t surprising because, again, it is relatively easy for everyone to make a difference to the environment with minimal effort.     5    . Just stop buying brand-new water bottles that are used once and then recycled, and reuse existing bottles and containers instead.

3 . Sometimes you may feel like privacy, as a concept, has disappeared from the world.    1    Thus they can serve up frighteningly accurate ads that make you think your phone’s microphone has been turned on and marketers are actively listening to your every word.

They’re not—yet. But they are engaged in something called “datamining”. This is the process of collecting enormous amounts of unknown data from your every connected activity and then analyzing that data to fill your life with advertisements and other influences. Datamining gives away your privacy. You may find it quite impossible to avoid.    2    

Check settings carefully.

When you install(安装) an app on your device, you probably click through a series of permissions, But an app may require many unnecessary permissions. You may doubt whether a game really needs access to your microphone, location, and camera.    3    Take the next line of defense: stop installing garbage free apps and spend that dollar.

    4    

Social media is very obviously a landfill when it comes to privacy. If your main goal on social media is to connect with friends or colleagues, restrict the reach of your posts to just those folks. And don’t expose your travel plans, spending habits, or product reviews out into the universe.

Remember to log out.

    5    And as long as you’re signed in, that ability continues—even if you leave the site. It’s an inconvenience indeed, but logging out of those services when you’re not actively using them and clearing cookies and history regularly can slowdown the mining of data.

4 . Ways to Employ the Power of Your Strengths

If you have ever had a job interview, you have likely been asked what your strengths are. It’s a common question.     1     It’s often easier for them to focus on their weaknesses instead. Below are five ways you can identify your strengths and use them to help you.

    2     Take an online assessment of your character strengths. Once you have taken the assessment, brainstorm different ways that you can use your core strengths throughout the week, then document your experience each time you use your strength in a new way.

Identify times you’ve used your strengths in the past.     3     Write out these examples in a journal. Next, reflect on how these strengths have served you in different areas of your life.

Reflect on feedback (反馈) you’ve received from others about your strengths. Think back to times when others provided you with positive feedback about your strengths. Write out what the positive feedback was.

Use a strengths jar. Anytime you notice that you have used one of your strengths, write down what strength was used and put it in the jar.     4    

Engage in new activities and hobbies that test your strengths. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new activities, hobbies, or classes can help you get in touch with new strengths.     5     Contrary to what you may think, being good at the activity or hobby you try is not needed to get in touch with your strengths. For example, if you decide to try rollerblading (轮滑) for the first time and fall repeatedly, you may discover that humor is a strength.

5 . Do you have plastic bottles at home? Did you throw empty plastic bottles into the trash, just because you didn’t know how to use them? However, there are many interesting things you can do with empty plastic bottles!     1    

●Spray for your garden.     2     Then adjust the rubber bracelet to the mouth of the bottle, and make sure the plastic bottle mouth neatly fits through the hole in the lid. When everything is ready, you will have a spray bottle for your garden!

●Separate eggs. Do you find it challenging to separate eggs? In some recipes, you just need the yolks (蛋黄) or the whites, but the process is a bit complicated.     3     Break the egg into a bowl. Remove the lid from the bottle and pinch a little. Then continue the pressure, put the ends into the yolks and stop the pressure. In this way, the yolks will be absorbed into the bottle while the whites will remain on the plate.

    4     When making biscuits, you may need tools to cut them. Plastic bottles will do again. Making a homemade biscuit cutter from plastic bottles is the best way to reuse plastic bottles, as you never know the situation when you need to use it. You just need a small or a large plastic bottle depending on your needs.     5     And then take one of two sections to cut the biscuits.

6 . How to improve your home’s energy efficiency

Ensuring that your home is energy-efficient possibly keeps your bills right down and helps you play your part in the fight against climate change.     1    .

Insulate (使隔热) your loft

Most of your home’s wasted energy will attempt to escape through your roof. To stop it in its tracks, you must invest in having your loft insulated.    2    , but it will be sure to save you over £100 a year.

    3    

By investing in a top-of-the-line boiler, you’ll no doubt tap into an extra of savings. What’s more, making this kind of investment will also be sure to lower your home’s carbon emissions. When choosing a new boiler, give precedence (优先) to those that fall in or near the “A” category. Whatever you do, just don’t slip towards the lower end of the scale.

Fit double glazing (双层玻璃)

    4    . This is because double-glazed windows and doors trap more heat than regular ones, ultimately meaning they will stop you from having to put your heating on as much or as high. The initial investment demanded in this instance can be costly, which is why you should consider making use of the Help to Buy Windows Scheme.

Keep an eye on your energy consumption

Only when you know how much energy you use can you take action with regards to being less wasteful and more resourceful. This means that you should make a conscious effort to keep an eye on your energy consumption.    5    , you might want to consider fitting an energy monitor in your home. Generally, this type of technology will cost between £25 and £40.

7 . The Getting Things Done (GTD) method refers to a personal productivity methodology (方法论) that redefines how you approach your life and work. It relies on the idea that you need to simplify your workload. If you frequently feel overwhelmed or you just have too much going on, this method might be great for you.     1     However, it can indeed easily be broken down into five main components:

    2     Write it all down, either in a planner or a document, and don’t skip anything, even if it seems irrelevant. You will find it somehow helpful in the future.

Clarify what you have written down. Look at each task and identify the steps you can take to complete it. Quickly write those down, so you break each task into steps.     3     Then consider whether it can be thrown out or handled later instead.

Organize by creating a to-do list, putting action items on your calendar, assigning smaller tasks, filing away reference materials to create a timely, structured approach to getting it done.

Reflect frequently and review all your organized materials on a regular basis.     4     Try using an “after-action review” to comprehensively go over what you’ve done and what you need to work on or stick with as you move forward.

Engage by tackling your action items knowingly and actively. You have a list of tasks and action items, an organized system with dates and references, and a schedule for checking in with yourself.     5    

A little stress can push you to be more productive, but too much will have the opposite effect, so using the GTD method can really make you calm and confident.

9 . Four Tips to Promote Your Self-Confidence

The following tips might help promote your self-confidence, so you can feel more comfortable with whom you are.

    1     Developing positive thoughts can serve as a good foundation, but the people around you can have a significant influence on your self-confidence as well. Consider surrounding yourself with people who build you up and encourage you to follow what you want in life.

Set goals for yourself. You don’t have to set large goals: you might begin with small goals that you can easily achieve. For example, you might set a goal to take a walk every day after work. It may be helpful to keep a list of the accomplishments that have made you feel proud.     2    

Think about what makes you feel attractive. It can be easy to fall into the trap of looking for imperfections in ourselves, both inside and outside.     3     You might begin with qualities that make you a good friend, parent or coworker. You can also find ways to bring out your natural beauty by making small changes.     4     For example, you might try a new hairstyle, buy an article of clothing that you like, etc.

Do something brave once a week. It can be frightening to put ourselves out there, but sometimes the risk can be worth the reward. Taking risks doesn’t necessarily mean going bungee jumping or mountain climbing.     5     Perhaps you might talk to that person you’re interested in. Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, just taking the leap shows self-confidence and may make you feel proud of yourself.

10 . Do you need a career launch plan? It isn’t absolutely essential but it can be extremely helpful! A well-created plan is not just about landing a job; it is about entering the professional field with a competitive edge. Beyond that, it’s a strategy.     1     Therefore, a career launch plan is your survival guide, helping you avoid the traps and seize the right opportunities. So why not follow the following tips to create a right career launch plan?

    2     If you were to plan out your travel routes, what would you do? You’re not just randomly moving; you’re intentional about where you want to go and what you want to achieve. So is a career plan. It involves outlining specific and achievable goals that give direction to your career trajectory (轨迹).

Develop relevant skills. Once you’ve identified the qualifications and skills demanded in your ideal profession, it’s time to acquire them! Sign up for courses, pursue certifications, or gain hands-on experience to enhance your skill set.     3    

Start your job hunt. Your approach to job applications should be more like a precision strike than a messy explosion of arrows in all directions.     4     It’s not just about quantity; it’s about quality. Tailor each application to the specific role and company, emphasizing how your skills and experiences agree with their needs.

Stay flexible and agile (机敏的). The job market is changing, and being adaptable is an invaluable ability.     5     Develop a mindset of continuous improvement — always seeking ways to enhance your skills, knowledge, and approach to stay relevant in the ever-evolving professional landscape.