1 . One of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Charles Duhigg published a new book, in which he concluded common characteristics of “supercommunicators”— people who are consistently able to create authentic connections with others just by listening and talking.     1     Here is a set of skills recommended by Duhigg that can help you.

    2     If you are having a practical conversation, be ready to give good advice. If you are engaging in emotional discussions seeking empathy, you may show your support by being a good listener. If you’re in a social dialogue reflecting how we see others and how other people see us, be mindful of the different perspectives each person brings to the table and seek common ground.

Prove we’re listening. There are plenty of ways to appear like you’re listening, like making eye contact or nodding intently. But proving to someone that you’re listening is the quickest road to making someone feel heard.     3     Next, repeat back in your own words what they just told you. Lastly, ask your conversation partner if you got what they said correct.

Ask the right questions. Ask follow-up questions that signal to the other person that you’re interested in the conversation, like “So did you make it on time?” or “What happened next?” Ask questions like people’s values, beliefs or experiences and spark an opportunity for emotional connection.     4     When in doubt, just ask “why.’ People love to talk about how they see the world.

Aim to understand. The goal of a discussion isn’t to impress someone, convince someone or wait for their turn to speak. It’s to genuinely comprehend someone else’s point of view and share your own views accordingly. If people know you want to understand them, they’re going to want to understand you.     5    

2 . How to Make Family Fishing Trips Fun for All

There’s something truly special about fishing trips, especially when they involve the whole family.     1     But how can we make fishing trips enjoyable and memorable for all family members?

The first step in planning a family-friendly fishing trip is selecting the right destination. It’s important to consider places that are safe, easily accessible, and suitable for families. Destinations like lakeside cabins, or coastal towns are often perfect spots that offer great fishing opportunities.     2    

For many families, fishing trips are not just about catching fish. They’re also about teaching and learning new skills together. When it comes to introducing beginners, especially children, to fishing, it’s important to keep the techniques simple. Begin by familiarizing everyone with the basic parts of a fishing pole and reel (卷轴). Show them how to hold the pole, cast the line, and reel it in.     3     Encourage them to enjoy the experience and the surrounding nature while waiting for a catch.

    4     But it’s still important to have other activities planned. This could include exploring nearby trails, having a picnic, or playing simple outdoor games. These activities ensure that the trip remains engaging for family members who might not be as interested in fishing.

Safety should always be a top priority on fishing trips. This includes making sure everyone has a life jacket.     5     Also, having a first aid kit on hand is essential for dealing with any minor injuries or accidents.

By choosing the right destination, preparing adequately, engaging in various activities, and prioritizing safety, your fishing trips can become a cherished family tradition.

3 . How to Survive Overthinking

●Focus on the big picture.

    1     While you might be able to learn something new by giving these things some quick consideration, it’s better to step back and look at the whole picture. If you’re crushing on (迷恋) someone, for example, you might think about their every comment or facial expression after you see them- but examining every interaction for telling details can keep you from seeing what’s really going on.

●Distract (分心) yourself when you’re overthinking.

Do something that you find fun and engaging. When your thoughts are running away from you, sometimes you just need to do something else for a while.     2     Some people enjoy coloring or doing puzzles, while others may enjoy going for a walk.

●Get your thoughts down on paper.

Try spending 10 minutes a day writing down your thoughts.     3     When you write, it helps you organize your thoughts, so they don’t feel so confused and overwhelming (压垮的) in your mind.

Writing can also help you get to the root of what’s going on.

●Talk out your thoughts with a friend.

Saying your thoughts out loud can help you process them. If you just can’t seem to move past your thoughts, try opening up to someone you really trust, like a close family member or a friend. Tell them what you’re dealing with and why you think you keep coming back to these thoughts.     4     They might just have some good advice that might put your mind at ease.

●Try to see problems as challenges.

Look for solutions instead of just replaying the obstacle. If you notice that you’re just thinking about every little detail of a decision you’re facing, try to reframe your thoughts. Focus on how you can solve the problem, or what you can learn from it.     5    

4 . Families differ from each other. Some are traditional and seem to be perfect; some are dysfunctional, but tend to still be strong; some are so calm, but controlled and some seem to be rich and have everything, but lack love.     1     I’ve come up with some qualities that would make a great family.

Give credit and appreciate. One of my best memories as a child is when my report card came out with good grades. I then showed it to my parents and they would give me treats, new toys or even money.     2     Appreciation for small and large things alike is important to boost one’s self-esteem and express the love you have for each other.

Talk to each other.     3     They tend to choose family members (and not friends or neighbors) as their first resort to express their emotions, talk about their fears or desires and help solve their problems. Their meal times are always full of positive conversation and exchange of ideas. And more importantly, they lay out specific ground rules, know their limitations and know a lot about the members of their family.

    4     No matter how perfect you think your family is, there will come a time that it will be tested, and problems will hit you right in your face. Strong families should learn how to combine all the above qualities and use it to survive every difficulty.

Spiritual wellness. Some might disagree that spiritual wellness is important to a family, but truly, a great family has strong faith and belief no matter what their religion is. When a family has a strong spiritual foundation, they are just more loving and understanding, thus making them stronger.     5    

6 . Effective communication is the process of exchanging ideas, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose. Learning how to communicate well can be beneficial.     1    

Consider your audience.     2     Knowing your audience can be key to delivering the right messages effectively. Their age, income, education level, background knowledge and experience can all affect how they’ll receive your message.

Practice active listening. Active listening means giving your full attention in a communication exchange.     3     This not only ensures that you comprehend the conversation accurately but also makes the speaker feel heard and valued.

Make your message as clear as possible. Once you have successfully identified your audience and listened to their purposes, needs, and desires, you may have something to communicate. To do this effectively, turn to the 3Cs of communication: Clear, Correct, Complete.     4    

Use the right medium or platform. Effective communication requires you to consider whether you need to meet in person or online. Is your message casual enough to use WeChat, or would a formal email be more suitable?     5     Whatever you choose should be appropriate for your current situation.

By following these four principles, you are well on your way to exercising communication effectiveness.

8 . 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.

9 . We get it. Students are busy. Among a challenging curriculum, exciting social life and personal commitments, sometimes it can be difficult to remember to take care of yourself.     1     That’s why it’s so important to develop great habits now that you can follow for a lifetime. Check out the following health tips to ensure you stay at the top of your game for the rest of the semester and beyond. Here’s what you should do to stay healthy.

Eat Right. This can seem difficult, but, when broken down, is a bit more attainable. The principles you should follow are very simple.     2     Balance your meals by ensuring you have the proper amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and proteins while leaving sugary and fatty foods by the wayside.

Exercise. Keeping your body healthy and in shape is important.     3     You can simply walk to your classes, take a class that involves physical fitness or check out the student facilities your campus offers for students to use.

Get Enough Sleep. It can be difficult to ensure you’ re getting enough sleep when you’ve got a huge load of class work or other commitments. But getting enough sleep can really improve your overall health and wellness. Try to stick to a sleep schedule so that you can stay well-rested throughout the day.     4     Also, try not to eat or drink caffeinated beverages near bedtime.

Drink Lots of Water. Staying hydrated will give you more energy throughout the day, refresh your body, stop you from overeating and aid in concentration. It also helps prevent those headaches, so fill up your water bottle daily.     5    

10 . Many people want to grow their own food in their own backyard, but they don’t know how to start. This article will teach you how to start!

Find out what plants to get. Get plants that can grow in your area, and make sure you plant them at the right time of the year.     1     Usually you should start your garden after the last frost date in the spring t While they’re technically fruits, a good starter plant to grow is tomatoes. You can plant these in a pot or in your garden.

    2     Make sure there is enough space to grow your plants. Use a tiller (犁) and till the whole space you will be gardening. Then pull out any weeds and move any large rocks. Find out how big your plants get and space them accordingly. If your plant needs slightly acidic (酸性的) soil, get an acid metre and make sure the soil has enough acidity.     3     To grow them well, you can buy fertilizer that can add acidity to the soil.

Buy your plants and fertilizers. You can either get seeds or get plant seedlings. Go to your local nursery and see what they have. Get fertilizer as well.     4     This will make your plants grow, better and faster!

Plant your plants in the garden. Use a hand shovel and dig a small hole big enough to put your plant in. Water your plant before you put it in so you can wet the root ball. Sprinkle (撒) in a little bit of fertilizer and put your plant in.     5    

For seeds, stick your finger into the dirt where you want to plant the seed until the dirt reaches the second joint on your finger.