【推荐1】How to Reduce Gift Wrap Waste

Wrapping paper may have “paper” in its name, but that doesn’t automatically mean it can be recycled.     1     Try these suggestions for cutting down the amount of wrapping paper you throw away.

Reuse what you have.     2     It’s estimated that the U.S. produces 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper annually, and 2.3 million pounds of that stays in people’s homes, awaiting reuse.

Use different materials.     3     Select basic brown thick paper that can be made up with a bow, ribbons, leaves, pinecones or markers. Repurpose newspapers, old posters and children’s school artworks as wrapping paper. There are plenty of other eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping paper that are just delightful and celebratory.

    4     Use baskets, fabric, gift boxes or bags, tea towels, and more to contain and display your presents. Learn the Japanese art of wrapping, using beautiful knots(绳结) to fasten colorful, reusable fabrics in attractive ways. This way, you’ll have no wrapping paper waste to deal with.

Ask for better paper. Shops store what customers want, and recyclability should be a top priority, so let that be known when you’re out shopping. As explained by Simon Ellin, CEO of the Recycling Association, a trade body that represents about 90 waste management companies and paper merchants in the United Kingdom, “It’s a campaign we’ve been on all year — do you really need to design a non-paper wrapping paper? Make paper with recycling in mind!”     5    

【推荐3】Establishing healthy boundaries with yourself will help you stay within your range of control and prioritize what matters most. Here are some tips.

Be honest with yourself

Behind every fancy purchase is a desire for status and recognition. You secretly want to be noticed for wearing a new watch or carrying a designer purse.     1    So before taking action towards any attempt, such as making an expensive purchase or pursuing a job promotion, ask yourself, “Who am I doing this for?”    2     However, if you are pursuing something with the hopes of attracting attention, then you need to say no to yourself.

Honor your limits

    3    Trying to please everyone makes you vulnerable (脆弱的). The truth is you have limited energy and time. It is important that you are wise with your resources. The importance of honoring your limits is highlighted by the Greek mythological story. The story is a reminder that pushing yourself too hard for too long ultimately comes at a cost.

Stop comparing yourself to others

People will engage in behaviors that trigger you. It might be tempting to enter an undeclared competition with the Joneses. This approach does not work because there is always someone out there who has more of what you desire.

Stop comparing yourself to others.     4    Focus on living a meaningful life that is consistent with your values and goals.

    5    

You are likely your worst critic. You secretly say things to yourself that you would never have the heart to tell others. Remember to have realistic expectations of yourself. When you set goals, consider whether you have set the standard at a reasonable level. If the goal is unrealistic, then you have to say no and adjust your expectations.

【推荐3】The Impossible Burger is a burger that tastes exactly like beef, but it was made using vegetables and science. There are many kinds of “veggie burgers” for vegetarians (素食者)，but this one is made for meat lovers. The company that makes this burger, Impossible Foods，wants to change the food that people eat to reduce climate change.

Scientist Celeste works on the flavor (风味) and texture (纹理) of the burger. She looks for the key points of beef its flavor, smell and look. Then those points are copied using plant based ingredients (成分)，which make the burger look and taste like blood and give it a meaty texture.

The Impossible Burger has the same nutrition as beef, without the unhealthy parts. In fact, taste, nutrition and reducing climate change were all equally important when creating the burger.

Cows are actually terrible for the environment. They need lots of land and water, and they create greenhouse gases. However, an Impossible Burger uses 95% less land, 75% less water, and creates 85-87% less greenhouse gases than a beef burger.

That's why this burger was made for meat lovers. The goal is for them to eat less meat in order to protect environment. At the same time they can still eat delicious burgers that taste like real meat.

Want to try the Impossible Burger? It can be found in Texas, Nevada, California and New York. Below are some restaurants serving it in L. A. and New York City.