【推荐2】You’re often served by young people at restaurants. But Forget Me Not Cafe in Shanghai is different.

The cafe has eight elderly employees with cognitive impairments (认知障碍) who take turns working with other waiters to help customers. They often provide basic services for guests, such as pouring water, serving and taking orders.

“The guests are also very tolerant of us, because sometimes we make mistakes,” said Zhu Caiping, one of the elderly employees at the cafe. Sometimes, they are also invited to take part in welfare activities organized by volunteers, such as baking, dancing and learning English.

“These activities are essential for me. They reactivate my brain,” the 73-year-old said. “What old people like us worry about most is that our brain stagnates (停滞) due to being inactive.”

Because of memory loss, Zhu writes down all the information she wants to remember on sticky notes, such as the names of the volunteers and the teacher as well as English words. “But I really became happy and confident because of being here,” she said.

In addition to the job opportunities for the elderly, information about cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease is posted on a board outside the restaurant to help people recognize symptoms and seek treatment as soon as possible.

Zeng Rong, a co-founder of the restaurant, said the cafe has had a great impact on elderly people with cognitive impairment.

A 58-year-old woman from Jiangsu province, whose husband brings her to the restaurant, is an example. “When she came here for the first time, she barely said a word and was indifferent. I told her that she must communicate and gave her homework every time with rewards,” Zhu said. The woman has since come to the restaurant every Friday, and after several months, her condition has improved.

“She started to comment that the food was ‘delicious’ and speak with others. Moreover, she began to hug me every time,” Zhu said.

Inspired by their kindness, many young people like to come and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the shop.

【推荐1】Nowadays, poor sleep and anxiety are common among young people, causing too much pain and even severe physical and mental problems.     1    .

Wind down

Reading a book can help slow breathing and relax muscles, while yoga stretches or even a gentle walk can reduce anxiety.     2    . Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that bathing in water of 40-42.5℃ one to two hours before bedtime was related to better sleep.

Protect the bedroom

Keep the bedroom as a place for sleep. Blackout blinds or an eye mask (眼罩) can help block out light,     3    .

Go to bed at regular times

Going to sleep and waking up at regular times — even on weekends — will strengthen your body clock. Regular mealtimes are also an important reminder for your circadian rhythm. Avoid exercise too close to bedtime, as it can cause restlessness and an elevated body temperature.

    4    

If your mind is buzzing from the day, try keeping a journal or worry book. The experts also recommend writing to-do lists for the next day in order to organize thoughts and clear the mind.

Get ahead on the next day

    5    . Choose your clothes for the next day when you reach for your pyjamas or pack your bag while brushing your teeth.

Some habits will help you more than others, but when all of them are combined, the real magic happens.

【推荐2】Protecting Your Eyes During Computer Use

Sit far enough away from the screen.    1    .To make sure your computer is positioned right, try the high-five test: if you can properly high-five your computer screen with a full arm extension, you’re sitting too close.

Position reference materials properly. If they're too low, your eyes will have to refocus every time you glance at them, leading to eye tiredness. You can also strain (损伤) your neck by moving it to look down too often.    2    

Blink (眨眼) often. We naturally blink about 20 times every minute.    3    .This means your eyes are at much greater risk of drying out when working on the computer. Since your body won’t blink as much naturally, you’ll have to be conscious of this and force yourself to blink. Deliberately blink every five seconds or so.

    4    .Your screen should be brightened in relation to your environment. If you’re working in a brightly lit room, you can increase your brightness settings; if the room is dim, lower the settings. While the screen should be the brightest object in the room, it shouldn’t be on the brightest setting in a darkroom.

Reduce glare from your screen. Surrounding lights can reflect off your screen and strain your eyes. Keep your computer screen clean. Dust on your screen can further reflect light into your eyes. Dust your screen on a regular basis with either a specialized cleaning cloth or spray.    5    .The sun’s rays will reflect off the screen and back into your eyes. If this is unavoidable, cover the window with a sheet to help reduce the glare.