【推荐1】Self-criticism (自我批评) is a mental habit of negatively analyzing and judging ourselves and our actions. If we don’t find a way to overcome self-criticism, we won’t be able to live a happy and satisfying life.     1    .

Thought stopping is one of the best secrets of how to overcome self-criticism. Interrupting your thoughts helps you change how you think about yourself, thus helping you feel better.     2    . However, with enough practice, you will make it.

Another strategy is to replace negative self-critical thoughts with positive realistic statements. For instance, if you set a goal, be realistic about it by giving yourself enough time to achieve it. In fact, having a constant desire to achieve immediate success can ruin your confidence.

Another secret is to let go of the need to be perfect. It’s all right to set high standards for yourself.     4    . In addition, desiring to be perfect in everything you pursue can prevent your progress.

    5    . However, it’s important to note that comparing yourself to your peers, friends, or family can increase dissatisfaction and unhappiness. That said, the best tip on how to overcome self-criticism is to practice self-acceptance.

【推荐2】Four Simple Ways to Save Money

Saving is easier when you have a plan-follow these steps to create one. Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started.     1    . Therefore, you can save for all your short-and long-term goals.

Record your expenses.

The first step to start saving money is figuring out how much you spend.     2    . That means every coffee, household item and cash tip as well as regular monthly bills. Record your expenses however easy it is for you-a pencil and paper, a simple spreadsheet or a free online spending tracker or app.

Include saving in your budget.

    3    . Your budget should show how your expenses are relative to your income, so that you can plan your spending and limit overspending. Be sure to factor in expenses that occur regularly but not every month, such as car maintenance. Include a savings category in your budget and aim to save an amount that initially feels comfortable to you.

Find ways to cut spending.

If you can’t save as much as you’d like, it might be time to cut back on expenses. Identify unnecessary things, such as entertainment and dining out, which you can spend less on. Look for ways to save on your fixed monthly expenses, such as your car insurance or cell phone plan, as well.    4    .

    5    

One of the best ways to save money is to set an objective. Start by thinking about what you might want to save for-both in the short term (one to three years)and the long term (four or more years). Then estimate how much money you’ll need and how long it might take you to save it.

【推荐3】J.K. Rowling to Release New Children’s Book “The Ickabog”

J.K. Rowling is making her return to children's literature for a good cause. In a blog post published on her website Tuesday, the author announced that she will release a new story called The Ickabog, releasing new chapters weekly to help distract children in lockdown as a result of the novel coronavirus.

The author explained that she formulated(构想出) the idea for her new story while writing Harry Potter, and had the intent of publishing it after releasing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — the new story is not connected to Potter.

“Over time I came to think of it as a story that belonged to my two younger children, because I’d read it to them in the evenings when they were little, which has always been a happy family memory,” she wrote. However, amid the novel coronavirus, the author decided she wanted to publish her story free, “for children in lockdown.”

She will post new chapters every weekday between May 26 and July 10 on the Ickabog website. The Ickabog will be published in November 2020 in English in print, eBook and audio book formats.

Hoping to offer some relief to those affected by the pandemic, Rowling announced that, when the book is published, she will donate all author royalties(版税) to those impacted by the virus crisis.

【推荐1】Exercise has an undeniable link to the development of better bodies. A recent study conducted by University of Delaware researchers found that speech-language therapy (疗法) improves children’s vocabulary growth. The study, which was published in the journal Journal of Speech-Language and Hearing Research, highlights one of the first studies on the impact of exercise on vocabulary learning in children.

Children ages 6 to 12 were taught new words before doing one of three things: swimming, CrossFit exercises, or coloring a sheet. In follow-up tests of vocabulary words, the children who swam were 13% more accurate.

It makes sense to the lead researcher, Maddy Pruitt, a former college swimmer who now attends CrossFit classes on a regular basis. "Motor movement aids in the encoding (编码) of new words, "she explained, adding that exercise has been shown to increase levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (脑源性神经营养素), a protein Pruitt refers to as the “Miracle-Gro for the brain”.

So, why did swimming make a difference but CrossFit didn’t? Pruitt attributes it to the amount of energy required by the brain during each exercise. Swimming is an activity that children can do without much thought or instruction. While the CrossFit exercises were new to them, it was more automatic. The children had to learn the moves, which took mental energy.

“We were very excited about this study because it is applicable to clinicians, caregivers, and educators who can put it into practice,” Pruitt said. “It’s not anything out of the ordinary. However, it has the potential to significantly improve the outcomes.”

【推荐2】Food waste produced from the Clipper Cafe in Shaldon in the United Kingdom used to be sent away to landfill, but they have found a new way to deal with it. This machine breaks down the waste in less than 24 hours — reducing the volume by up to 90% — producing a material that can be put back on the farm. The machine works by using heat and enzymes to reduce the moisture content. It’s hoped it will help the environment.

“Going to landfill is not sustainable. And it’s doing a huge amount of damage to the environment. So, we are addressing this food waste on-site where it’s produced,” said William Bedell, the machine provider. The farm and cafe are part of the same business. Much of the produce for the cafe comes from the farm. And the cafe is now sending back the leftovers. The process is quick, usually taking around 15 hours per load.

Peter French, the cafe and farm owner told the reporter, “It’s become noticeable over the years how much material goes to waste — food waste in the kitchen preparation and leftovers from table is full of nutrient that we really do need on the farm to keep the soil healthy and productive for next year’s crops.”

“It just feels right to be returning that organic matter back to the land that originally produced the food. The compost that comes out is a beautiful light, fluffy material. We will be spreading this back on the land through the spring for this year’s crops. And it’s hoped that that produce will end up back on plates in the cafe soon,” said Peter French.

【推荐3】Many retirees spend time playing games like crossword puzzles, and social games like chess. These games keep people thinking and give their brains a good workout. But can they really help improve memory?

The idea of using games that are specifically designed to brain training is very complicated, but research published in The Cambridge University Press has found that brain games certainly make people think and use acquired skills.

Brain games sharpen certain thinking skills like short-term memory decision making, planning skills, and reaction time according to Dr. Julie Brody-Magid, clinical director of the Memory Disorders Assessment Clinic at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. Many of these skills decrease as people age,especially after retirement,

“Learning to use your brain in response to other forms of stimulation can help strengthen valuable mental skills, which older people continue to need and rely on every day,” Brody-Magid said. The best way to build up cognitive (认知的) reserve is to stay physically active, especially when you age, by taking care of your health by eating right and managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, and diabetes. All of these go hand-in-hand with playing brain games.“In this way, participating in brain games actually can help with cognition, but it’s a team effort,” said Brody-Magid. “You can’t do it by doing crossword puzzles alone.”

So, if you want to mix it up and combine different types of brain boosting games, here’s a selection from Very Well Mind. Sudoku, a number placement game, relies on short-term memory and concentration. Crossword puzzles are the classic brain game that revolves around long-term memory and knowledge. You can also find them in newspapers and books. If you prefer online games, you can check out Braingle, a free site that has over 15,000 puzzles, riddles, and more. You can even create your own puzzles to get your creative juices flowing too.

So, play some brain games to exercise your brain cells and harvest all of the benefits.