【推荐1】Have you ever agreed to do something only to find out later that you don't have time? Are you constantly stressed from rushing from one assignment to another?     1    

Overcommitment happens when you decide to do more things than you realistically have time to do.     2     Your quality of life also suffers because overcommitment leaves you less time to take care or yourself. It's preferable to do one or two things well than to do ten things poorly.

Time management coach Elizabeth Saunders suggests creating a budget for your time like you do with money. The total amount of time you have each day equals 24 hours minus the time you need for basic activities like sleeping, eating and showering. Saunders suggests adding up your time commitments to other people and the time needed to meet your personal goals.     3    

One tool that may be helpful in avoiding overcommitment is a calendar. Schedule times for everything you need to do. But don't feel forced to fill every blank space.     4     Do your commitments actually match your priorities? Could you give up some of them or pass them off to other people? Furthermore, learning how to say “no” politely but firmly also helps with overcommitment.

I have a rule that I never immediately agree to any long-term time commitments. I always ask for some time to think.     5     Having time to think about a potential assignment gives me space to say“no”if I need to.

【推荐2】Want a relaxing but fun challenge at home?     1     Puzzles have been around for more than 250 years and the challenge of working out where each piece goes and carefully recreating the scene on the box lid can keep you busy for hours, days or even weeks.

Puzzles come in a huge range of sizes and difficulty levels. For beginners, a 100-piece puzzle is usually a good starting point.     2     Try grouping pieces with the same colors or design because they will probably go in the same area once the puzzle takes shape.

    3     Those pieces are easier to find because they have a straight side. Stay patient as you search through and try to make it fit together. You may not find any connecting pieces for ages but then several may suddenly appear.

For a real test, puzzles that have 1,000 pieces or more are a tough task and it’s best to complete them with friends or family if you can. Choosing a scene that interests you, such as a favourite film, sport or location, can help keep you interested and determined to work to the final piece. You can get fun educational puzzles, too.     4    

Some of the best places to pick up puzzles are charity shops. They’re often on sale for less than £5. Once you have completed a puzzle, it’s nice to exchange it with a friend.     5     You just upload an image, such as a family scene, and they will make a puzzle from it and post it to you. It makes lovely and unusual present.

【推荐3】Things to Do Before You Study

Many students think about how to best spend their time while studying. But what comes before study sessions can be important too, especially if you want to improve your memory of what you have learned.     1     Let's look at each of these in turn.

Exercise

Before you study, doing cardiovascular exerciser （有氧训练）may help you better remember what you learn. High- intensity exercise may be especially helpful.

In a 2018 study , researchers found that a group of young people who did 15 minutes of high—intensity training on a treadmill （跑步机）remembered more words.     2     The important idea is this： exercise is good for your memory. Even if you cannot exercise right before a study session, it is still probably a good idea to be active in general.

Location

    3    While it is good to have a desk or a special study area, some research suggests that changing where you study could help you remember more of what you study.

Our memories sometimes depend on things in our environment. For example, a book might remind you of something interesting or strange you learned while reading it.     4     You could study in your room, and then the next day you could study in the kitchen, or outside. You do not have to change locations every day, but try to at least sometimes.

Pre-study test

Students often study with a test in mind. They consider the test the final step to show how much they have learned,     5    Testing is one of the best ways to make yourself remember new information.

In 2O18» researchers found that students who took a test before learning new material did much better after studying the material. So, try to take a pre-study test You could look at some important words at the end of a chapter of an English book, for example. And you could ask yourself what they mean, or how they are used. While you might not know the answer, you will probably be better able to learn and remember the answer when you study it!