【推荐1】As fall approaches, like many of us who either follow an academic calendar for our work or have children in school, I’m preparing for a significant change in my schedule. As I anticipate more demands on my time, I reflect on how to maintain some sense of balance in my life.     1    

First of all, it is sensible to think small. We often feel like our values-based actions need to take a significant amount of time.     2     Look over the areas that you are having trouble fitting into your life. Is there a way to engage in a small part daily or weekly? Maybe instead of 90 minutes of yoga, you can do a few poses in the morning or stretch during work break.

    3     A good friend of mine often sets up calls with me while she is taking her daily walks. She still gets her exercise and her time outside, and we also get to connect. Doing housework as a family can help parents have valued family time while still keeping their homes running smoothly.

As we know, life is messy and ever-changing. It’s also important to pay attention while we are doing the actions that matter to us. It can be easy to think of the areas we aren’t engaged in.     4     Bringing mindfulness to our actions makes them more rewarding.

One more thing that needs to be added is the fact that no matter how much attention we bring to balancing our lives, we will unavoidably fall out of balance again.     5     Please be gentle with ourselves. And it may be helpful to think of the saying, “Fall down seven times; get up eight.”

【推荐2】Focus, or concentration, is a skill that can be taught.     1     Start with easy exercises like staring at a picture on the wall for a few minutes without moving or talking to anyone. Once you learn how to block out your surroundings, your focus will improve.

    2     This is when you picture yourself in a desired situation, and then you work around your picture. Actors do this a lot to block out laughter, noise, or other distractions. An example of this would be to imagine yourself in a potentially stressful situation, like a singer in a concert. Try to play out the scene in your mind what you would do if different scenarios were to happen.

If this sounds a little strange to you, you could try another strategy. Why not make lists. Make a list for the things you need to accomplish for the morning, another for the afternoon, and finally, another list for the evening.     3    

Another way to improve your focus is to take breaks. If you are working in an office, you are allowed coffee breaks. Use this time wisely. Don’t spend it with your co-workers beside the coffee machine talking about problems in the office. Your breaks should be as quiet as possible.     4     Go and do anything that will give your brain a rest.

The reason why we lose focus so easily is because we have too much on our minds.     5     A good balance between a too relaxed brain and an overly active brain are both undesirable situations to be in.

【推荐3】Creativity is all about finding new ways of solving problems. If you’ve ever wanted to increase your creativity, these tips can help.

The first step to increase creativity is to devote yourself to developing your creative abilities. Do not put off your efforts.     1     For example, if you are interested in painting, schedule time regularly to learn and practice your skills.

    2     By having a rich understanding of the topic, you will be better able to think of innovative solutions to problems.

The next time you meet a problem, try looking for a variety of solutions. Instead of simply going with the first idea you have, take the time to think of other possible ways to solve the problem.     3    

When it comes to building your creative skills, you must be willing to take risks to improve your abilities.     4    , you will still be improving your creative talents and building skills that will serve you well in the future. For example, sharing your work in a creative writing course might feel frightening, but the comments you receive from classmates and teachers can be valuable.

Never expect creativity to just happen. Look for new sources of inspiration that will give you fresh ideas and motivate you to get unique answers to questions. Read a book, visit a museum, listen to your favorite music or engage in a lively debate with a friend.