3 . Tai chi is known to increase flexibility and improve balance. Now, new research suggests it’s better than more vigorous aerobic (有氧的) exercise for lowering blood pressure in people with prehypertension (高血压前期).

In the new study, researchers in China randomly assigned 342 adults with prehypertension to one of two groups. The average age of participants was 49. Roughly half the people participated in guided aerobic exercise, including jogging, climbing stairs, and cycling. The other half was trained to practice tai chi. Both groups got hour-long sessions four times a week.

After 12 months, those in the tai chi group saw bigger drops in their blood pressure than those in the aerobic exercise group. What’s more, nearly 22% of the people who practiced tai chi saw their blood pressure fall to within normal range, compared with nearly 16% of people in the aerobic exercise group. And fewer patients in the tai chi group went on to develop hypertension than in the aerobic exercise group.

So how does tai chi help lower blood pressure? “The practice tends to stimulate more of a response from the Parasympathetic Nervous System (副交感神经系统) or PNS for short.” says Ruth Taylor-Piliae, a professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing. The PNS is the network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger.

“The PNS helps us relax everything, and I think it is the response that is lowering blood pressure,” says Ruth Taylor-Piliae, “I think it’s also the meditative quality of tai chi.”

The practice is appealing as a form of exercise because it requires little space or equipment. “I think the beauty of tai chi is that you don’t have to own a special gym membership; you don’t have to buy special clothing,” Ruth Taylor-Piliae says. “Once you learn tai chi, you can do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere. And it does provide that calming, relaxing effect.”

6 . The most obvious dog fetish (迷恋) today is the longing for cuteness. Almost every day you can see adorable pictures of dogs and other animals that will make you smile and say, "How cute!"

It is a cultural phenomenon that the media scholar James Meese calls the "cute economy" which exists primarily on social media, is user-generated, and is heavily dominated by pictures of animals, especially pets. The goal is to generate a positive response, probably followed by a tap on the screen to "like" and "share". We can click through image after image of cute animals doing cute things, feeling a little boost of good cheer.

The marketing researchers have identified some of the most common categories of cuteness in online pet content: animals doing silly things; animals of extreme size; animals with unusual looks; and animals behaving in ways that seem human-like. Dogs and other animals in the "cute economy" are often further humanized by being dressed in clothing and accessorized (装饰) with hats, jewellery, nail polish and fur dyed a rainbow of colors. Users who post successfully and with some strategies can make money by doing so. Thus, certain dogs have become cuteness celebrities, with millions of devoted followers and paid content from advertisers.

Unfortunately, the price of the "cute economy" comes at a serious cost. The cutest and most popular breeds tend to be those with the most significant risk of health and behavioral problems. Cuteness is often coupled with their discomfort. People are drawn to the cuteness of dogs with extremely foreshortened skulls and extremely short legs and awkwardly long bodies, such as the French bulldog and the corgi

Actually, there are well-established health issues. We should treat the "cute economy" with caution, like resisting the commodification (商品化) of appearance by opting out of social media channels promoting the "cute economy". We can also choose not to "like" or "share" images of dogs whose cuteness is linked with discomfort. Although we are biologically attracted to dogs that are super cute, we should be mindful in our "impulses".

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

    1    

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. The reality is that you are not being recognized.So before taking action towards any endeavor, 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

You can’t be everything for everyone. Trying to please everyone makes you vulnerable.     3    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. What someone is doing with their life has nothing to do with you. Focus on living a meaningful life that is consistent with your values and goals.

    4    

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.     5    If the goal is unrealistic,  then you have to say no and adjust your expectations.

8 . Teachers at an Atlanta elementary school hold a mirror up while students shout positive affirmations to themselves. “We live in a tough neighborhood in Atlanta. It’s good to plant those seeds here,”   a teacher said.

In a video that recently went viral, fourth graders at Gideons Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia lined up to shout positive affirmations to themselves in a mirror while their teachers cheered them on.

“The idea came from something I practice with my 5-year-old daughter,” said Neffiteria Acker, the teacher seen in the video holding the mirror. “When we’re on our way to school, I have her repeat affirmations to me, starting with, ‘I am.’ Usually, I just ask her to tell me something good about herself. She’ll say, ‘I’m a fast eater,’ or, ‘I’m a fast runner.’ Then I’ll add to it, ‘You’re also really brave.”

“It lifts her confidence. So, I thought, ‘Why not bring that to the classroom?” she added.

Cierra Levay Broadway, the teacher who filmed the video, said she was moved while watching the students shout their affirmations. “It was an amazing moment,” she said. “I was really astonished when I saw the kids and heard what they were saying. For a lot of them, it was the first time they’d ever done that.”

The teachers understand the importance of building self-confidence at a young age, especially for students who do not have such an opportunity at home.

“In our neighborhood the kids hear a lot of negative things about themselves. So, a seed of self-love is the best seed to plant, and all Broadway and I have to do is water it,” Acker said.

9 . Schools need to give students all the tools they need to navigate the world when they graduate. Besides teaching the basics of reading, writing, and arithmatic, teaching about mindfullness, and mental health are important life skills for young people to have. The state of Florida agrees.

Now, public schools in Florida have been required to teach five or more hours about mental health for students in grades 6-12. This new directive was approved by the Florida Board of Education in July and is being carried out as a potential lifesaver.

The new curriculum requires students to learn about the symptoms of mental illness and where to find help if they are feeling depressed or have other issues and even teaches the adolescents how to help their friends and classmates if they see them struggling.

“We know that 50 percent of all mental illness cases begin by age 14, so we are being active in our commitment to provide our kids with the necessary tools to see them through their successes and challenges. Providing mental health instruction is another important step forward in supporting our families,” Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said.

Florida is the third state, following New York and Virginia in 2020, to pass laws that require mental health education in schools. According to CNN, the New York law updated the health curriculum to include mental health for elementary, middle and high school students. The Virginia law required that mental health education be provided for 9th and 10th graders.

These three states in the US are taking bold steps to help youth deal with the intricacy of life as they grow from adolescents into adults. It is a confusing world they face and giving them the tools to navigate it safely is essential. Mental health is something that should be taught in schools in all the US and across the globe.

10 . Robots are known as the future of technology. Robotics technology has just landed in the workplace and there is a lot of work to do. Below we'll discuss some of the best and most advanced robots ever made by humans.

Asimo   

The primary focus of the robot is to help people. Asimo travels all around the world, making people aware how robots can make life easier and help humans. It can dance, run, and even kick a soccer ball. The robot can communicate with people in three different languages including Japanese, Chinese and English.

Created by: Honda (Japan)

Sophia

It is a realistic example of a perfect robot because it has about 50 different facial expressions just like humans. Sophia is primarily designed for education, research and entertainment. It travels throughout the world explaining to people the importance of robots in human life.

Created by: Hanson Robotics (Hong Kong, China)

Atlas

Its body shape is so dynamic that it can use its all body skills to move quickly and balance itself on diverse terrains (地形). The robot is capable of performing many different tasks. Its advanced AI systems make it capable of seeing barriers and negotiating through diverse terrains.

Created by: Boston Dynamics (United States)

Spot

Spot is an animal robot, or say a dog robot, because it looks very similar to a dog. Spot can search around your office, home, playground etc. as a normal dog usually does. Spot has some outstanding functions like it can map your environment, sense barriers, lift packages and more.

Created by: Boston Dynamics (United States)