2 . Moving into your own apartment is exciting, but it can sometimes take a little while to really feel settled in.     1     And many of them are inexpensive and easy to do!

Work on unpacking one room at a time if you’re just moving in. As you start to unpack boxes, work on one room at a time.     2     Arrange each room neatly, making it feel lived-in before you move on to the next one. For instance, you might set up your bedroom first, then the living room, then the kitchen and finally the bathroom.

    3     Many apartments are short on space, so you may find that you have to be very cautious when you’re planning your furniture layout. Think about how you want to use each space, then arrange the furniture to maximize the functionality of that area. For instance, if you love to have people over, you might arrange the seating in your living room so all the chairs face each other. If you spend a lot of time watching your favourite shows, your layout might be a sofa and an easy chair in front of the TV.

Light scented (香薰的) candles to make your apartment smell more like home.     4     Lighting a candle in your apartment can change the feel almost instantly, especially if you choose a candle that smells like baked goods, warm vanilla, sandalwood, or leather. Or, if there was a certain candle you loved at your last place, you could light that, instead.

Hang art and photos that reflect your style throughout your place. Art is the perfect way to express your personal style, so search thrift stores, secondhand shops, and online stores for deals on art pieces that make you feel good. You can also display pictures of your family and friends.     5    

3 . How to Be More Present

Many people have a tendency to live in the past or the future. They constantly think about the past and worry about the future, and thus find it difficult to enjoy the good things in life in the here and now. You might unfortunately be one of these people.     1     Here are some tips that might help you.

One way to be in the present moment is by noticing your surroundings. How often do you take time out of your day to actually look around and see what’s going on? Now close your eyes and take a deep breath.     2     When you do, it’s easier to be more present in the moment.

    3     If you are constantly focused on things you don’t have, you aren’t taking the time to appreciate what you have at this moment. One way to practice gratitude is to write a list of things you are grateful for and review that list on a daily basis. Try to write at least three things you are grateful for in your life right now.

If you want to learn how to be more present, you need to let go of how you think things should be and accept them for what they are.     4     Sometimes life is going to be different than how you want it to be. Practicing acceptance will help you let go of the things in your life that are out of your control.

The kind of social support you have in your life can also play an important role. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people will increase your own positivity and happiness levels.     5    

7 . We often try to save money for a variety of different reasons. It might be to save up for a new computer or put money aside into a rainy-day fund.     1    , but a recent study showed that over half of all 22~29-year-olds living in the UK have no savings at all. Did they max out on too many things, or are there other factors? And how can we become better savers?

First, put a stop to those impulse buys.     2    , even if it is on sale or looks like a bargain. Impulse buys are done in the heat of the moment and without thought for what it’s costing you. Encouraging yourself to question your purchase before you buy allows you to process what you are doing.

    3    . Withdraw cash before you go to a restaurant or shopping and set a fixed budget you must stick to. Also, any change that comes from your transactions when you’re using cash can be put in jar and deposited into your account.

Finally, be disciplined.     4    . It’s about sticking to it, too. You shouldn’t be dipping into your savings every time you feel like it. Setting up a standing order from your current account into your savings the moment you receive your salary will ensure you keep up the habit.     5    .

Just as the old saying goes: “A penny saved is a penny earned.” These are some of the actions we can take to help us all become better savers.

8 . Maybe your days are always busy. Between work, caring for kids and handling the housework, it’s hard to find time to relax. When you get into bed, you find yourself picking up your phone and just scrolling (滚屏).    1    This behaviour is called “revenge bedtime procrastination (报复性睡前拖延症)”.

It comes from a phrase that describes the habits of workers who put off sleep to have free activities as a way to make up for long workdays.    2    Not getting enough rest affects the way you will function at work and at school the next day. In the long term, it has harmful effects on health. Here are some ways to break the cycle of bedtime procrastination.

Get out of bed and do something.

Get up and finish that thing for work. Or walk around the house and wash dishes- whatever will settle your mind.    3    Then you could go back to bed and fall asleep just fine.

    4    

Minimizing how much light gets into the bedroom promotes sleep. Consider setting up blackout curtains (遮光帘) or room-darkening shades. Cooler temperatures can also help sleep better. If you don’t want to run the air conditioner or a fan all night, try rethinking what you wear to bed.

Make a bedtime routine and stick to it.

Take a bath, change into pajamas (睡衣) and curl up (蜷曲着坐) with a book before turning out the lights. A bedtime routine helps young children relax before bed. It works just as well for adults.    5    

9 . Tips to Boost Your Self-Confidence

Learn how to say “NO”.

You need to take control of your own life and decisions. Don’t be bullied (胁迫) into doing something that’ll make you feel uncomfortable and go beyond your boundaries.    1    

Set goals for yourself.

Setting and achieving goals is one way to feel accomplished and confident. Now, this doesn’t mean your goals should be anything huge like ending world hunger or saving koala bears. If you don’t achieve any goals, you’ll feel discouraged.    2    For example, my goal is to finish this article tonight. I also have a goal to go to the gym this weekend.

Change how you see yourself.

    3    If you feel like you’re not physically attractive, you’ll avoid looking in mirrors. Changing how you see yourself, realizing your self-worth, and working on your body language, eye contact, and speech will make you more confident in yourself. We must all remember that nobody’s perfect in life.

    4    

Doing good things for someone else will make us feel good about ourselves. Try to always have an active role in volunteering or helping charities during the holidays. Being able to make a difference to someone will satisfy you inside and improve your self-image. Seeing all the change that you can do and all those who need your help will make you more grateful for the people and things in your life.

Shut down negative thoughts.

It’s about time you said goodbye to the negative voices in your head. Whenever you have a negative thought about yourself, or your career, you push yourself down a little bit more.    5    Instead of saying you can’t do this or that, tell yourself you can, and sooner or later, you’ll start believing it.

10 . Foreign universities and education have always attracted students.     1     However, there is always confusion in students’ minds. Well, this article will give you the best information about how to apply for foreign universities.

    2     Even if you aim for a particular university, you should always have your options open and apply to a minimum of three institutions, even if they are situated in varying locations.

Find out how to apply. You can apply directly through the institution’s website and submit all your documents online. Some universities may require you to send documents via post.     3    

Write your motivation letter nicely. Make sure that you write a motivation letter, if required, in the proper format and make it as unique as possible to stand out. Be honest in your explanations and experiences.

Paperwork is vital.     4     They must be legally verified (核实) as well. Do not miss any crucial documents and keep everything ready as early as possible.

Keep specific regulations in mind. Some countries have guidelines for international aspirants (有抱负的人). Many EU nations need entrance examinations, while some institutions require portolios (作品选辑) or personal interviews. Most universities in the UK only take applications via UCAS for undergraduate degrees, while universities take direct applications for postgraduate degrees or via UKPASS.     5     And contact the officers at universities well before submitting all your documents.