1 . With gas prices rising and airport security lines snaking longer than ever, why not book your next domestic vacation on a train? Compared to other alternatives, it’s comfortable and relaxing. Here is some advice on how to make a trip by rail as pleasant as possible.

Plan ahead. Most long-distance trains, especially the sleeping car accommodations, sell out very quickly.     1     But no matter when you travel, it’s a good idea to make your reservations at least 90 days in advance.

Use a travel agent. Consider turning your travel plan over to a travel agent and letting him double-check all the details, make suggestions, and then handle the actual reservations. A good one can sometimes find you discounted tickets.     2     Then you won’t have to walk through several cars on a moving train three times a day for your meals.

Bring a blanket. When you’re riding on trains, you won’t be provided with a blanket for free, even if your trip is an overnight one.     3     In the summer in particular, the air conditioning can make them quite cold.

Arrive early. Most trains operate just once a day and some run only three times a week, so missing yours can be a disaster.     4     Note: The times listed on the schedules are departure times, not arrival times.

Have fun.     5     Read a book, knit, do a crossword puzzle, or simply watch the world unfold outside the window. To calculate your speed as you do, divide 3,600(the number of seconds in an hour)by the number of seconds it takes you to travel one mile(the distance between two mileposts). If it takes the train 53 seconds to travel one mile, you’re going 67.92 mph.

2 . Work from Anywhere Movement

For a lot of us, working from wherever we wanted was a bit of a dream. It would mean we’d be able to visit family and not take holiday days. But suddenly that “dream” of not working in the office became a reality for many. Working from home over the last years has proven that it isn’t always necessary for teams to physically be together and there is more flexibility.     1    

An obvious benefit for many employers is reduced costs. With a widespread workforce, there’s no need to have an office big enough for everyone. They also save on travel costs, as meetings that once “needed” to be done face-to-face can now be done online.     2     With the work from anywhere movement, employers can hire global talents. They’re not restricted to people living nearby.

    3     In an ever changing and developing working world, offering benefits like this could be what makes a company stand out from another for a specific candidate.

For many employees, working from anywhere supports mental health.     4     Imagine ending a particularly stressful meeting. Rather than going back to your office desk, you step out your door and have a coffee in the sun or walk along a beach. In Addition, working from anywhere allows you to have a better work-life balance. It lets you travel to see family, watch your daughter’s soccer game, and go to the little bakery—all while being paid.     5    

4 . Being fit and healthy doesn’t mean you have to work out for hours a day and eat nothing but chicken and vegetables for every meal.     1     The following are some of them.

You always complain you are too busy to go to the gym or to prepare a healthy meal.     2     You should start to put your health and fitness in the first place today. You can work out in the park and cook your favourite food after work. What you should do first is stop making excuses all the time.

You should walk more instead of driving a car when going out. The key to lifelong fitness is to simply be more active and walk more every day. Try your best to walk whenever and wherever you can —to the superstore, to the office, or go for an after-dinner walk with your family.     3    

Instead of always going to the movies or watching TV, you should take part in activities that keep you moving. You can go for a bike ride, go on a hike, or go to play sports with your family and friends, such as ping-pong and basketball.     4     Not only will you get moving, but also you will have fun.

    5     Many people underestimate the importance of a good night’s rest, but having a good rest each night is important for your health. Therefore, try to sleep seven to eight hours a night on a regular basis.

5 . Steps to Take to Become a Morning Person

The secret to becoming a morning person is exposure to bright light, says Jennifer Martin, president of the board of directors for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. That’s because light suppresses melatonin, a hormone that plays an important role in circadian rhythm.     1    

    2     You could force yourself to get up at your desired time every day, knowing that you’ll feel tired during the transition but will naturally start falling asleep earlier within a few weeks. But for some people — like those who need to drive long distances — those first few days of exhaustion from switching to a new schedule aren’t safe. In that case, Martin recommends gradually easing into the early-bird life. “What I’ll suggest to people is to shift half an hour, wait a few days, shift another half an hour, wait a few days, and then shift another half an hour,” she says.

A consistent bedtime isn’t as crucial as sticking to the same wake up time every day, but it’s still important to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Most people should aim for at least seven hours a night — so you’ll probably need to inch your bedtime forward as you transition to a new schedule. Starting at least an hour before you hit the sack, cut back on how much exposure to bright light you’re getting, experts advise.     4    

    5       “Now is the time to go buy your favorite coffee or pick up some pastries to have when your alarm goes off at 5 a. m.,” she says. “You’re not dreading it if you think of that.”

8 . How to deal with stress at school

Stress is part of students’ life. While some stress can help inspire them to get work done, too much stress can cause problems with health, sleep and brain function. Now when you feel your stress building up inside, how can you manage it?     1    .

Work out your own learning ways

Students learn in different ways and have different learning styles. Some do homework all at once, while others need to take some breaks.     2    . However, other students remember well in the evening. So work out your best learning ways and you’ll feel relaxed.

Stay healthy and get enough sleep

    3    . As a result, their performance in school and work can suffer. Exercising, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep do good to school performance. When you take care of yourself, you just feel better!

    4    

Share your problems and how you are feeling and dealing with a parent, friend, teacher, or doctor. When you talk your stress out with some friends, chances are that some of them are going through the same thing and they might have some ideas to share. Besides, it helps to know you’re not alone.

Give yourself a break

You should feel good about taking break.     5     Some people find that quiet activities like reading a book or watching TV are the best way to relax. Others prefer more active breaks: working on personal projects, exercising like yoga or Tai Chi, Listening to music or spending time outdoors.

9 . When you’re meeting someone new, concentrate your full attention on him.     1     Instead, look the person in the eye, shake hands, and listen carefully to his whole name as it’s said.

Speak the name back to the person in the form of a question. “Hi, I’m Katherine. I’m sorry, did you say Don or Dom?” Or “Robert, is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Katherine.”     2     Thus, by repeating the name this way, you’re increasing your chances of remembering it. To up the odds even more, try working in another question if possible: “Are you Stephen with a ‘ph’ or a ‘v’?” “Ty...Is that short for Tyler?”

    3     If your new acquaintance goes by Bill, make quick mental associations with famous people named Bill, relatives named Bill, or any other kind of bill. Creating mental connections and supporting them with a statement said aloud further cements the name in your memory. 

After repeating the name and then commenting on it, use it once or twice more in conversation. Do this either by addressing the person directly or referring to him while speaking to someone else (“Hey, Jim! Bill and I were just talking about that new Brad Pitt movie!”)     4     Be careful not to overuse the name, though, since that can come off as awkward or insincere. 

Using a person’s name is a key to opening doors for you and to maintaining an initial rapport(和谐的关系) that could make this person a new friend for life or a lifelong business partner.     5    

10 . What’s better: private school vs public school? Choosing which school to send your children to can be a very hard decision to make.     1    

Ask about testing scores. Students at private schools tend to outscore public school students on standardized tests, which can affect your child’s ability to get into college.     2     Researchers have used the same data to come to conflicting conclusions. Other factors like socioeconomic status, can influence student’s scores, regardless of where they are educated.

    3     In general, public schools tend to have larger class sizes than private schools. If you need a school that can give more attention to individual students, you might consider a private school or a smaller public school.

Tour the school. Before you even begin to choose between a public or private one, you’ll need to schedule a tour of the school you’re interested in. Do the students look happy and engaged? Are the learning spaces bright and clean?     4     Taking your children along gives the them chance to see the school and decide if it feels like a comfortable environment to them.

Don’t put too much stock in online ratings.     5     But they could also have fantastic teachers and principals. Talking to others help you figure out if this is true. Therefore, don’t write a school off just because its ratings are a little low.

In a word, knowing what matters to you in terms of the differences between public and private education can make your decision a little easier.