1 . Loving your own body is often easier said than done. Do you know that 70% of women between the ages of 18-30 dislike their bodies?     1     45% say they are dissatisfied with their bodies too. There are countless ways you can work on body positivity, and you’ll have to find out what works for you.

Think healthier, not skinnier

When you’re making meals, or when you’re hitting the gym, don’t set your fitness goals according to a number you’d like to see on the scale. Exercise and a healthy diet shouldn’t be a punishment.     2     So, instead of thinking about how much your body weighs, or how it’s shaped, think about all the amazing things it can do.

Surround yourself with positivity

Negative messages about body image are all around us. According to one study, participants who spent more time on social media were more likely to develop a negative body image and eating disorders.     3     Look for positive people, people who practice self-love, and people who will encourage you to be who you are.

Focus on the things you like about yourself

Every time a negative thought about your body pops into your mind, counter it with something positive. Try making lists of the things you like about your body. And not just how it looks, but the things it allows you to do.     4     We naturally tend to look for our dissatisfactions and overlook the good things. To break out of that way of thinking, it will take daily repetition. Just keep at it.

Stop comparing yourself to others

    5     One person is beautiful in one way, and the next person in some other way. And isn’t that how it should be? Imagine how boring it would be if there were only one way to be, and to feel, beautiful. Comparing yourself to others can leave you feeling like you don’t look the way you should, but you’re not supposed to look like someone else; you’re supposed to look like you.

4 . Would you like to put an end to slapdash (仓促的), last-minute meals? Downloading a few meal planning apps may give you more time outside the kitchen.

Many meal prep apps focus on calorie-counting and weight loss, but sometimes meal planning comes down to simply getting a delicious, satisfying meal on the table. Finding an app that will do that is key. Take a look at these top meal planning apps and decide which might work for you.

This app offers healthy recipes, grocery lists, and more. It prioritizes meals that cook in 30 minutes or so. The grocery lists are even made as good as possible to reduce the amount of time you spend at the supermarket, so the whole process, from planning to shopping to cooking, takes up less of your time.

This app allows you to move recipe ingredients (原料) to your in-app grocery list. The list is accessible to every member of the family, meaning anyone can swing by the store to shop. Once you start dinner prep, turn on Cozi’s Cooking Mode, which keeps your screen lit so you don’t have to touch it with dirty fingers. Genius!

This adorable app takes the stress out of packing lunches by getting kids involved in choosing their meals. New dietary-specific bundles ensure that every kid can use LaLa Lunchbox.

With a database of more than 350,000 recipes, this app has seasonal collections featured on its home screen to ensure you’re using the freshest in-season ingredients. Our favorite feature of BigOven? The Use Up Leftovers tool, which suggests a recipe you can make with the three ingredients you enter.

6 . 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.

8 . 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.

9 . Win an Interview with NYT Bestselling Author J. Elle

In addition to your private online Zoom interview, you will also win a print copy of her book, Wings of Ebony, a PDF copy of the book, and the chance to have your interview published in Teen Ink.

How to Enter:

1. Follow Teen Ink on Instagram(teen. ink)

2. Comment two of your potential questions for J. Elle on our contest post, or email them to contests@teenink.com

3. We will be choosing the winner based on these questions so do your best!

About the Book:

Wings of Ebony is part of YA fantasy books about a black teen goddess named Rue who must rise up against racist gods, who poisoned her block with drugs, violence, and crime. It extends a unique perspective on racism, privilege, cultural appropriation, and community.

About J. Elle:

J. Elle is a former teacher to inner-city students, and the founder of "Your Story is Your Power," a creative writing workshop that empowers teen voices. From growing up poor to being a first-generation college student, Elle's perseverance and passion for empowering others dates back to her first career in education, teaching tweens and teens from traditionally underserved areas to fight for their dreams. She drew inspiration for the novel from her own experience growing up poor, which is clearly reflected in her book.