1 . Finding your next awesome read

When you read as much as we do, it can be hard to find a good new book. There are so many read out there that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the possibilities, often leading to a disappointing choice or wasted money and time. We’re here to make the process just a little bit easier. Here are five tips to find your next awesome read:

World’s famous works

If you’re looking for a popular current read, then bestseller lists are a great place to start. Usually there’s a reason that a book ends up on one of these lists, guaranteeing a high quality read. There are always the classic lists to consult, like the New York Times or USA Today, which are both reliable and constant.

Book clubs

Maybe you’re already part of a local book club, so you know how great they can be in terms of introducing you to new books you might not discover on your own. But there are also tons of online book clubs you can join, giving you an even wider access to some awesome reads. Some of these clubs are celebrity-run, like Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 or Emma Watson’s feminist book club: Our Shared Shelf.

To 100 Lists

Another way of finding a good book is to consult a top 100 lists. There are tons of them out there, from the traditional to the unusual. If you’re looking for a lot of solid classics, then try Time’s All-Time 100 Novels, which included books like On the Road and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. If you want something a little more global, then head over to thegreathooks.org for their Top 100 works in World Literature.

Goodreads

Considering the fact that part of Goodreads’ mission is to “help people find and share the books they love,” then there’s no surprise that it’s an awesome way to discover new reads. Fans, readers and authors all connect on the site, sharing review s and shelving books they’re interested in.

2 . Everyone can experience loneliness from time to time, which causes concern about our health and well-being.     1    ? There are some possible courses of action, depending on who you are and where you live. Below are some suggestions on how to fight loneliness.

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Some of us are lonely because we don’t have close relationships in our lives. But if that’s not the case for you, by all means let your friends or family know how you’re feeling and ask for support. Calling or texting can be an active way to shift your mood and help relieve loneliness.

Adopt a pet

There are many reasons to have pets.     3    . And these are especially helpful for people who may be isolated from other humans and feel lonely. One study finds that people who walk dogs are considered friendlier — something that's bound to help you connect if you’re looking to meet new people.

Try loving-kindness meditation (冥想)

Not everyone likes to engage in loving-kindness meditation. But it has been found to reduce loneliness, perhaps because it helps you to accept negative emotions more easily.     4    . Even when they are not around, loving-kindness meditation could help fight feelings of loneliness.

Count your blessings

    5    , its also possible to practice gratitude on your own and feel less lonely. In one study, older adults who were assigned a daily gratitude journaling exercise felt less lonely over time — and felt healthier, too.

3 . Loud noise can be very damaging to your hearing, whether it’s a loud burst or years of exposure. Approximately 15 percent of adults 18 years of age or older report some trouble hearing.     1     The good news is that taking action now may protect you from hearing loss later in life.

Get a baseline hearing test. Most people have never had a hearing test.     2     At your next physical, ask for a hearing test as part of your routine checkup. A hearing test gives your audiologist a baseline that they can compare with future results to monitor the progression of hearing loss.

    3     While you are watching TV or using mobile devices, keep the volume at a comfortable level. It should be loud enough to make sure you can hear very well, but not so loud that when you leave the room, you can still hear it from another part of your home.

Wear protective hearing devices. Think ear protection before you’re exposed to any noisy environment, such as rock concerts or airports. When you are in a noisy environment, wear protective hearing devices such as earplugs or protective earphones.     4    

Have proper earphones. If you often listen to music on earphones using a portable music or video device, it’s a good idea to have earphones that fit the unique shape of your ear canal, and block outside noise.     5    

4 . How to have an attractive personality

Demonstrating an attractive personality is key to making friends and having lasting relationships. These traits (特性) give you the ability to inspire and fascinate others, making others more drawn to you as a result.

Listen to others.     1     Instead of responding to a text, opening an email, or thinking about your next meal, pay attention to what the other person is saying. Show them you’re listening and interested by commenting on the story or asking questions.

Speak sincerely. No one likes to be cheated.     2     If you can’t commit to something, it’s better to be honest about it than to have to tell them at the last minute that you can’t make it. When people ask for your opinion, you should be honest.

    3     You should always say what you believe in, be willing to take risks, and have the ability to admit your mistake without being worried about what other people will think. Doing this shows that you have self-confidence. This helps create an attractive personality.

Know “how” vs “what”. How you say things is arguably more important than what you say. If you try to give someone a genuine compliment, but he or she thinks you say it with a sarcastic undertone, your compliment won’t mean a thing.     4     If you notice that people often take things you say the wrong way, there’s a good chance you can change how you speak. Ask your friends to make you aware of the way you’re coming across.

Show enthusiasm for everything. Even if something makes you slightly uncomfortable, handle it with a smile on your face, an open mind, and a sense of humor. Not every day is going to be perfect, but being enthusiastic can help you accomplish anything.     5    

5 . Cooking skills are abilities that allow you to cook safely and effectively.     1    , there are also professional skills for cooks that allow you to perform in ways that appeal to customers and impress employers. Here are some ways to improve your cooking skills for your career.

Attend classes or pursue a degree

    2    , consider attending cooking classes or pursuing a degree in cooking. Attending classes or completing coursework with others can help you practice many skills like cleanliness and teamwork, and you can learn cooking techniques that may appeal to employers.

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Learning from others is a great way to understand how cooks work with different types of cuisine and what employers might expect from you in the food service industry. While learning from a colleague who is as skilled as you is a useful method for improving your skills, it’s also valuable to find an experienced mentor (导师) to teach you how to behave in a kitchen and develop your strengths.

Gain experience

To improve your cooking skills, you can work in a professional environment. Performing work gives you the opportunity to gain experience and see in what areas you can improve to be more successful in your role.     4    .

Ask for feedback (反馈)

Asking for feedback can give you valuable information about what you do well and which abilities you can improve.     5    . That’s because they know more about your typical behavior in a professional kitchen. However, mentors who help you train or teach you in class can also be a good source of feedback.

6 . Simple Yet Amazing Ways to Be Wiser

Wisdom is a wonderful fruit of experience, knowledge and good judgement, which actually allows us to conquer the demands of today’s difficult and challenging world.     1    . Here are some strategies that you can follow to get wiser.

    2    , so you must develop a thirst for knowledge. Take new classes, read books, listen toeducational podcasts, and the list goes on and on. If something confuses you, surf the Internet and clear out your problems. All of these activities will strengthen your critical-thinking skills, finally helping you tackle a problem smoothly.

Why not have wise people, such as your teachers and colleagues as your mentors(导师) to make yourself better? Engage in useful dialog with them. The more time you spend with them, the more transfer of knowledge there will be. Be immersed in their knowledge as much as you can, and you won’t regret it!

Be willing to accept different views and observe the world from different angles. Never base your perspective on the most popular opinion or what is the most familiar to you.     4    .

People who tend to listen to their hearts are good at making decisions than people who only listen to their minds.     5    , but gut also counts and people mostly ignore that. Whenever a certain situation occurs, check how you react and then go with your gut.

7 . You might worry that you won’t fit in or make many friends when you come to middle school. It’s totally normal to feel some anxiety about new social situations and friendships. The fact is, you’re not alone.     1    . Here are some tips that help.

Give yourself an introduction tour to meet new friends

While it’s always comfortable to hang out with people you already know, being open and friendly to students you haven’t met before is how you make new friends.     2    . If you seem approachable, other kids will be more open to meeting you.

Lean into kindness

Not everyone is going to be their best self all the time. People will annoy you or even be downright mean once in a while. The trick here is to lean into kindness.     3    . You know who you are, and you know how to be kind even when you might not feel like it.

Hobby up

    4    . You may turn to enjoying more grown-up activities. This is your chance to explore new interests. Middle schools usually offer tons of extracurricular activities based on nearly anything you’re into. Joining a club or other after-school activities or sports can help you make new friends.

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Try to keep a positive attitude , including body language and facial expressions. If someone you don’t know introduces themselves, start up a conversation. Invite someone who is sitting alone to join you for lunch or ask someone with a common interest to join a club you like.

9 . Many people want to grow their own food in their own backyard, but they don’t know how to start. This article will teach you how to start!

Find out what plants to get. Get plants that can grow in your area, and make sure you plant them at the right time of the year.     1     Usually you should start your garden after the last frost date in the spring t While they’re technically fruits, a good starter plant to grow is tomatoes. You can plant these in a pot or in your garden.

    2    Make sure there is enough space to grow your plants. Use a tiller (犁) and till the whole space you will be gardening. Then pull out any weeds and move any large rocks. Find out how big your plants get and space them accordingly. If your plant needs slightly acidic (酸性的) soil, get an acid metre and make sure the soil has enough acidity.     3     To grow them well, you can buy fertilizer that can add acidity to the soil.

Buy your plants and fertilizers. You can either get seeds or get plant seedlings. Go to your local nursery and see what they have. Get fertilizer as well.     4     This will make your plants grow, better and faster!

Plant your plants in the garden. Use a hand shovel and dig a small hole big enough to put your plant in. Water your plant before you put it in so you can wet the root ball. Sprinkle(撒)in a little bit of fertilizer and put your plant in.     5    

For seeds, stick your finger into the dirt where you want to plant the seed until the dirt reaches the second joint on your finger.