1 . When attending holiday parties, we are eager to help our hosts in the kitchen, with food and drink service, and with post-party cleanup, which sometimes causes more trouble and stress for a host.     1     Here’s what professional event planners recommend.

Be sure to respond in a timely manner.     2     If the invitation asks you to respond, do so well before the host has to reach out to confirm your attendance. Hosts who don’t want their guests to help out during the party can hint that all has been taken care of right on the invitation.

    3     Asking a host if you can assist on the event date can be overwhelming, but extending that offer while the host is still planning the party and putting the details together may prove more useful. If you are someone who loves to help, contact the host in advance and offer your assistance.     4    

Don’t show up early. Respect the event’s start time and arrive on time or 5 minutes later than the time on the invitation. If the invitation says 7:15 pm, guests should arrive between 7:15 and 7:20.

When the party is over, don’t stay. At the end of the evening, you can make one last offer to help the host tidy up the space. But if they refuse, don’t insist.     5     So it’s the guest’s responsibility to leave at an appropriate hour.

2 . Research confirms that practicing mindfulness reduces stress.     1    . Here are some mindfulness activities that will surely benefit you!

Mindful breathing

Breathing is something we do every day, but most often without thinking about it. In fact, it is quite worthwhile to try mindful breathing. Take a slow breath in through your nose, breathing into your lower belly.     2    . Exhale slowly through the mouth, and wait a few seconds before taking another breath. Do you feel calmer? If so, this exercise works for you.

Body scan meditation (冥想)

The body scan meditation helps you focus your awareness on each part of your body. You may start by sitting or lying down and then close your eyes. Start at the top of your body and ask yourself what sensations you feel in this part of your body. Turn your attention down to your shoulders and upper back, then your chest and belly. Continue the process down your body and finish at your feet. During your body scan meditation, try not to label or judge any of your sensations.     3    .

Mindful eating

Too often we finish our meal without truly tasting or enjoying what we have eaten.     4    . Before putting it in your mouth, close your eyes, breathe in the scent, and feel the texture (质地) of the surface. Then take a small bite, and another slowly, until it is finished, focusing on the taste and the feel of the food in your mouth.

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According to research, gratitude is associated with happiness. Practice observing and giving thanks to the seemingly insignificant occurrences in your life that deserve recognition: the parent who cooks your favorite meal, the friend who offers to help you with homework you are struggling with, etc.

3 . Self-discipline can be difficult to develop, but it is worth the effort. It makes life easier and more enjoyable by helping you achieve your goals and manage stress. For enhanced self-discipline, try these tips.

Practice delayed satisfaction. Delayed satisfaction is the ability to choose to do something that will benefit you in the long term, even if it means giving up something more immediate. This is a great way to improve your self-discipline.     1    .

Focus on one thing at a time. When you have multiple things on your plate, it can be hard to stay focused. To build up self-discipline, you must resist the urge to do everything at once.     2    . This will help you stay on track and complete your tasks without feeling overpressured.

Repetition and consistency are key.     3     The more you use it, the more effective it becomes. When you are trying to develop self-discipline in one area of your life, start slowly and gradually increase your efforts over time.

Celebrate your successes. Every time you achieve a goal or make a change, celebrate the fact that you have made progress.     4    , so don’t be too hard on yourself when it feels like nothing is happening. Rewarding yourself for even small achievements can help you feel good about yourself and encourage you to keep going.

Surround yourself with supportive people. It’s easier to develop self-discipline if you are around people who believe in your ability to succeed. Being around negative people can prevent you from seeing the value of discipline and the possibility of success.     5    , which will encourage and motivate you to keep pushing through tough times.

5 . In the busy and fast-paced world we live in today, keeping a healthy eating routine within changing schedules and various family preferences can seem like an huge challenge. Below are some tips to help establish a balanced and healthy approach to eating in today’s family life.

Mindfulness transforms eating into a nurturing (养育) practice, encouraging a deep connect ion with how food affects your body and mood. When you eat, take the time to really notice your food — eat slowly and without distractions.     1     It also leads to more fulfilling and healthful eating experiences, regardless of what is going on around you.

Consider establishing guidelines that encourage eating without distractions such as TVs, phones or other electronic devices. These guidelines will help everyone at the table to fully engage with their food and with each other. This practice not only promote the enjoyment of meals but also support healthier eating habits by focusing attention on the meal and the company, enriching the shared experience.

Finding a common mealtime can be challenging due to varying schedules.     3     If you’re hungry earlier, empower (授权) yourself to eat when you feel the need. There’s beauty in flexibility; you can still share quality time with loved ones by sitting together at the table when they eat, even if you’re not eating yourself.     4     It’s about finding balance between personal nutrition needs and family well-being.

Creating an environment that celebrates healthy eating involves everyone in the household. Discuss preferences openly and plan meals that are inclusive, ensuring that each person feels valued. Shared meal preparation becomes a moment for bonding and respect for individual health goals.     5    

7 . Soft skills can make a huge difference to your life. They include being a good listener, working with other people and showing a positive attitude.     1     Happy and successful people are likely to have most, if not all, of the soft skills listed below.

    2     Being able to work harmoniously in a team is a skill of vital importance. Whether you work in a factory or an office, it’s certain that you are part of a team. You must learn how to get on with others. If you’re a team leader, you must also know how to motivate and inspire your members.

Work for the ideal work-life balance.     3     In fact, those who are crazy about earning money are often far from happy. For most things in this world, balance is the key. It is understandable that you want to work hard and earn a lot of money at the same time. But just ensure that you leave enough time and energy to enjoy the rewards.

See the best in others. Ask yourself if you have this quality. Many people don’t have it. However, having this skill is awesome. Seeing the best in others means that you can help them develop to the best of their potential.     4    

Have the eagerness to learn. Where would we be without learning? From our birth to adulthood, we constantly learn new things.     5     And they often complain that they have difficulty adapting to the changes in their lives. So to stay young, happy and satisfied, renew your enthusiasm for learning.

10 . Most of the time, we human beings are so unwilling to change that we completely ignore its beauty. I don’t get it, why?    1    I believe change is the most beautiful thing an individual can seek after.

As people connect changes with something beneficial, we all claim to believe in change being good, yet so many of us aggressively oppose it. And why? Because of familiarity.    2    

Even for those of us who say we love change, it’s hard to accept and adapt. However, sometimes change can be a frightening thing. There’s no denying that life is unpredictable and more often than not, we’re forced to make a change we didn’t really prepare for or expect. We lose jobs, we lose people, we move to another country or we find ourselves in unfavorable circumstances that we weren’t taught how to handle.    3    

Life is full of unavoidable changes. How can you develop personally and expect to stay in the same place?    4    When you start growing, you’ll notice changes in your surroundings. You’ll notice changes in your friends’ group. You’ll notice changes even in your preferences. Nothing stays the same if you want to grow as an individual.

Even though change may be painful and so hard sometimes, it’s still better than the pain of feeling powerless as you watch your dreams pass you by. Don’t be afraid of change. Embrace (拥抱) it with open arms.    5    I genuinely believe that life is too short to stay in the same place or in the same rigid mindset!