My family moved several times as I grew up, so “new kid” was a name I heard often. Even now, I remember the feelings of every awkward first day of school： uncertain, nervous , out of place. When I think of those days, what sticks out are the moments when someone made me feel welcome. I realize we can create space for others with something as simple as a “Hallo”.

1. While Holding the Door

This might seem like a small act, but has the power to cause a ripple effect.【小题1】 However they are feeling, this act of kindness can throw bright light on their day. Your smile and simple greeting could empower them to create joy for others.

2. In Tougher Times

If you notice someone feeling uncomfortable or out of place, create a warm and inviting space by taking the time to say hello.【小题2】It can serve as a wonderful skill throughout life.

3. At Your Coffee Shop

Lines aren't ever fun. But if you have a few extra minutes in your day and you notice someone in a hurry, let them go in front of you! This is the perfect opportunity to create space to make someone's day.【小题3】

4. In the Grocery Line

【小题4】Showing someone you care is, though! The next time you're in the grocery line, put down your phone and say hello. Chances are you'll make someone smile.

5. With an Extra Dose of Courage

Sometimes saying hello takes some courage. That's okay!【小题5】You can never know the friendship or opportunity that such a small act of courage can bring about.

Seeing the Good in Others

Many interactions these days have a kind of bumper-car (碰碰车) quality to them. At work, at home, on the telephone, or via email, we bounce off each other while we exchange information, smile or frown, and move on. 【小题1】 In fact, we’re most likely to notice the bad qualities in others rather than the good ones.

Unfortunately, if you feel surrounded by lots of bad qualities in others, you naturally feel less supported, less safe, and less likely to be generous or pursue your dreams. Plus, it functions oppositely. 【小题2】 But actually, seeing the good in others is a simple way to feel happier and more confident. Below are some useful suggestions for you.

Slow down. Step out of the bumper car and spend a few moments being curious about the good qualities in the other person. 【小题3】 Instead, you are opening your eyes, taking off the glasses of the negativity bias, and seeing what the facts really are.

See positive intentions. Recently, I was at the dentist’s, and her assistant told me a long story about her electric company. My mouth was full of cotton wads, and I didn’t feel interested. But then I started noticing her underlying aims: to put me at ease, fill the time until she could pull the cotton out, and connect with each other as people.

【小题4】 Going through school, I routinely picked last for teams in PE. Then, in my first year at UCLA, I gave intramural touch football a try. We had a great quarterback (四分卫) who was too small for college football. After one practice, he told me in passing, “You’re good, and I’m going to throw to you.” I was surprised. But this was the beginning of my realization that I was actually quite a good athlete. His recognition also made me play better, which helped our team.

See positive character traits. Unless you’re surrounded by deadbeats and sociopaths, everyone you know must have many virtues, such as determination, generosity, kindness, patience, energy, grit, honesty, fairness, or compassion. Take a moment to observe virtues in others. 【小题5】

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed,” William McRaven told the graduating class of 2014 at the University of Texas, Austin. His point is quite universal: whether you are a sailor, a salesperson or a CEO, “if you make your bed every morning, you will have completed the first task of the day.”

Everyone must battle the desire to procrastinate (拖延), or to put off, every now and again. So here are some tips for procrastinators who wish to make their lives more efficient.

The easiest way to get things finished is to get going in the first place. The reason why busy people never stop moving is that their constant movement generates further motivation. This is, obviously, easier said than done. The more unpleasant something seems, the more you think about just how awful it is. That in turn makes you less likely to start it—and so on.

In practical terms, getting going can mean something as simple as opening an email. Two decades ago, in Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, a time-management consultant, David Allen, warned readers that ”the in-basket is a processing station, not a storage bin”. Email correspondence (通信) is the starting point of most work projects now. Just click it.

Once you have got moving, consider your waypoints (路径点). That may mean breaking a job down into smaller parts. A paper from 2005 by researchers at MIT examined how knowledge is processed. They found that the brain prefers concrete and separate tasks to broad and abstract ones. So set your sights on completing a document first, rather than starting with the goal of making a complete strategy.

Putting something off doesn’t make it go away. If employees often put off tasks and decisions, firms can suffer real material losses. So if that email arrives early in the morning, read it and reply—even if that means leaving your bed unmade.