Good social skills are an important part of building rich friendships, enjoying yourself in public, and succeeding in your career. 【小题1】 ,you might run into some trouble chatting with people you don't know. Don't worry-there are plenty of easy ways to improve your social skills throughout your daily life. 【小题2】.

1. Compliment (赞美)someone.

Take a quick look to make sure the person isn't busy or in a hurry. 【小题3】 Keep the conversation going by sharing simple ideas and asking questions. A friendly conversation with a stranger is an easy way to give your social skills a boost. You could say “I love your coat" or “I really like the way you style your hair."

2. 【小题4】.

Teams are great ways to meet like-minded people. Strike up a conversation with someone sitting near you. You might say, "It's so nice to see so many people here" or “What brings you here?” You might make a friend through the conversation.

3. Listen to the people around you.

【小题5】,but don't try to control the dialogue. Listen for openings where you can ask relevant (相关 的) questions throughout the conversation. Being an active, attentive listener is a key part of good social skills.

When you've got too much to do, the natural response is to try to fit in more tasks, in order to free up hours to do the things you love. There are countless books promising to help you, but these attempts don't always work. 【小题1】

The core problem is that the potential supply of new tasks is endless. Get faster at completing work projects and you'll simply be given more work, thanks to your reputation as an efficient employee. It’s the personal equivalent of what happens when a new lane is added to a motorway to ease traffic jams. 【小题2】So congestion remains as bad as it ever was.

【小题3】 Social expectations do, too. Research by historian Ruth Cowan highlights that when washing machines and vacuum cleaners were introduced, housework got more burdensome because standards of cleanliness also rose. Deep down, we believe the false promise of ever more efficiency. Yes, modest improvements in productivity can help you get through more work-but the truth is that there will always be more things worth doing than time in which to do them. 【小题4】

The option you take is up to you: perhaps you'll decide to tolerate a messy house in order to spend more time reading to your children. Or perhaps you're willing to sacrifice a reputation as the best worker in your office because your side business as a jewellery designer is worth it. 【小题5】 Otherwise, it’ll get made for you—and you may find yourself replying to emails at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday night.

Many of us are so busy with our work, study and home life that there is often no time left to do something that we enjoy. Here are some ways to gain the necessary time you need to slow down, enjoy your life and relax yourself.

Schedule time for yourself. 【小题1】 Try to save certain weeknights just for yourself. If others ask you to do something at those nights, just tell them you have plans. Use the time for gardening, reading, exercising, thinking or the ultimate luxury (奢侈) of doing nothing!

Give yourself a monthly treat. 【小题2】 It could be during your lunch break, a weekend or it could be leaving work early. Maybe you want to see a movie, have a haircut, play golf or get whatever treat you’re always thinking about but rarely do. Put the treats into your schedule and do them one by one!

Buy tickets to concerts or any other events you would enjoy in advance. And then schedule the plans with a friend. 【小题3】

【小题4】 Huh? Yes, many of us work late regularly. If it is the same with you, leave work exactly on time at least once a week. And then enjoy that time! Leave work aside temporarily.

Join a group. Here are some groups that can allow you to have some time away from work and home: the singing group, the gardening group, the astronomy society, the book club, the skiing club, etc. What are you interested in? Strike while the iron is hot. 【小题5】 If you can’t find one, consider starting one yourself!