A recent report said that one third of Americans have never communicated with their neighbors. 【小题1】 You can make friendships, form communities, and build sharing areas. Here are some easy ways to get out of your comfort home and meet your neighbors.

Use the baking trick.

【小题2】 If you are too shy to say hello, offering baked snacks is a good choice to make friends. No one would turn down warm cookies. So the baking trick is a win-win for everyone.

【小题3】

Among the many advantages that come from helping those in need, making new friends is an unexpected one. Whether you’re helping at a local kitchen, or collecting clothes for homeless children, doing community (社区) service is a helpful way to develop new friendships.

Join a community garden.

Not only does a community garden provide you with fresh air, but it is also a great way to meet new people. 【小题4】 Community gardens offer an easy way to encourage teamwork, raise community spirit, and start an easy conversation.

Throw a housewarming party.

Even if you’ve lived in your place for a year, it’s never too late to host a housewarming party. Warm food, cold drinks, and smooth jazz are a perfect recipe for conversation, giving you an easy way to talk to new people. Once you show your neighbors how open and welcoming you are, they’ll never forget it.

Go outside.

Seriously, put down your phone and go outside. 【小题5】 Just get around and meet new people in your neighborhood. Even those who live in big cities will be surprised by how easy it is to run into neighbors. A coffee shop is the perfect place to meet the locals and make new friends.

Have you avoided the gym because you’re too nervous or self-conscious (难为情的)? But if becoming healthier and more fit is one of your goals, heading to the gym is probably on your agenda.

First of all, let’s put this into perspective. Your attention may go right to the fittest people in the room who are moving from machine to machine with ease.【小题1】It’s hard to believe that every single one feels confident. One thing for sure is, repeated action builds up confidence, and the more frequently you go, the more familiar you’ll get with your surroundings and the less nervous you’ll feel. 【小题2】

Work out a plan. Walk around the gym and check out the busy areas, the less crowded areas, the different machines, etc. 【小题3】Now, with a plan in place, you can confidently move from exercise to exercise.

Start slow with cardio (健心运动). You can also get familiar with the gym by getting onto a stationary bike and going at a relaxed pace.【小题4】Notice other people and what exercises they are doing to get some ideas, look at the machines around you, and survey the gym to feel more comfortable.

【小题5】 You may feel the need to move quickly from machine to machine. But if you stop to observe others around you, you’ll notice many of them are working out in a relaxed manner. So, take your time, walk slowly and use that time to figure out your next move. Who knows if you’re planning your next exercise or heading somewhere? Other people are so focused on their routine that they’re most likely not paying attention to you anyway.

You might not have heard of the “fresh start effect”, but if you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution (决心), you’re familiar with it. It refers to the human tendency to take action towards achieving a goal after a special occasion or key date has passed.

The fresh start effect is simple. Most people want to improve themselves in some way. When we hit important milestones (里程碑), we’re often likely to reflect: was this year a successful year, or did we waste it? Annual landmarks like birthdays, or the start of a new year, signify a new time period and an opportunity to leave mistakes behind and to set new goals for better behavior.

Research shows that expectation of a new beginning is a key motivator for the fresh start effect. For example, people aged 29,39,49 etc. were 48% more likely to run a marathon for the first time. When they were approaching a new decade, they were more likely to search for meaning in their lives and try to improve themselves. The reason is simple. When we see our past self as separate from our current self, we feel it easier to introduce new goals and take action.

What’s interesting about the fresh start effect is that we don’t need to wait for big milestones to take advantage of this sudden motivation (动力). Studies show that the first day of each month and even each week can also inspire us. These days, known as “temporal landmarks”, encourage us to step back and think about our current situation. And when we do this, we gain the motivation to be better: we become more driven and more productive. That is why people are more likely to start diets or exercise plans on Monday, rather than the next day.

Fresh starts are exciting opportunities to learn from your mistakes and move forward. So, if you’re currently experiencing loss of motivation, questioning the meaning of your work, or just feel like you’re stuck in a rut (一成不变的生活), why don’t you use the fresh start effect in your own life?