Becoming Refreshed Without Sleeping

Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done and get a good night’s rest. 【小题1】 Once in a while you can get away with a sleepless night and still feel reasonably good by adjusting your meals and activities.

【小题2】 The last thing you want to do when you are tired is get warm and cozy, because this will cause you to fall asleep. Keeping the air conditioner on will make you feel much more alert and refreshed.

Eat small amounts. Eating small amounts of healthy food will help refresh you. Fruit and nuts are a good choice because they are nutritious and will energize you. 【小题3】 Try to stick to low carbon meals to keep fit. Chewing gum after your snack or small meal will also help keep you awake.

Keep it bright. 【小题4】 Turn on lots of lights, which will trick your body into waking up and feeling better. Go outside whether it is day or night for some fresh air. You will get double benefits if it is daytime.

Take a break. Taking a little break will help you in the long run. Turn on some energizing music to get yourself positive. Relax and talk to a friend in person or on the phone for a few minutes. 【小题5】

   Brain fitness has basic principles：variety and curiosity. When anything you do becomes second nature，you need to make a change.If you can do the crosswords（纵横字谜）in your sleep，it’s time for you to move on to a new challenge in order to get the best workout for your brain. Curiosity about the world around you，how it works and how you can understand it will keep your brain working fast and efficiently.【小题1】

Play Games

Brain fitness programs and games are a wonderful way to tease and challenge your brain. Sudoku，crosswords and electronic games can all improve your brain’s speed and memory. These games rely on logic，word skills，math and more.【小题2】 You’ll get more benefit by doing these games a little bit every day—spend 15 minutes or so，not hours.

Think Deeply

Thinking deeply every day is perhaps the single greatest thing you can do for your mind or body health.【小题3】

Eat for Your Brain

【小题4】 Focus on fish oils from wild salmon（鲑），nuts such as walnuts，seeds such as flaxseed and olive oil. Eat more of these foods and less fats. Remove trans fats（反式脂肪）completely from your diet.

【小题5】

Stories are a way that we strengthen memories，explain events and share moments. Practice telling your stories，both new and old，so that they are interesting，attractive and fun. Some basic storytelling techniques will go a long way in keeping people’s interest both in you and in what you have to say.

Five Ways to Make Studying More Fun

Pick an area of the house you haven't used before. Use a stand-up desk instead of the kitchen table. Set up a space in your bedroom or home office that is just for studying. Put some time into making it a place you want it to be. 【小题1】

Getting together with a friend or a group of classmates can help you learn new study skills while you are still getting a few laughs in. 【小题2】 Pick one person and each of you choose a side to argue. If you have a group, they can join and vote the winner.

Plan scheduled study breaks every hour and take part in an activity you enjoy. Go for a quick walk, watch a short video, or eat a snack. 【小题3】 Before you take a break, write down what you have learned during your study time and add to this list each time you take a break.

By activating the left and right sides of the brain at the same time, music maximizes（使最大化）learning and improves memory. It's no secret that music helps with concentration and creativity.

【小题5】 If the weather is nice, head to a park or the beach. Study at your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. If you're active, you might want to try exercising to improve memory and thinking skills. Some of your best thoughts and moments of clarity（清晰）come when you're moving your body.

   Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in the human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激), ”Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robotic dogs, called AIBO, are placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO being placed. Then, the researchers will study the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to it all the time, and it responds (回应) to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, it’ll stay in my arms until it wants to go down. It has a mind of its own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it is metal and not furry,” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”