How to "Speed-read" Body Language

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing has dramatically changed the way we interact with each other, especially when it comes to non-verbal communication.

Wearing a face mask has quickly become the norm — and that will likely remain for the foreseeable future. How can we better read body language, now that we're wearing masks? Part of the answer lies in the question itself. Too often, we put all our focus into people's faces, when we should also be observing the movements of their entire upper bodies. This is especially important today, since we do a lot of social interacting through video platforms, where we see each other mostly from the waist up. Here are some tips on how to speed-read it.

Touching the neck

If someone is touching their "neck dimple" (the visible indentation at the middle-front of their neck), it could mean they're distressed or insecure.

Rubbing the chest

If someone is rubbing the upper part of their chest with a palm of a hand (or even just the fingers), it can indicate discomfort or concern. I recently found myself doing this when discussing a family-member's health.

Tilted head

Head movements can go a long way toward showing whether or not someone is fully engaged, especially during video conference calls. A slightly tilted head displays awareness and attentiveness. 

Squinted eyes

We often squint our eyes when we're trying to focus our vision on something that's far away. But squinted eyes and a furrowed "glabella" (the part of the forehead above and between the eyebrows) can also be a sign of disagreement or confusion.

A．This is another sign of stress and anxiety.

B．If you notice someone doing this, try to comfort them or ease their anxiety.

C．Wearing a mask is a normal part of being around other people.

D．They shouldn't show facial expressions or use body language in public.

E．Body language is an outward reflection of a person's emotional condition.

F．And, when combined with a few nods, it can show approval of what's being said or heard.

G．But with nearly half of the face hidden, it can be difficult to tell what a person is thinking and feeling.

Every year, there are birthday parties to plan, and moms take them very seriously.  However, as fun as they can be, they are also exhausting, and moms would likely want a bit of help to plan the next party.

What some moms don't realize is that they can get their kids involved in planning their own birthday parties. They can teach the kids some important skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their life.

According to Home Cleaning Family, having kids plan their own birthday parties is a great way to teach them responsibility, kindness and organization. It is a big responsibility to plan a party and have everything organized as.they need. Kindness is used when kids send out invitations and think about what the guests want. 

Kids have a lot of stereotypes(刻板印象) working against them, one of which is their inability to focus. Helping to plan an event can help work on their focus.  If they write out a list, they can focus on one idea at a time. It is a great practice for them to focus on other projects that will come their way one day.

But they may struggle with how they can include their kids. They are so used to doing everything themselves that they cannot give up the control. Moms can give them tasks the kids can manage either on their own or with minimal supervision. Before the moms know it, the next parties will be all their kids', and they will be excited about it.

A. It's because they will have certain tasks to do.

B. They want their kids to have the best birthday.

C. It is also a chance for them to use their creativity.

D. Moms may know that their kids should plan their own parties.

E. Moms can go through all the to-do items and listen to their ideas.

F. There are many lessons to learn when it comes to planning a party.

G. Moms are always working behind to make sure their kids grow up happily.

Sustainable travel is now one of the fastest-growing movements. Its goal is to meet the needs of the tourism industry without harming natural and cultural environments.  Here are some concrete ways to reduce your environmental impact as a traveler.

 Travel doesn't have to be about going somewhere far away. It's the art of exploration, discovery and getting out of your comfort zone, all of which can just as well be nearby. Find somewhere nearby you haven't been, get in your car, and go for a visit. You never know what you'll come across.

Make greener transportation choices. After walking, public transportation is the next best way to explore new destinations.  When it comes to longer distances, buses and trains are your best way of getting around, both of which can be quite an experience in and of itself.

Avoid over-visited destinations. If you can, avoid places with over-tourism. You'll find fewer crowds and lower prices, and you also won't be putting as much pressure on local communities struggling to keep up. And, from a personal-enjoyment point of view, who wants to deal with crowds or long lines? No one. 

Take a nature-related trip. If you want to better understand and appreciate the natural world, try taking a trip with the single purpose of connecting with nature.  I promise that when you come home, you'll have a new viewpoint on why we're all so focused on being environmentally friendly these days.

A. Stay close to home.

B. Find an ideal place to explore.

C. Sustainable travel can be useful to support communities.

D. Not only is it better for the environment, but it's cheaper as well.

E. Get in touch with the world in a way that sitting at home doesn't.

F. If not managed properly, tourism can have incredibly negative impacts.

G. Visiting less-visited destinations can be much more enjoyable and rewarding.