INPUT ARTICLE: Article: to requests that do not fit in with your priorities. There is nothing wrong with saying "no," especially if you have a busy day ahead and people ask you to do things that you do not have the time or energy to do. If someone asks you to do something that does not fit in with your priorities for the day, then let them know that you cannot help them. Try saying something like, "No, I have a lot on my plate today and I can't add anything else." Or, simply say, "No. I can't help you with that today." No one can work productively in a messy atmosphere. Before you begin to work, take a few moments to tidy up. Organize any papers and throw out anything you don't need. If there's dirt or dust on your desk, quickly wipe it off. If you notice any garbage, like a can of soda or a candy wrapper, throw it away. A neat workspace can go a long way in terms of making you more productive. Organize papers logically. Papers that you need to review or work on can be in one pile. Papers that have been completed can be in another. Keep your supplies organized. Have all your basic office supplies (staplers, scissors, pens, etc.) on one part of your desk. While you're working on a single task, keep your energy focused there. Do not think about your commute home while you're working on a report, for example. Do not think about the next assignment you need to do while you're working on another assignment. Focusing on one thing at a time will make you more productive, as you'll work more productively when you give a task your full attention. Multitasking is actually bad for productivity. It will take you much longer to try to do three things at once than it will to do one thing at a time. Instead of bouncing between different tasks, choose one, complete it, and then move on. Avoid things like checking your phone or email while you're trying to complete something. If you're not looking forward to a difficult or important task, do it first. This way, important jobs will not fall to the wayside. You will also feel more relaxed after getting a big task done, allowing you to proceed through your day with less stress. This can make you more productive. You can refer to the list you made the night before. What were the three to five things you absolutely needed to do? Start with one of those. For example, say you're nervous about returning an email to an important client. Rather than putting this off and worrying about it, do it first thing in the morning. Part of being productive is cutting yourself some slack on occasion. If you don't take breaks, you'll burn out well before the day is over. Time yourself as you work and grant yourself a small break every 15 to 30 minutes. You can also reward yourself. You may work harder if you know there's a reward coming at the end of a particular task. For example, you can allow yourself to have a piece of candy after finishing one essay. You can grant yourself a 5 minute social media break after you finish planning a presentation.

SUMMARY: Say "no" Organize your workspace. Focus on one thing at a time. Tackle the most important tasks first. Give yourself breaks and rewards throughout the day.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you don't have the living room space to fit all the furniture you'd like, use multipurpose furniture so you can quickly alter the room when entertaining guests or whenever you'd like a change. Consider a multi part sofa that can be divided into two pieces or extended to create a foot rest. Consolidate by having one object serve two purposes. Try moving the seating slightly to create a corner where one end table can serve two sofas, instead of having one end table for each. Lightweight chairs can easily be brought in when you have a large number of guests, without permanently taking up space. Keeping a small couch or a couple of armchairs adds variety and comfort, but if you don't rely solely on cushioned, bulky furniture, you'll have more space. If some furniture is much taller than others, it can make the space appear cramped and claustrophobic. Stack books onto short end tables to raise their height without needing to replace them. Use lighter or more transparent curtains to make the space brighter. If you don't have windows that let in much light, adding more artificial light is an acceptable compromise, especially cheerier white lamps rather than yellow lighting. Sometimes the illusion of space is plenty to give a room an airy feeling. This is especially useful during times of low sunlight or when your living room has inadequate windows. Glass topped tables, glass doors, or open doorways make a room more spacious. Furniture with thinner bodies on raised legs reveal more space to the eye. Soft colors such as a cool blue or neutral beige make the space feel warmer and airier. Avoid dark or intense shades. Cushions, drop cloths, and decorative objects can be more easily and cheaply replaced than furniture or walls, so begin by adjusting these.
Summary: Use a small number of versatile pieces. Add lightweight furniture when entertaining guests. Use furniture at roughly the same height. Let in natural light. Add a mirror or two to the room. Replace some furniture with glass or less full-bodied pieces. Use less intense, neutral colors.

A smile is a good indication she may want to talk to you. Flashing her a smile indicates you're happy to see her. If she gives you one back, you may want to approach her. Look at her eyes to see if her smile seems real. If a smile is genuine, it will reach all the way to her eyes, and you'll be able to tell. If she's just being polite and smiling at you, the smile will look a little fake instead. Check to see if the smile lifts her cheeks and crinkles her eyes, which is a sign it's genuine. Don't try to stare her down! However, if you catch her gaze, hold it for a few seconds while you smile at her. If she holds it, too, she may be showing signs of interest in you. Positive body language indicates she may be open to talking to you. You may notice she points her body your direction or that she uncrosses her arms or legs. She might play with her hair or fidget with her clothing. If she's upset or looking sad, wait for another day. You're trying to approach her because you like her, but she's probably not in the frame of mine to reciprocate when she's in a bad mood. Similarly, if she looks like she's hard at work on something, it's not the best time to approach.
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One-sentence summary -- Smile at her and see if she returns it. See if she holds your gaze for a moment. Watch for other signs of positive body language. Wait for another opportunity if she looks like she's having a bad day.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Place the rhubarb stalks on a flat surface, like a cutting board. Trim off the top of the stalks where the leaves are. Make sure you remove all the leaves, as these are poisonous. Trim off the bottom inch (2.5 cm) of the stalks as well, where the rhubarb was touching the ground. Rinse the rhubarb under cool, running water. Use your fingers or a clean cloth to scrub away any dirt on the fruit. Rhubarb is fairly hard, so you can also use a vegetable brush to scrub it clean if you like. Lay the stalks on a clean towel and roll each stalk around to dry it. You can also dry the rhubarb in a salad spinner if you have one. Transfer the rhubarb stalks back to the cutting board. Chop each stalk into quarter- to half-inch pieces (6 to 13 mm). Smaller pieces are ideal for jams, pie fillings, and baked goods. Larger pieces are better for eating plain or making chunkier compotes. If you have specific plans for the rhubarb, consult the individual recipes to determine the right length for the pieces.

SUMMARY:
Trim off the leaves and tips. Wash and dry the rhubarb. Chop the stalks into bite sized pieces.