Keep track of how long you can ordinarily work before getting tired. Once you have this benchmark, try working more than this on one day, followed by a day in which your work load is lighter. Periodically pushing yourself like this can help your build up to being able to work effectively for longer periods. Another technique to building up to longer periods of work is to push yourself a little further at times. When you feel like you don't want to work any longer, or are looking for ways to procrastinate, don't stop immediately. Instead, commit to working a little longer (20 minutes, for example), and then stopping. Getting enough rest is important to maintaining a good work ethic. If you are truly tired (and not looking to procrastinate), it is a sign that you should take a break. Whatever your work schedule is like, make sure you factor in enough time for sleep and relaxation into your day. There is some variation from person to person, but generally adults need 7.5 to 8.5 hours of sleep per day. Work can be very important, but it is also important not to neglect other parts of your life. Everyone needs mental breaks, to have time to do things they enjoy, and to take care of non-work priorities. Maintaining a life beyond work is actually part of developing a good work ethic, so make sure you allow yourself this. When you are off of work for the day, disconnect completely. Try not to think about pending projects, check your work email, or talk too much about work with family and friends.

Summary: Build up to longer periods of work. Give yourself time to rest. Maintain a good work-life balance.

If possible, always park beneath a tree, in the shadow of a building, or in another cool location. If you're parking in a structure, try to stay off the top level (which is not protected by a roof). Sun shades are foldable covers for your windshield. To use the sun shade, press it against the inside of your windshield. Open your sun visors to secure the sun shade in place. The best sun shades will be coated with reflective chrome to deflect the sun's rays away from your vehicle. Some sun shades have small suction cups in their corners to allow them to better attach to your windshield. This type can also be used on door windows. Place them in whichever window(s) are facing the sunshine (you may want to park with the front of the car facing the Sun, to use a sun shade there). More than one can be used, but not on the door you need to open to exit the car. Fold the visors down to hold the front sun shade in place better, and to reflect any light that passes over the top. Beware that sun shades can easily blow in the driver's face or out the window once the car is moving, with the windows down. Fold them up and place a heavy object on top, such as shoes, or hold them in your lap, to prevent this. Cracking the windows a bit can allow air to continue moving through the car, thereby preventing your car from heating much beyond the outside temperature. The more cracked windows the better (one inch / two and a half centimeters each), especially if you can create a cross-draft. Don't crack your windows if you're expecting rain. One risk is that the door locks could be reached by a thief using a coat hanger or other tool, so beware of this. If you have dark brown or black seats, your car will absorb more heat than will a car that has light or brightly colored seats. To remedy this, invest in some white or light-colored seat covers. Seat covers are easy to slip over your seats. Like a bed skirt, they remain secure with built-in elastic bands around their perimeters.

Summary: Park in the shade. Invest in a sun shade. Crack the windows. Use a seat cover.

You don't need to rush in the morning just because you spent half an hour picking out your outfit! Go for something between casual and original. But remember you are making first impressions so what you wear kind of dictates a part of your personality, so don't go far outside your comfort zone. Expectations are overrated. You just got out of elementary school, no need to wear makeup or do anything fancy with your hair. If you're not comfortable with it, don't do it! All these middle school girls you see in magazines have makeup on solely for the advertisements. Going your first day with no makeup is quite the bold move itself, as it shows you have confidence in yourself and that you don't need makeup to attract attention! This will wake you up and make you smell fresh and feel great. (Remember some nice deodorant to top it off.) You do not need to haul your whole home with you. All you really need for your first day really is a few snacks, a pencil or two and the basic supplies. Bringing extra pencils and snacks may be helpful, but not necessary. The higher grades don't bite! If you're feeling daring enough, go and try to make some friends who are older than you, as they have gone through your grade and may be able to give you some pointers. Mingle with some other stranger that may be hanging around too. If you can't find a loner to make friends with, go take a look at a map of the school and try to get the know the place, after all, you're going to be spending a few years here.

Summary: Pick out your outfit the night before. Avoid feeling that you have to wear makeup. Take a shower in the morning. Take only what you need. Seek help from people already in middle school. Make some friends while you're waiting for school to open.

You are going to need a heavy-duty needle, yarn, stuffing, and an old sweater. Except for the sweater (which you can find at a thrift store), you can find all of these materials at a craft store. A good choice of material for the sweater is 100% wool, for warmth and comfort, but any material will do. If you have a sewing machine, you may want to use it, but it is not required. Begin by flipping your sweater inside out. Then, sew along the neckline. (This closes the top of the sweater off so that you can stuff it later.) Finally, turn your sweater out the right way. Visualize a line that moves from one armpit of your sweater to the other. You are going to sew both sides of your sweater together, across this line, using either your heavy-duty needle and yarn (or a sewing machine). Ultimately, you are creating a "tube" that runs all the way from one wrist-opening to the other. After you have sewn the line from armpit to armpit, take your stuffing and insert it into one wrist of the sweater. Keep adding stuffing through the wrist-opening until you have a soft tube, that runs all the way from wrist to wrist. Now touch the wrists together to form a soft circle. This will form the "edge" of your cat bed. Once again, the "tube" of stuffing you have created is going to form the soft, plush edge of your cat bed. In order for this work, you need to sew the sleeves together, forming a loop. First, tuck one sleeve inside the other. Then, using your heavy-duty needle and yarn, sew around in a circle. The "body" of your sweater will now form the bottom of your cat bed (where your cat will lay). Line up the "body" with the plush loop you have created, with the body fabric on the bottom. Any fabric that extends out farther than your plush loop is excess. Remove this excess fabric with scissors. Then, using your heavy-duty needle and yarn, attach the bottom to the loop.
Summary: Gather materials. Sew up the neckline of your sweater. Sew a line from armpit to armpit. Fill your "tube" with stuffing. Sew the sleeves together. Attach the bottom.