Problem: Article: This trick is much easier to learn if you can whistle, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. To make the right mouth shape, purse your lips together by drawing in the corners of your mouth slightly. Don't overdo it and make a "duck face." Your lips should only stick out slightly, with a gap in between them for air to pass through. If your jaw or cheeks are getting tense, you've lowered your jaw too far. If your cheek is red and stinging, you're flicking it too hard. No part of this process should feel painful or uncomfortable. If you're sore simply from practicing for a long stretch of time, take a ten minute break. If you keep forgetting not to blow during your practice, inhale through your nose, and the passageway at the back of your mouth should automatically close shut. If you can't get the sound within five minutes of flicking, stop and focus just on the hoink motion. Pay attention to the air flowing past your lips. If you don't feel it, try moving your tongue or jaw and trying again. Once you notice a brief flow of air, as though you were blowing gently, start flicking again and try to flick at the same time as that flow. If you're lucky, you might even here a hollow whistling sound or even a faint water drop noise without the flick then you're definitely on the right track.
Summary: Learn the mouth shape even if you can't whistle. Relax if your muscles are sore. Prevent yourself from exhaling. Wait for the flow of air during the hoink motion.

Problem: Article: The top of the head should be facing down on the cutting board, and the stem of the lettuce will be facing up toward you. If you prefer your lettuce shredded finely, this can be easily done with any sharp chef's knife. Set your knife on the edge of the head and slice straight through it, to create thin slices. Cut the lettuce carefully, using long, firm strokes. Continue slicing until you reach the pale center of the head of lettuce. Stop slicing when you reach the core of the lettuce. Turn the head around and continue slicing on the other side until you reach the core. Stop cutting when you reach the core of the lettuce head. Lay the head of lettuce on its side and slice the top of the lettuce from the core, using a sharp chef's knife. Slice off any remaining green leaves, then remove the pale center of the lettuce and discard it. Take the pieces of lettuce that you just sliced, and fan them out on the cutting board. Spread the slices out so that they cover the entire surface of the board. Use a sharp chef's knife to cut through the lettuce in close rows, moving from left to right across the board. You now have a pile of lettuce strips. Turn the cutting board 90 degrees and cut through the lettuce in close rows from the new direction. This will result in a pile of small pieces of lettuce, like the leaves in a chopped salad. If you want even smaller pieces, turn the cutting board 90 degrees and slice through the pieces again. Continue turning and slicing the lettuce until it is as finely shredded and diced as you like.
Summary: Position the lettuce head on the cutting board. Do the initial cutting. Cut to the core. Slice the other side of the lettuce head. Remove the core from the head of lettuce. Spread the slices flat on the cutting board. Create thin strips. Turn the strips into small pieces. Repeat if desired.

Problem: Article: Having a vaguely-defined goal can make it difficult to follow through on your efforts and track your progress. However, having a clear, well-defined goal will help you stay driven and know how far you've come. Your goal should be as clear and actionable as possible. Remember to focus on either a process goal or an outcome goal. Keep in mind, though, that you can work toward multiple goals at once. For instance, you might have an outcome goal of getting an "A" in English, and process goals along the way that help you earn that "A." For example, instead of just saying your goal is to get through your math class, figure out what you hope to accomplish. Do you want to become more proficient in math (a process goal), or earn a good grade (an outcome goal)? Whenever you set a goal for yourself, it's important to recognize how you've progressed in working towards it. That's why you should always set goals with clear, measurable progress marks and keep track of your efforts every step of the way. Determine in advance how you will measure success. Ask yourself, "How will I know when I've accomplished my goal?" You can mark off successes when you reach checkpoints along the way. You can even use a reward system. Choose both short-term and long-term measures of success. For example, you might measure success in the short-term by looking at how much studying and homework you get done in a week, and in the long-term by watching how your grades improve over the course of the semester. Even a good, well-defined goal could be difficult to achieve without a clear action plan. When you set your goal, make sure you include action-oriented steps as part of your goal development. That way you'll know what you're trying to accomplish and, more importantly, how you'll get there. Be very clear in how you intend to achieve your goal. Having action-oriented steps means developing clear guidelines that lay out what (specifically) you will need to do at every step along the way. Think about the steps your goal will require, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Focus on what specifically you will need to do. For example, action-oriented steps might include completing your homework ahead of time, reviewing your notes every day after class, and arranging a meeting with your instructor. It's important to dream big, but it's also important to know what you can realistically accomplish with the materials you currently possess and the time frame you're given. Don't bite off more than you can chew, but at the same time don't give yourself a task that's too easy. An example of a realistic goal would be to improve your course grade by one letter before the end of the semester. An unrealistic goal, by comparison, would be to turn an F into an A by the end of the semester. Be aware of what could potentially hinder your success and plan accordingly so that these obstacles do not impede your progress towards accomplishing your goal. For instance, if your goal is to get a good grade on an essay, you'll want to be aware of other assignments that could affect the amount of time you spend working on the essay. If you're working within a school calendar, the end of that semester might be the end of your time frame. However, there's still plenty of flexibility in terms of what can be done and when it needs to be done by. Decide in advance when your goal needs to be accomplished. Once you have a firm deadline, work your way backwards to determine when you need to begin your work and when various milestones along the way must be met. For example, if you're working within the time frame of a semester, you might decide that you'll accomplish your goal before finals week. That means working backwards to figure out what needs to be completed and when.
Summary:
Make your goal as specific as possible. Ensure that your progress is measurable. Decide on action-oriented steps to accomplish your goal. Make sure your goal is realistic. Give yourself a reasonable time frame.