INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Why do you want to be an honors student? To get a well-paid job? To make your parents happy? For the sheer love of academics? Motivation can come from inside or outside. The best way to start towards your goal is to know exactly what is motivating you. Studies suggest that intrinsic motivation, or feeling motivated to do something because it aligns with something you believe or value, is more powerful than extrinsic, or external, motivation. Intrinsic motivation is driven by three basic needs: competence (doing something successfully), relatedness (connecting with other people), and autonomy (feeling in charge of your own life). For example, if you're motivated to become an honor student because you love performing well at your studies, or because it makes you feel like you're in charge of your education, this is intrinsic motivation. If you are motivated to pursue honor status because you want your parents to be proud of you, or to enhance your resume, this is extrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation isn't a bad thing, but it isn't as strong as intrinsic motivation. yourself. School can throw a lot at you. Take a systematic approach. Have all your books and assignments ready every day and know what's coming. Organization is a key characteristic of honor students. Do you tend to forget assignments? Try using a daily planner as a way to remember. You can even enter in reminders on your phone or in an online calendar such as Google Calendar or Apple's iCloud Calendar. Keep separate folders for each course or subject. Make sure you keep all your assignments, notes, rubrics, etc. for the course in this folder. When it comes time to study for an exam or write an essay, you'll have all your material in one place. Set deadlines for yourself. Your teachers likely have deadlines for projects, but setting your own deadlines ahead of these will help you stay on track. Break large projects down into smaller sub-tasks and set a mini-deadline for each task. For example, instead of "term paper due December 4," figure out how much time you will need for each stage of that paper. You'll need time to plan, research, write a draft, revise it, and turn it in (preferably ahead of the due date). Set deadlines for each of those stages. High achievers often keep very regular schedules. The German philosopher Immanuel Kant was so routine that his neighbors set their watches to him! Doing the same tasks regularly, at the same time and place every day, is part of being organized and will put you in a proper mental space. A routine prepares you to work. Set aside a time each day or each week to work on a subject without distractions. Or, give yourself a quota to meet each day -- so many pages to read or words to write. Make appointments with yourself for study time. Fill them in on your calendar just as you would going to class or soccer practice. Keep these appointments faithfully. Get in the habit of studying for a set amount of time, such as 45 minutes, followed by a 15-minute break. This method is much more effective than trying to study for huge chunks of time. Having a good work-space is important. You need a place that helps you focus on your studies without distractions or interruptions. Figure out what works best for you, and create a study environment that matches those needs. Some people work best in silence. Others prefer to work to music or background noise. Avoid studying in bed, as this can encourage you to goof off or take a nap instead. Change up your study locations at times. A desk at home, a library carrel, or a table at a quiet cafe are good choices.

SUMMARY: Find your motivation. Organize Set a routine. Create a good study space.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Plant tiny romantic giftsincluding chocolates, flowers, or love poemsaround your house or town, and leave instructions for your partner to find them. Be waiting at the final destination of your scavenger hunt with a final treat or surprise! You can make coupons for any number of romantic gestures and/or favors, including kisses, date nights, massages, or homemade dinners. Even if your partner doesn't take you up on the offer, the gesture is still romantic. While this is a classic romantic gesture, it can be personalized according to your partner's favorite kind of flowers, or by having them to their workplace. Even if it is a bit goofy, spending the time to write a love poem specific to your partner will be received as a sweet, romantic gesture. Plant it in your partner's dresser drawer, or leave it on the counter where they'll see it first thing in the morning. If you're looking for a romantic gesture to spice up your relationship, getting out of town and changing the scenery will often do the trick. By taking the initiative to plan an awesome trip, ideally to a place your partner has expressed interested in seeing, you can surprise your partner and share a sweet time together.

SUMMARY: Take your partner on a romantic scavenger hunt. Give your partner a series of romantic coupons. Surprise your partner with flowers. Write a love poem. Plan a romantic getaway.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) vodka 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) lemon juice 1 tsp sugar syrup. Shake to combine.

SUMMARY: Assemble the following ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass. Serve garnished with a twist of lemon peel.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Simple puzzles like crosswords can help your brain do some basic work. These are easy to fit into your day. You can even find some for free online. Large, complex puzzles give your brain a stronger workout. These can sometimes take several days to a week to finish but they're worth the effort. This doesn't just mean a puzzle in the traditional sense either. Check out Japanese pocket puzzles for a serious brain teaser that you can do while you're killing time. Chess is an incredibly strategic and tactical game. Few puzzles surpass chess in working out your brain. Chess is simple to learn and easy to play. Look into joining a chess club in your area to get more opportunities to play and learn from more experienced players. Did you know that playing video games in moderation may actually make you smarter? Puzzle solving games like Mario, Zelda, Scribblenauts, and Myst are like a good cardio workout for your brain, helping you to become a better, more creative problem solver, and a faster thinker.

SUMMARY:
Do daily crosswords and puzzles. Progress to more involved puzzles. Consider playing chess. Play video games in moderation.