Article: . One of the best ways to conquer insecure feelings is to become a more confident person. That might seem tough, but once you've changed your mindset, you are already well on your way! Make sure to ease up on yourself and treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. We all make mistakes. It's a fact of life. When you forget to pick up the groceries you need for dinner, try not to be hard on yourself. Instead, try thinking, "It's not that big of a deal. I'll have a sandwich tonight, and make sure I remember the groceries tomorrow." . Self-care means making sure that all of your needs are being met. Sure, you know it's important to care for your physical health. But don't forget to make time to meet your emotional needs, too. This also includes taking care of things like bathing and personal hygiene, eating well, taking any necessary medications, keeping appointments, and so on. Make time for yourself everyday. Choose an activity that is relaxing to you. For example, allow yourself time to read a chapter of a novel each day. Or try taking a relaxing bubble bath. Physical activity has been shown to be a real mood booster. Getting in shape is a great way to help build your confidence. Look for ways to add some more activity to your life. Walk more. Take a stroll around the block at lunchtime. Try walking to the movies instead of driving. Take a class. Learn to love a new type of exercise. Consider taking a barre or HIIT class at your local studio or gym. . If you're feeling insecure, you might have trouble speaking up for yourself. Remember, your needs are just as important as the needs of others. Work on being more assertive and you'll start to feel more confident. For example, maybe your older sister makes you feel insecure with her frequent put downs. The next time she says, "Don't let Linda be in charge of dinner. She's a horrible cook!", speak up. You can say, "I'd love to host Thanksgiving this year. I've been working really hard to become a better cook, and I think I'm getting good!" . When you have a plan, you'll feel more in control. In turn, you'll begin to feel more confident. Take some time to set some goals. You can include both long-term and short-term goals. For example, a short-term goal might be: "I will talk to at least two new people each week." A long-term goal could be, "I will improve my work performance and one year from now I will ask for a raise."
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Be kind to yourself Practice self-care Get moving. Be assertive Set clear goals

Problem: Article: If she's canceling plans with other guys to hang out with you, keep that in mind. If you notice she's not as quick to talk about her latest beau either, chances are she views you as more than a friend and wants to be in a relationship. This is particularly true if she has talked about other guy crushes in the past, but suddenly changes the subject if you mention them. When she stops viewing you as one of the girls and refuses to share anything about her love life, you can rest assured that the feelings are mutual. In the past, you used to be able to get her take on your love life. Now she seems to blow up at the mere mention of another woman. If this happens, it's probably safe to assume that she wants to be your only leading lady. She may tease you about past relationships, but if you mention someone you currently like, it may not go over well. Past relationships may be her way of teasing you, but mentioning a recent crush will ensure she won't be smiling for long. In the past, you were more likely to hang out in a group setting. Now that she keeps asking to spend time alone with you, this may be a clue she's into you. If you're being consistently invited to places that her past boyfriends accompanied her to, such as weddings or dances, you should probably have a discussion about whether you're more than friends. If she's a good friend, she will appreciate your honesty. Though it may be awkward at first, you'll ultimately feel relieved once you've been honest. Tell her how you feel. While it could be awkward and you may feel extremely nervous about revealing your feelings to her, you'll be glad you did it. It's much better to say something than to not say anything at all. You may notice a look of relief on her face when you share your feelings with her. If she lights up when you tell her about your feelings, it is probable that she feels the same way. Begin the conversation by telling her how much you respect your friendship with her and that you've recently been having feelings that are beyond that of a friend. Let her know that it's ok if she doesn't feel the same way, but that you felt it was important to be honest with her and to share how you really feel. Don't worry if she doesn't return your sentiments. If she's a good friend, she'll stay friends with you and will be able to joke about it later. Most importantly, If she doesn't feel the same way as you, don't act as if the whole thing was a joke and that you don't really care that much either.
Summary: Take note if she cancels plans with other guys. Watch for signs of anger if you talk about other girls. Look for a suggestion to hang out alone. Observe her reaction when you admit you like her.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Protect its moisture from the dry air. Wrap it up in a scarf before heading outdoors. Use one that is made of silk, since other materials like cotton or wool will increase the buildup of static electricity, which can make your hair stick out in odd places, cling to your face when you don't want it to, and generally misbehave. If a scarf alone isn't enough to keep your head warm or your hair protected from snow, ice, or rain, add a hat. Wrap a silk scarf around your hair first to reduce the chance of static electricity. Then don a hat on top of that. If you don't have a silk scarf, opt for a hat made of cotton instead of wool or acrylics, since cotton's less conducive to static electricity. If you have long hair, refrain from wearing turtlenecks, which may help your hair knot up in back. Avoid the need to brush your hair more than you really have to. Because the cold air and low humidity of winter dries out your hair, over-brushing can damage your brittle hair, so preempt the need by ditching the turtleneck. When you're washing your clothes, make sure you use this to reduce the chance of static electricity building up in your hair. Be sure to use it when washing hats as well any clothes that you'll be pulling over your head. Definitely use it if those clothes are made of wool or acrylics.

SUMMARY: Cover your hair with a scarf. Wear a hat. Say no to turtlenecks. Use fabric softener.

This keeps the plant from going to seed and spreading too far. It can also make the roots more potent if you are harvesting them for a sleep aid. Use a sharp pair of shears and cut near the base of the stem. Valerian starts blooming early in the spring. You may get two or three blooms, depending upon the placement of the plant and its age. Harvest mature root systems in the fall for drying. Allow the plant to go a few days without water before you harvest so that the natural compounds are more potent. You can also dig up older plants for medicinal use and let younger volunteers grow for next year. Rinse the roots off with your garden hose before you take them inside. Wash them thoroughly by soaking them in a bowl. Let them dry in a cool, dry place for two to three months. They are extremely pungent, so they shouldn't be dried on a kitchen table. Simmer the roots for use as a sleep aid. You can also give the dried roots to cats, who love it like catnip. Use clean, fresh leaves as a nighttime relaxation tea or dry them to make a loose-leaf tea blend.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Cut the blooms of the valerian plant to use for bouquets. Wait a full year before starting to harvest roots and leaves for medicinal use. Separate a large valerian plant in half with a spade. Dig deeply so that you can get the entire root system. Cut the roots into half inch and one inch (1.6 to 2.5 cm) sections with shears. Spread them out on a drying rack. Separate the leaves for use in tea.