If you are writing a creative title, the point is to catch your audience’s interest. Think about who your audience is and what you hope to accomplish by writing to them. Are you providing them with more facts? Are you reinforcing a popular idea? Are you contradicting a popular idea? Your purpose will help you know which words are the best fit for your title.  If, for example, you just want to compare white and milk chocolate, you are providing facts. Your goal will not be to make your audience think one particular chocolate is better. Your title, then, may be something like "Loco for Cocoa: The Differences Between Types of Chocolate." If, however, you want to tell your audience why milk chocolate is better, you are reinforcing a popular idea. If you want to explain why white chocolate is better, you are going against a popular idea. In that case, a better title might be "Milking it - Why White Chocolate is Totally the Best Chocolate." If you want to write a creative title, try to avoid words or phrases that make a direct comparison. Words like “versus” and phrases like “compared to” are informative, but they are not very engaging. Instead, set up an action between your subjects. ”Do Hash Browns Stack up Against Fries as a Burger Side” creates a sense of tension between your subjects and challenges a popular opinion. It is a more engaging title for your readers than “Comparing Hash Browns and Fries as Burger Sides.” Titles with alliteration, puns, or plays on words are fun but they don’t always tell your audience enough about your essay subject. Use a colon to connect your creative title with an informative descriptor. For example, if you want to write an essay comparing two works of art by Van Gogh, you may use a title like, “Look at Him Gogh: Comparing Floral Composition in Almond Blossoms and Poppy Flowers.”

Summary: Establish your purpose. Avoid direct comparison words. Use a colon.


Take a step back and look at yourself as honestly as you can, asking yourself what you excel at and what gets under your skin and why. This can be hard to do, but recognizing your tendencies is the first step to getting control of them and becoming a tougher person.  For example, if you know that you get defensive when someone critiques your work, it could be that you’re worried about failure, or that you have low self-confidence. You can work on these deeper issues so that criticism won’t trigger your defensiveness. To recognize your own tendencies, try writing down instances when you’ve felt panicked, afraid, or worried and how you reacted. You could also ask a close friend or colleague to point out these situations to you. Even the process of figuring out your own strengths and weaknesses can make you a tougher person. It takes courage and strength to look at yourself honestly, and once you see what you need to work on, you’ll feel motivated to take on the challenge. If you have trouble identifying your strengths, use an online survey through VIA for various reports. to pressure and stress. Being able to stay strong when things get rough is a crucial quality for a tough person to have. Figure out what you need to do to stay relaxed and in control in a stressful situation. Then, practice as much as you can in situations when the pressure is off until it becomes second nature. Try strategies like deep breathing, counting to 10, taking a quick walk, or drinking tea or water. You could also try sending a text to a sibling or friend or scrolling through social media for a minute or two. Some self-doubt is natural, but letting it control you will prevent you from making tough decisions and weathering bad situations. When you realize you’re having a negative thought, challenge yourself to turn it into a positive one, a process known as reframing. If you’re feeling unsure about a making a decision, use all the information available, make the best choice you can, and stick to it confidently, without regret.  For example, if you’re having a negative thought like “I’ll definitely fail,” change it into something like, “Failure is possible, but it’s only assured if I don’t try.” Identify your talents and throw yourself into them. You’ll feel unique and accomplished, which will go a long way in helping you build your confidence. Change your mindset and see scary situations as moments of opportunity, where you have a huge chance to grow. Embrace them, push yourself over the edge, and see what’s you’re truly capable of. Be mindful of other cognitive distortions you may have since they could affect your way of thinking and perceiving others. Set aside at least a few minutes of alone time every day to check in with yourself. What’s your focus? Is that what you want to spend your mental energy on? First, accept your thoughts as they are, then push yourself to slowly shift them towards strength, self-confidence, and motivation. Try meditation to help you focus and quiet your mind. Working to relax, increase your awareness, and center yourself can help you stay balanced and calm in stressful situations. It’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed from time to time. Acknowledge your worry, panic, or stress and don’t beat yourself up about it—that will only make you more upset. Instead, fall back on your comforting and calming techniques to move past the emotions. Getting upset or angry doesn’t mean you’re not a tough person—tough people get overwhelmed too. True mental toughness is knowing how to accept, respect, and move past your emotions so they don’t control you. If you’re still feeling unable to take on the challenges and difficulties in your life, it’s OK to ask for help. Try opening up to a trusted friend or family member, or talking to a counselor or therapist if that’s more comfortable.  Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. In fact, it shows that you’re strong enough to know when you need to lean on someone else and brave enough to seek the help you need. If you’re talking to a friend or family member, say something like, “I haven’t been feeling strong or confident lately and I think it’ll help me feel better if I talk to someone about it. Would you mind just listening to me for a while?”

Summary: Identify your natural strengths and weaknesses. Practice calm responses Work on building up your confidence slowly. Practice being alone and confronting your thoughts. Respect and accept your emotions. Talk to a friend or counselor if you need more help.


Dark clothing requires extra gentle washing and can also bleed onto lighter clothes if they're washed at the same time. Therefore, always separate dark and light clothing before doing laundry. Darker garments should be washed separately. The less exposure dark fabrics get to water and detergent, the better. Turning your clothing inside out before washing it minimizes contact with water and soap. For best results, look for a detergent specifically formulated to wash dark clothes. A basic detergent that's free of additives is your best option. Avoid things like "color-safe bleach," as no bleach is actually 100% color safe. While you should avoid most additives, a built-in fabric softener is a good idea, especially one specifically formulated for dark clothes. Pick the shortest cycle offered by your washer or dryer. A briefer cycle minimizes dark clothing's exposure to water and soap, reducing the amount of damage it accrues. Choose the coldest water setting possible. Cold water does not cause as much fading and bleeding in the wash. Never wash dark clothes in warm or hot water. White vinegar can help prevent the build up of residue from detergent. Detergent residue is a major culprit in dark clothing becoming faded. During the rinse cycle, open your washer and add a cup of white vinegar. The less time dark clothing spends in the dryer, the better. It's best to hang your dark clothes to dry. Do not hang your clothes in direct sunlight, however, as sun exposure can fade color.
Summary: Separate dark and light clothing. Turn dark clothing inside out. Pick a detergent for dark clothing. Opt for a shorter cycle. Use cold water. Add a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle. Hang dry your clothes.