Scientists think that the way we respond to tickling has something to do with surprise and that we can control our response if we expect it. Think about it. Can you tickle yourself? Not very well because your body knows what is coming. The key to getting a good response may be surprise.  One good idea is to very lightly walk your fingers up and down your victim's sides. Or, you might try casually approaching the target. Put your arm around his shoulder or pull him into a hug. Then...tickle! Keep it up for a minute or so until you tire or he retaliates. As a slight alternative, go for a hug from behind and tickle his waist while you do so. Another strategy is the ambush attack. In this form, you will rely on complete and utter surprise. Wait for your target to round a corner, for example, and, when he appears, pounce! Make sure to use your momentary advantage to hit fast and hard, targeting the most vulnerable areas. Usually, one of the best and most accessible tickle spots will be his flanks around the rib cage. Go to town there. The armpits will also be exposed in a surprise strike. If your target is susceptible there, alternate between his underarms and flanks. If all goes well, your target should soon be laughing, tearing up, and rolling into a giddy ball on the ground. His defenses are down. You can now exploit his vulnerability and find other weak points.  Try the backs of the knees. This may only work in warm weather, if he is wearing shorts. The soles of the feet are often an excellent tickle spot and may not be exposed during normal activity. On the ground, though, you can definitely target them. Rely on your knowledge of the target. Recall his tickle spots and try to alternate from point to point rapidly. Moving in this manner will prevent him from mounting a defense. Consider tools that can help you reduce your quarry to a laughing ball of mirth. Different levels of softness or different textures should heighten the effect of the tickling.  A simple feather or a feather duster is one excellent option. Try a soft-bristled brush as well.

Summary: Use the art of surprise. Target the sides. Target other known tickle spots. Use a brush, feather, or other device.


Review the assignment sheet at least twice to make sure you fully understand what your instructor expects. If you have questions, ask your instructor as soon as possible so that you aren’t doing your assignment wrong. This will ensure that you get full credit for your work. Your instructor has assigned journaling to help you deepen your understanding of your coursework and to improve your writing skills. Following their instructions will help you best achieve these goals. Including the date helps you keep track of when you wrote an entry. This helps you understand what was happening at your life at the time. Use the date format you’re most comfortable using. For instance, you might write, “July 24, 2019,” “07-24-19,” or “24 July 2019.” While this is optional, it can help you remember what was happening at the time you wrote each entry. This is a big help if you plan to read over your journal in the future. Record the location and time under your date or at the start of the journal entry itself. For instance, you might write “Good Beans Coffee House,” “School,” “Paris,” or “My bedroom” for your location. For the time, you could write the actual time, such as “12:25 p.m.,” or the time of day, like “Early morning.” Using a salutation is totally optional, so feel free to skip it. However, you might try it a few times to see if it helps you get in the mindset to write. Choose a salutation that appeals to you if you want to use one.

Summary: Read your assignment sheet if you’re keeping a journal for school. Write the date at the top of your entry. Include the location and time to provide context for what was happening. Start with an opening like “Dear Diary” or “Dear Self” if you prefer.


Employees see a different side of the company than you do. Because of this, they’ll have a better idea of what needs improvement on their end. Often, these ideas will make their jobs easier, leading to more productivity. Whether it's a more reliable copier or a different manner of invoicing, remember that small holes sink ships, and small fixes keep them afloat. Try to implement as many of their ideas as possible – not only to increase workflow but also to make them feel valued and listened to. Whether it’s positive or negative, employees need to know how they’re doing and that they’re on the right track. Structure allows them to breathe easier. With feedback, they know exactly what is expected of them and in what areas they can improve upon. This makes you happier too, getting your point across! Be sure to keep the feedback personal. Don't parade about talking about how great one employee is while not giving praise to the others. And the opposite is even more true: don't berate a person openly. They'll feel dejected, unmotivated, and downright terrible. Mentor, coach, and align them for the future. To make them into a valuable employee, they need skills they can use for a long time coming. Give them opportunities to better their entire lives, not just to keep them punched in doing overtime. When they have a gig that gives them life skills, they'll see the value in their work. Make it clear you’re interested in their work-life balance. Investing in their lives also means investing in their happiness. This can range from asking questions about their families to going out to happy hour to initiating a work trip. You want balanced, unstressed individuals as employees, not unmotivated drones who count the seconds ticking by. Getting an automatic email from your company saying, “Wow! You’ve worked a million hours for us! Thanks!” is nice, sure (if you know the HR department perhaps), but getting a hand-written note from your boss (even if you don’t know him or her) would mean the world. Take these little opportunities, from birthdays to congratulations to condolences. When your employees can feel your presence, they'll feel like they're a valued part of the company – after all, why else would you spend this time on them? Imagine a boss who comes to work every day in a suit and tie, goes straight to his office, and only calls you in when he’s giving you a performance review. Fun, huh? Now imagine a boss who, once in a while, comes to work in a monkey outfit, gives everyone bananas, and throws impromptu meetings every so often (sometimes in the monkey outfit) to talk to his team, get a feel for how things are going, and update everyone on where the company is at. Which boss would make you want to come to work?  Okay, so you don’t have to wear a monkey outfit. But coming to work with a box of banana cream donuts wouldn't hurt! Take part of your lunch break to crack jokes with your team. Laughter is contagious and can keep everyone's spirits up under the pressure of work and deadlines. Let them see you as a person, quirks and all. Making yourself real will turn you into a person with feelings whom they respect and don't want to disappoint.
Summary: Listen to what they think needs improvement. Keep the feedback coming. Invest in your employees’ lives. Make everything personal. Be a little weird.