In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Get together for coffee or lunch at a casual, non-romantic place. Treat your meeting as just that: a meeting. It's not a date, no matter how much it may feel like one.  If the place you are meeting serves alcohol, don't drink at all or limit yourself to one drink. Too many drinks could impair your judgment with your ex.  Drive separately to your meeting place. Don't meet at your house or your ex's house. Being alone together could lead to more, and you are only interested in friendship. You don't want to look like you are coming on to your ex. A handshake, a hug, or a peck on the cheek are all appropriate, but don't take it beyond that. You do not want to indicate to your ex that you are interested in anything more than a friendship. If your ex tries anything that you are not comfortable with, get physical distance between the two of you and let them know you are not interested. You could say, “John, I just wanted to get together so we could catch up, but I'm not interested in rekindling a relationship. I know it's easy to fall into old habits, but I just don't want to go down that road again.” Ask what your ex has been doing and if they have anything new to report. Share your own updates as well.   Be a good listener and ask a lot of questions about your ex's life, family, job, and interests. Don't monopolize the conversation. If you run out of things to talk about in your own lives, you can always talk about current events, recent movies you've seen, or sports you both follow.  Understand that the conversation might be awkward at first. Be patient. The two of you haven't talked to each other for a while, and it may feel uncomfortable, especially if you parted on a bad note. The first time you meet up again, it may not be appropriate to delve too deeply into the past, beyond apologizing for hurting each other. Think about this meeting as taking a step into a new future, and not a rehashing of pain from the past.  Don't bring up old fights. Don't bring up sentimental memories. There may be a time and place for this later, but not at your first meeting. You may wish to offer a more formal apology for any pain you caused during your relationship. You could say something like, “I know I said this earlier when we first started texting, but I did want to apologize in person for how our relationship ended. I know I said some mean things, and I hurt you. I hope we can move on and build a friendship.” While it may feel easy and comfortable to slip back into old habits of your romantic relationship, avoid going down that road. Don't call your ex by their old pet names or bring up old inside jokes, or anything else personal from your relationship.  Old emotions may unexpectedly surface when you see your ex in person. If you find yourself getting emotional or feeling overwhelmed, excuse yourself to the bathroom and take some deep breaths. Resist any temptations to be romantic with your ex, whether it is flirtatious or physical. Remember that your goal is only to reconnect with your ex as a friend.
Summary: Have a casual meeting. Limit your physical contact. Catch up on each other's lives. Keep it light. Keep it friendly.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: The best way to “train” yourself to have willpower is to be willing to sacrifice your desire for instant gratification for the sake of a long-term reward.  Eventually, your reward can be “living well” or “experiencing financial stability,” but for learning to exercise your willpower, it’s best to have a concrete reward.  For example, if you are on a weight loss journey, trying to control impulsive eating habits, your end reward may be a shopping spree for an entire new wardrobe in your new size. If you are controlling your impulse spending, you can have something costly that you normally wouldn’t be able to save for as your final reward.  For example, you may buy a new big-screen television or go on a relaxing trip to a tropical island with a friend. This is the essence of cultivating your willpower.  When you feel tempted to give in to an impulse, realize that what you really want is that short-lived feeling of instant gratification.  If your impulsive behavior is contrary to your goals, you will likely feel guilty after indulging in the instant gratification.  To resist an impulse for instant gratification, try the following:  Acknowledge what you want to do Tell yourself you are just looking for instant gratification Remind yourself of your short-term or long-term goals Ask yourself whether giving into your impulse is worth getting off-track for or jeopardizing your final goal.   For example, if you are working to control food impulses and you are standing next to a cookie tray at a party:  Admit that you want a cookie (or five) Acknowledge that the cookie may satisfy your craving or impulse for right now Remind yourself that you are working towards a goal of losing 40 pounds and a reward of getting to buy a new wardrobe Ask yourself whether the temporary satisfaction of eating a cookie is worth getting off-track with your progress and potentially not getting your new wardrobe in the end. A motivation or reward system will not change your willpower in the long run, but it can help set you on the road to success.  Because a big end reward can take a long time to get to, it can be effective to give yourself smaller “guidepost” rewards for progress.  For example, if you have one week of making good choices about food, you can indulge in a favorite treat at the end of the week.  Alternatively, you can reward yourself with something non-food related, such as a pedicure or massage. If you are controlling impulsive spending, you might give yourself a reward for saving.  For example, you may decide that for every $500 you save, you get to splurge and spend $50 on anything you want.
Summary: Keep the “big picture” in mind. Forgo instant gratification. Give yourself mini-rewards for progress.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Instead of shoving your assignments into your locker, keep them in a binder with dividers organizing which class the assignments are for. This will help you remember what you need to get done and you will be less likely to lose important assignments in your locker if you know when they are due. Whether it is at lunch, between class, or after school, find a good time to reorganize. Everyday make sure your assignments are in the correct place and your locker only contains the items that are supposed to be there. This will help prevent your locker from getting messy.
Summary:
Get a binder for your assignments. Write down your assignments in a planner. Find a good time everyday to keep things organized.