Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Choose a color-coded strip kit for a budget-friendly, basic option. Use clean hands to open an alcohol swab, test strip, and lancet. Prick your sterilized finger with the lancet pen to draw blood. Wait the designated amount of time for the test strip to change colors. Compare your result to the recommended total cholesterol range.

Answer: Pharmacies often carry several types of tests that utilize a color-changing strip to assess your cholesterol. They’re less expensive than multi-use digital testers, usually costing $20-$50 USD, and are reasonably accurate when used correctly. However, they generally don’t break down the different aspects of your cholesterol reading.  While often called “single-use” strip kits, don’t be confused—many kits contain multiple testing strips, but each strip can only be used once. You might, for example, find a kit that contains enough single-use strips for 4 individual cholesterol tests. If you’re buying a kit online, choose one that’s approved by the FDA (in the U.S.) or similar government agency where you live. If you just want to test your cholesterol out of curiosity or only occasionally, this may be the right option for you. If you plan to test your cholesterol more frequently—due, for example, to your doctor’s recommendation—a digital readout tester may be a better choice. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel. Open one of the sealed, sterile packets in your kit that contains a test strip. Do the same with one alcohol swab packet and one packet holding the lancet you’ll use to prick your finger. Essentially all test kits now use lancets that are pre-loaded into individual “lancet pens.” You’ll likely need to pop the cap off of the pen, so check the kit’s instructions if you need guidance.  Read the product instructions carefully, especially for using the lancet pen. Talk to your pharmacist if you need additional help. The lancets themselves look a bit like large sewing needles, but few if any test kids use lancets that aren’t pre-loaded into individual pens. Lancet pens are much easier to use than loose lancets, so always choose a kit that contains pre-loaded pens. Unless your specific product instructions tell you otherwise, do the following: Wipe the alcohol swab over the pad of one of your fingers and let it dry for a few seconds. Press the dispensing end of the pen (it often has a red button at the end) against your finger pad. This causes the lancet to emerge, prick your finger, and retract very quickly. Pull the pen away and set it aside to toss in the trash as soon as you’re finished.  Do not re-use lancet pens. Throw the pen away after a single use. You’ll feel a bit of pain when the lancet pricks your finger, but it will only last for a few seconds. Color-coded strip kits usually take several minutes to produce results. The spot on the testing strip where you wiped your blood sample will slowly change color. Be sure to wait the amount of time directed by the kit’s instructions, or your results may not be accurate.Remember to be patient! Assessing a color-coded test strip too early or too late could give you an incorrect result. Since most color-coded strip test kits only test for total cholesterol, your only point of comparison will probably be the recommended total cholesterol range. For the average healthy adult, the ideal range is between 125 to 200 mg/dl. However, your ideal range may be different, based on your particular circumstances. No matter your result, your best option is to share the information with your doctor. “mg/dl” refers to milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. The higher your mg/dl is, the more susceptible you are to developing blockages in your arteries.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Motivate others. Commend good work. Cooperate instead of competing. Be visible and approachable.

Answer: For teamwork you need motivated colleagues. One of the best ways for a leader to motivate her colleagues is pay attention to them and make it clear that you are there to provide support and help when required. Try to keep people focussed on the goals that are the highest priorities in order to provide a clear route forward.  You shouldn’t be the last person to find out if someone has concerns or is struggling. Be active and communicative to identify problems and deal with them. This may involve tweaking your team or the distribution of work. For example, if someone is losing interest as the work is not challenging her, think of ways you can get her to engage with her tasks. You could explain how this work, although a bit boring, is essential to the overall project. Say something like “I know this is a bit monotonous, but without this the whole thing falls apart. I assigned it to you because you have great attention to detail.” An important part of motivating others is commending good work. Look for opportunities to praise people for a job well done, and demonstrate that you appreciate what they are doing. Taking an active interest in the work of your colleagues is a key feature of a good leader who is able to motivate her team.  With more junior members of staff, always be on the lookout for career development opportunities. A positive and cooperative working culture where people’s hard work is respected and appreciated will result in a more motivated group. If you are trying to be a strong leader, it can be tempting to try to prompt better work by creating a competitive environment amongst your colleagues. In fact, developing a more cooperative work culture often leads to more effective working and better relationships.  Any battles that arise in a competitive culture cost valuable time and resources to deal with. You are better off creating common goals that you can achieve together.  Creating a cooperative environment will encourage collaboration and help avoid silo working. If you are leading a team on a project, it’s important that you are available to your colleagues. Remember that a good leader is someone who not only gets the task done, but is also concerned with helping her colleagues develop and achieve their potential. Be open to mentoring more junior colleagues, and be sure to make time for one-to-one training when required.  You can make yourself visible and available in a number of ways. For example, you might schedule in a short period each day where you are free to listen to any concerns. You could do this formally, or just set aside half an hour in which you can go around the team and check how everybody is getting on. If someone asks you something and you don’t have time to deal with it right away, don’t dismiss it outright. Schedule a time later when you are free to talk.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Note your parents' mood. Observe your parents' daily routine. Make a big request first. Summarize what your parents tell you.

Answer:
A good mood can change a “no” to a “yes.” You can encourage good moods by doing chores before your parents ask, talking about fun times you’ve shared, or listening together to their favorite music. It can be extra effective to talk about social events, like a school party, family gathering, or festival, where your parents had fun. This can help put them in a good mood. If you find that your parents are usually in a good mood in the morning, try to ask them after breakfast. Their after-breakfast mood will be more agreeable. If your parents are more active during the evening, aim for after dinner. A few days before asking your parents about going to the sleepover, ask them for something else you want but know they won't let you have. Say, ask them if you can adopt a dog from the animal shelter or have your own car. A few days later, when you're ready to ask your parents for the sleepover, they will be more likely to make this small concession after refusing your other, bigger request. By putting what your parents have told you in your own words and repeating it back to them, you will show your parents that you understand what they're saying and how they feel. This will help your chances of having a sleepover and changing your parents' minds. Your parents will see you're mature enough to try to listen to and understand their point of view.