...And nine other things you should do
by Sally Stich

Never. It’s not a word tossed around lightly. Few things in life truly lend themselves to such an extreme. But there are few things you really should never,ever do. Consider the following as 10 more commandments for living a richer life.

Never Treat Friends Better Than Family. How many of us say or do things to family that we’d never say or do to a friend? One of the worst things you can do is to assume that bad behavior is OK because family members will forgive out of love. “You may get away with it longer than with friends,” says California-based psychotherapist Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., "but it'll corrode the relationship nonetheless." PUT IT TO WORK If you're guilty of mistreating your family, start appreciating them. Let family members know you're grateful that they're part of your life. And pick your battles. Just as you bite your tongue with friends, start holding your tongue more often when your mom or husband pushes your buttons.

Never Be a Know-It-All. Few things irritate as much as being around someone who always thinks she’s right. “Every relationship has two points of view,” says Noah St. John, author of Permission to Succeed, “and it doesn’t work if one person always has to be right.” Since being correct all of the time is impossible, and Ms. Perfect is annoying to be around, step up when you’ve erred.

PUT IT WORK This is a tough habit to break, so start slowly. Practice keeping your mouth shut the next time you’re tempted to pipe up, if you must talk, ask a question. Listen carefully to the answer, and remember; The world won’t stop if you keep some of your knowledge to yourself.

Never Stop Having Fun Many of us have lost our sense of fun. "I ask clients how they define fun," says psychotherapist Tina Tessina, "and they say going to Disneyland or Las Vegas." But fun doesn't have to be that complicated. "Having fun doesn't need to cost money," Tessina adds, "and it doesn't have to last for hours or days. Plus; the benefits are too powerful to ignore: It takes you away from your responsibilities for a few minutes, refreshes you and makes you more productive and organized.

PUT IT TO WORK If you're worried that you've forgotten how to play. think back to childhood. What did you love to do when you were a kid? For Marney Solomon, a preschool teacher in Highland Park, Illinois, a fun afternoon is spent browsing at antiques stores for favorite games and dolls she played with as a child.