Today’s Solutions: January 23, 2025

Lifestyle

Alongside taking care of other people and the planet, make sure you take good care of yourself. The Lifestyle section at the Optimist Daily has solutions for everyday wellbeing on topics like food, beauty, fashion, and the latest trends. Curious about caring for houseplants, eating plant-based, or parenting tips? It’s all in there.

group of elderly friends play chess

New study confirms brain benefits of regular socialization

Earlier this year, we discussed how socialization can help prevent cognitive decline. Now, additional research from Penn State’s Center for Healthy Aging has further solidified this correlation with evidence that social interactions can immediately impact cognitive health.  Study leader Read More...

Local shop with open sign

This app rewards local shoppers and encourages community building

The city of Akron, Ohio, launched a program designed to help support the local businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic and encourage a more circular economy. The program rewards shoppers for shopping locally through a city-sponsored app called Akronite, from which shoppers receive Read More...

group of men and women walk on a nature trail hike

Why hiking is good for your brain

Hiking has gained popularity during the pandemic as a safe way to get outside and stay active. Hiking lets you take in the beauty of nature in your community and it has many health benefits, especially for your brain. Today we share a few of them to encourage you to get outside and get Read More...

Child holds yoga mat in front of her friends

To fight child obesity, family and friends need to accept kids as they are

Despite the launch of many programs and initiatives designed to get kids in the US to eat healthier, like the elimination of junk food from school vending machines, child obesity rates keep rising and increased more rapidly during the pandemic. So, the question remains: what are these schemes Read More...

Turning of the year 2021 to 2022

8 Trends from 2021 We’ll Carry to the New Year

“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” - Hal Borland  It’s the time of year for reflections and projections as we take stock of all that has happened over the last twelve months and peer with hopeful curiosity Read More...

Person signing document at the bank

CA Bill highlights the benefits of free public banking

In 2020 we shared how startup Majority helps immigrants navigate the US financial system with banking assistance. The reality is that because of overdraft charges, account minimums, and other fees, many low-income or marginalized individuals choose to avoid the banking system because of monetary Read More...

Stockton flag

UBI Success: Updates from the case study in Stockton, CA

Back in 2019, we shared how Stockton, California was launching the country’s first universal basic income (UBI) experiment. Spearheaded by former mayor Michael Tubbs, the program was set to run for 24 months from February 2019 to February 2021. Now that the program is nearly complete, we have Read More...

Train traveling through the Austrian countryside

Austria’s Klimaticket lets you to travel anywhere in the country for just €3 a day

Fifteen years after it was first proposed, Austria has finally officially introduced its Klimaticket, or ‘climate ticket,’ an annual ticket with unlimited access to all public transportation for the price of just €3 ($3.50) per day. The implementation of the Klimaticket comes just after Read More...

Woman speaking in work meeting

Study: Diverse corporate boards see lower risk and high return on equity

Earlier this year, we wrote an Optimist View about the value of investing in diversity. Now, there’s even more research to back the benefits of inclusion. A new report by BofA Global Research found that S&P 500 companies that are more diverse and inclusive see better performance and lower Read More...

Woman shopping at IKEA

IKEA’s buy back and resell program has launched in select US stores

Last year, Swedish furniture company IKEA announced plans to launch a “Buy Back & Resell” program as part of their plan to reduce waste and become carbon neutral by 2020. After successful trials of the buy-back program in Europe, the sustainable initiative is officially coming to select US Read More...