Today’s Solutions: April 03, 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.

Sorted recycling bins

These basic recycling rules apply no matter where you live

We all want to recycle as much as possible to reduce waste and encourage circularity, but it can be confusing to know what exactly is recyclable as the rules vary from country to country and even city to city. Fortunately, there are a few basic recycling rules that apply no matter where you Read More...

two diesel pumps side by side

New Jersey is first eastern state to start phasing out diesel powered trucks

In the latter half of December 2021, New Jersey became the first east coast state to begin the process of phasing out diesel-powered trucks (meaning anything bigger than a delivery van). The plan, which is based on California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule (ACT), is expected to roll out in 2025 and Read More...

view from above of woman sorting through photography

Is journaling not your thing? Here are 3 alternatives

Cultivating a journaling habit has been proven to help deal with stressful times, boost creativity, and improve mental health in general. That said, some people just aren’t a fan of journaling—or, an individual’s appetite for journaling may change throughout their lives; perhaps as a child Read More...

elderly man pushes elderly woman's wheelchair into accessible garden

Tips for designing an accessible garden

We’ve shared several articles touting the great and plentiful benefits of gardening; however, many gardens aren’t designed with accessibility in mind. This means that individuals with mobility issues or a form of disability will not be able to enjoy the space. Here are a few tips on how you Read More...

students at Valayanchirangara primary school walk comfortably in unisex uniforms

Unisex uniforms at Indian school starts gender equality movement

A small government primary school in the south Indian state of Kerala started a quiet revolution aimed at tackling gender inequality. Now, the revolution has spread across the entire state. Their agent of change? School uniforms. Three years ago, Valayanchirangara primary school decided to Read More...

Yellow sticky note with new years reolutions written on in front of journal.

Use these 7 science-based strategies to make your resolutions stick this year

For most of us, the new year means new goals, dreams, and habits. Whether you’re trying to be more active, practice a new hobby, or save money, we have science-based strategies to help you stick to your resolutions all year long. Georgetown psychology professor, Jelena Kecmanovic, says these Read More...

Person sitting on top of a cliff looking at a mountain

Four New Year’s resolutions that benefit you and the planet

New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on how we can better ourselves for the year ahead, but what if we broadened the scope of our resolutions to include our communities and the planet? Although unconventional, expanding your resolutions will make them more impactful and could even help you to Read More...

young woman pulls down mask to reveal irritated skin or

How to deal with "maskne"

Mask-wearing helps keep us and everyone else safe and healthy, but we can all agree that mask-wearing-induced skin irritation and acne (otherwise known as “maskne”) is not ideal. The two types of maskne that people get when wearing face masks are: contact friction and breakouts. While they Read More...

ZZ plant in a sunny window

10 Houseplants anyone can keep alive

Is your New Year’s resolution to finally keep a houseplant alive? Picking a variety that’s easy to care for is the best way to ensure success, and fortunately, there are many varieties that are both beautiful and resilient to get started with. Here are 10 low-maintenance houseplants ideal for Read More...

White man with glasses against a yellow background points finger and loses temper

Have a short-temper? Tips from an empathy expert on how to stay cool

You aren’t alone if you can relate to having a short fuse every once in a while, however, this can greatly affect your relationships, well-being, and stress levels. With time and reflection, you can start working on keeping cool so that you don’t end up deflated after every disagreement or Read More...