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.
Why difficult conversations can be transformative—even without a resolution
In the early 2000s, psychology professor Peter Coleman of Columbia University established The Difficult Conversations Lab to study deeply rooted, complicated and hard-to-solve conflicts. He wanted to understand why conflicts in families, communities, and in the international arena get stuck in a Read More...
Feed your brain by paying attention to the symbolisms of your daily commute
You’ve probably heard the advice to change up your commute now and then as a way to take your brain off of autopilot and give your synapses a little exercise. Here’s another activity that might feed your grey matter: try contemplating the symbolism embedded in the modes of transportation you Read More...
The taming tool: a simple way to help you overcome anxiety
You can’t rewire your brain to stop feeling anxiety at once, but you can use a simple tool to help tame your anxiety once you feel it coming. That simple tool has a fitting name: the taming tool. But before we dive into what the taming tool is, let’s understand anxiety better. Anxiety is a Read More...
Taking a flight out of France in the future? Expect an ecotax starting 2020
Travelers looking to take a flight out of France will be charged an extra little fee starting in 2020. The good news—for the environmentalists— is that the fee is an “ecotax” to help combat the negative effects that the aviation industry has on the climate. The tax will vary depending on Read More...
Next time you need a creativity boost, try playing Minecraft
While video games are mainly a source of entertainment, new research suggests some games can also get your creative juices flowing. In a recent study, researchers from Iowa State University found that video games such as Minecraft may help increase creativity when players are given the freedom to Read More...
Don’t enjoy running? Here are 9 alternative cardio exercises you can do
Running is awesome. It’s a simple, effective form of cardio that offers a whole range of health benefits. It also sucks—depending on who you ask. But if you belong to the camp of people who simply don’t enjoy running, you can still get the benefits of cardio without having to run around the Read More...
Chubb becomes America’s first insurance company to step away from coal
US insurance giant Chubb Limited just announced new policies when dealing with coal, and it’s not going to make friends of the fossil fuels industry happy. The company announced it no longer will underwrite the construction and operation of new coal-fired plants or new risks for companies that Read More...
Anchoring: the meditation tool that can help you build confidence
Confidence is a positive state of mind centered around your power or ability to be the person you want to be, to do the things you want to do, and to have what you want to have in your life. And although it seems that confidence is something you’re either born with or you aren’t, it’s Read More...
Satisfying the Ache for Home
Whole Community Approaches to Accommodation by Amelia Buckley Homelessness has been on the rise in many major cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco, where homelessness rose in the last year by 12 and 17 percent respectively. But even for those who have a home, it’s often not that Read More...
The National Trust of Great Britain has pulled its funds from fossil fuels
As Europe’s largest conservation group, The National Trust of the UK is a powerful organization with loads of wealth. The organization holds up to £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in assets, with a large chunk dedicated towards fossil fuel companies including BP, Shell, and Total. In the past, the Read More...