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.
Is this the coolest electric bicycle you have ever seen?
In the emerging electric bicycle world, there are all sorts of vehicles that blend pedal power with the convenience of an electric motor. Some are bland, some are lovely. Some are designed to carry cargo in crowded urban areas. Some resemble laid back cruisers and some are fat tire specials. But Read More...
Fair play: Monopoly was invented to demonstrate the evils of capitalism
Most of us have played the best selling board game Monopoly. And we have learned that there’s always one winner with the most hotels who “destroys” the other players. In that sense Monopoly is an ultimate lesson in modern capitalism. However, the woman who invented the game in 1904 had a very Read More...
Why curious people have better relationships
There’s an old saying: “Curiosity killed the cat.” It implies curiosity is bad for you and leads to dangerous risk-taking behavior. But this idea of curiosity is pretty outdated—in humans, at least. Curiosity—the desire to approach novel and challenging ideas and Read More...
Science proves it: first impressions last
Thirty milliseconds of exposure to someone's face is all it takes to provide sufficient information for your brain to form an impression of them. So says Face Value, a new book based on Princeton psychologist Alexander Todorov's research into the science of first impressions. Professor Todorov Read More...
‘Having fewer children does not save the planet’
According to a new study that identifies the most effective ways people can cut their carbon emissions, the greatest impact individuals can have in fighting climate change is to have one fewer child. That’s a sad conclusion as having children is arguably the most fulfilling dimension a human Read More...
How to be mindful while reading
Find a window of time when you can focus on your reading, rather than trying to squeeze it into a busy day or get a few pages in before bedtime. Pick reading that will engage but not deplete you, something that requires a bit of mental energy, but doesn’t end up as another item on your growing Read More...
How to build a business model on altruism
When I was in the hospital several years ago battling cancer, I was given a beautiful candle that soothed me, imparting hopefulness and peace of mind. The mission of my company was birthed out of that experience, and I wanted to reflect that hope and healing back to my community — and the Read More...
A South African startup is using bitcoin to turn digital pirates against each other
The scholarly environs of the New Media research lab at Stellenbosch University in South Africa gave rise to a diabolically clever plan to deal with video piracy in 2015: Lure pirates with bitcoin to find out the source of the contraband material. That project has become the basis for a startup Read More...
France urges resumption of Israel-Palestine peace talks
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a resumption of long-stalled peace talks between Israel and Palestine based on a two-state solution. Macron said on Sunday that France was ready to apply diplomatic levers toward renewed negotiations, but gave no specifics. He did not indicate any Read More...
Generosity makes you happier
It has long been acknowledged that acts of generosity raise levels of happiness and emotional well-being, giving charitable people a pleasant feeling known, in behavioral economics, as a "warm glow." But so far, no studies have investigated the mechanics behind the correlation between altruism and Read More...