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.
4 easy ways to be more mindful at work
Bringing more mindfulness into my working days is one of the best things I can do for my enjoyment, productivity and creativity. Rather than spending time counting down the clock, allowing frustration to grow, or taking work stresses home with me, I use several techniques to create a more mindful Read More...
6 steps to turn mindless activities into mindful ones
Coloring books for adults currently top a number of bestseller lists. And they have become a staple in bookstores, grocery stores and drugstores. But, let’s be clear, coloring in a book doesn’t automatically mean that you’re being mindful. Mindfulness isn’t about what you are doing; it’s Read More...
Want to be happy and successful? Science says do these 7 things
Why do we work so hard and get so little in return? Sure, we may be paid well for the work we do, and we may enjoy our coworkers and the work we do. But for most of us, we work harder and longer hours than ever before, believing that by doing so, we'll find the happiness and success we want in our Read More...
On the hunt for natural beauty products for women who actually *like* makeup
It sounds like the start of a joke: A rock star and a Harvard business school student team up and start a beauty blog. But Beauty Lies Truth is a real site started by Alexis Krauss, one half of the band Sleigh Bells, and Harvard Business School student Jessica Assaf. Their goal? To advocate for a Read More...
Cutting back on social media could help you sleep better
Over here at The Optimist, we love social media. But, as always, moderation is good. A study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that heavy social media use could disturb your sleep patterns. The researchers looked specifically at young adults and found that Read More...
Iran: Economic growth will defeat extremism in Middle East
Only weeks after financial sanctions were rolled back following the implementation of its nuclear deal with world powers, Iran is embarking on a mission to rebuild relationships with the West. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France giving the message that Read More...
How science can teach us to be more relaxed
After a busy and stressful year, I recently found myself physically and mentally exhausted with a very real need to relax. A last-minute holiday felt like a perfect solution and I returned feeling refreshed and recharged. What was it that helped me to relieve my physical tension and restore my Read More...
Mindfulness: the craze sweeping through schools is now at a university near you
Slowly take a raisin and examine every wrinkle and fold of its surface. Feel its texture with your fingers. Inhale its scent. Squeeze it and hear how it sounds. Raise it to your lips, place it in your mouth, explore it with your tongue. Prepare to chew. As you bite into it, notice the bursts of Read More...
Family planning can help the world: Lessons from Indonesia
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, cut its fertility rate in half over a 30-year period. After decades of international efforts administered by the United Nations, development experts concur that family planning programs have been a key tool in reducing poverty and in empowering Read More...
The health benefits of knitting
About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. My reluctant response — “When would I do that?” — was rejoined with “Monday afternoons at 4,” at a friend’s home not three minutes’ walk from my own. I agreed to give it a try. My mother had Read More...