Today’s Solutions: January 17, 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.

Ever thought to clean your ear

Ever thought to clean your earbuds? Here’s how to do it right

These days, earbuds are considered an essential accessory— almost everyone pops them in to listen to their favorite music or podcasts while on the go. But, we’re not the only ones who love them! Due to their warm, moist environment and contact with diverse surfaces, earbuds can accumulate Read More...

Pen and paper revival: The man

Pen and paper revival: The many brain-boosting benefits of writing by hand

Now that laptops, smartphones, and other devices are so commonplace in our modern-day lives, the art of writing by hand has seen a decline. Before, young people were taught how to read and write in cursive at school as part of the standard curriculum. Since 2010, however, the Common Core standards Read More...

Novel drug shows promise as tr

Novel drug shows promise as treatment for postpartum depression

Women suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) may soon not find themselves in despair for long, as a novel medicine known as zuranolone shows promise in altering their lives. This prospective drug gives new mothers the possibility of a standalone treatment for PPD, a mood condition that affects Read More...

Explore nature this summer: Ad

Explore nature this summer: Adventures in 8 of America's most accessible national parks

Summertime is the perfect time to hit the road and see some of the 63 magnificent national parks spread across the United States. However, these fun summer activities shouldn’t be off-limits to those with different accessibility needs—accessibility and inclusion are crucial so that all visitors Read More...

Meet Kevin Maxen, the first US

Meet Kevin Maxen, the first US men’s professional sports coach to publicly come out as gay

Kevin Maxen, the associate strength coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the first male coach in a men's professional sports league in the United States to come out as gay.  He frankly expressed his reasoning for taking this step in an interview with Outsports, adding, "I don't want to feel Read More...

Guar bean fiber: What is it an

Guar bean fiber: What is it and why is it so good for gut health?

If you want to improve your gut health, there's a tasty and effective remedy you shouldn't overlook: guar bean fiber, often known as guar gum. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition provides light on the extraordinary benefits of this fiber source for your gut. Discovering the Read More...

Count, roll, and win! Why boar

Count, roll, and win! Why board games are experiencing a well-deserved revival 

Board games are making a successful comeback in this age of screens and virtual realities. Nostalgia fans are ecstatic about the opportunity to recreate childhood memories, while pubs are offering game evenings and families are rediscovering the joy of face-to-face interaction.  In a world Read More...

Is a “workcation” right fo

Is a “workcation” right for you? How to balance work and play in the era of flexible work

You’ve probably already heard about the latest work-life balance trend. It's known as a workcation or a bleisure trip, and it combines work and vacation into one amazing experience. Consider lying in the sun on a tropical beach while adhering to your everyday business tasks. Sounds intriguing, Read More...

Shopping cart handles are an u

Shopping cart handles are an unexpected ally in the fight against heart arrhythmia

Liverpool John Moores University researchers fitted a device into the handles of shopping trolleys to monitor for atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart arrhythmia related to an increased risk of stroke. This novel method allows people to monitor their cardiac rhythm while doing their normal Read More...

5 fun meat-free alternatives t

5 fun meat-free alternatives to put between those hotdog buns

Hot dogs are unusual culinary wonders that have captured many people’s hearts and appetites. In fact, in celebration of Independence Day on July Fourth, Americans will eat a whopping 150 million hot dogs. However, underlying their tastiness is the fact of the detrimental environmental impact of Read More...