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.
Alain de Botton: How philosophy can change your life
Alain de Botton is many things, but I think of him as a rare breed of practical philosopher. In 1997, he turned away from writing novels and instead wrote an extended essay titled How Proust Can Change Your Life, which became an unlikely blockbuster. His subsequent books have been described as a Read More...
Scientists find way to fix cavities without the pain
For all of you who ate way too much candy this past Halloween, we have wonderful news for you. Scientists in Britain have developed a new procedure that can repair slightly decayed teeth before a deep cavity forms without the need for painful injections and drilling. The painless procedure involves Read More...
How mindfulness shapes the brain to help boost performance
By now you have most likely heard about the rewarding benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but were you aware that it physically alters your brain to help boost your performance in life? Researchers from the University of British Columbia found out that mindfulness makes changes to eight Read More...
Forget dystopias, these sci-fi writers opt for optimism instead
It’s hot, and you’re walking. Shuffling, actually. You’ve spanned a seemingly endless chalk-dry plane, and you’re thirsty, run-down, exhausted. You think about your flaking, parched lips and aching muscles, and about how your arduous journey will be worth it if you ever Read More...
12 daily habits that invite calm and mindfulness
Seriously stressed out at work right now? You're not alone. In fact, one survey found that as many as 80 percent of Americans are too! But it's not just bad for your mental health. According to the CDC, problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other life Read More...
8 quick ways to improve your attention span
We spend half of our waking hours with wandering minds. Here are eight easy things you can do to regain your focus. If your mind tends to wander, you’re not alone. Turns out, human brains are in the moment for just over half of our waking hours—a sad 53%—according to a study from Read More...
Not bitcoin but the blockchain technology will revolutionize everything
The real revolutionary thing about bitcoin is not the coin itself. As we explained in our much-discussed Summer 2015 cover story, it's the underlying blockchain technology that has a unique potential to transform how people and businesses co-operate. Now, The Economist shows how the technology is Read More...
How smartphones helped shape a new generation of globally minded "next-pats"
A new study reveals that Americans have a more global outlook than Europeans, partly because they are more connected through technology. Americans have a reputation for being insular and unadventurous when it comes to learning about the rest of the world. This is partly justified: Only 38% of Read More...
The Sharing Economy Is Booming in Helsinki: Here's Why
Nationwide, thousands of students are getting arrested, ticketed, interrogated and searched by police officers. Until fairly recently, the US had a free or virtually free system of public higher education. The situation has changed dramatically, with tuition costs soaring to dizzying heights at Read More...
Learn how mindfulness can disrupt your business (and change your life)
It's a sad fact of life, but one we've grown accustomed to, that the workplace is often draining, demanding and disruptive. At its worst, it becomes a culture that breeds toxicity, but even at its best, stress is the norm. In our constant state of rushing from one assignment (or crisis) to another, Read More...