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.
Scientists have worked out the key to finding happiness
Everyone wants to be happy and it’s long been the ultimate goal for humans. Now scientists believe they have found the region in the brain that is responsible for controlling these feelings. Researches at Kyoto University have narrowed their search into happiness, by looking at the neural Read More...
New apps help Palestinians navigate Israeli checkpoints
A pair of new mobile apps hope to help Palestinians navigate snarled traffic at Israeli checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, offering a high-tech response to constant and burdensome restrictions on movement. "Azmeh", which means traffic jam in Arabic, and "Qalandiya", the name of a major Israeli Read More...
How to get better at expressing your feelings
The term “emotional intelligence” has now reigned for 20 years. Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book of the same name popularized the idea that the capacity to understand and wield emotional information is a crucial skill. Part of that is expressing emotions, be it through writing, body Read More...
US Christian groups plead for compassion for Muslim refugees
Since the Paris attacks this past Friday, governors of more than half of the U.S. states have said they will not welcome Syrian refugees. Some politicians have even said they would be fine with refugees, as long as they are Christian. But just as it is false to say that the terrorists represent Read More...
New gadget lets deaf people and hearing people talk to each other
For deaf people, communication with the outside world is difficult; not many people know sign language. Designed to function as an automatic, instant translator, a new gadget called Uni may change this. Uni has a tablet and two cameras. If someone signs, the software translates the gestures into Read More...
Battery-swapping scooters coming to Amsterdam
Gogoro electric scooters are brilliant. Unlike other electric scooters that charge via a wall outlet, Gogoro has a series of battery swapping stations where riders can pull in and swap their nearly dead battery for a fresh one and carry on riding. The scooter company has been a hit in Taipei since Read More...
10 ways to become more grateful
1. Keep a Gratitude Journal. Establish a daily practice in which you remind yourself of the gifts, grace, benefits, and good things you enjoy. Setting aside time on a daily basis to recall moments of gratitude associated with ordinary events, your personal attributes, or valued people in your life Read More...
How Steve Jobs trained his own brain
Steve Jobs is one of the two or three greatest icons of high tech, rivaled only by Bill Gates and perhaps Mark Zuckerberg. He's mostly known for his legendary ability to create innovative, groundbreaking products. What's less known, though, is that Steve Jobs was a pioneer in what was once a rather Read More...
For each condo sold at new development, a home is built for people in need
Shoe shopping for yourself may not feel so selfish when you buy from TOMS. The shoe company generously gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair the company sells. And now that one-for-one model is hitting the real estate market. In San Diego, California, anyone who buys a condo at a Read More...
Psychologists say coloring is the best alternative to meditation
Lots of us used to color as kids and… it made us happy. Current research by mental health experts suggests that it might make us adults happy too. Recently, psychologists found that coloring in or out of the lines helps unlock creative potential, and relieve tension and anxiety, something we have Read More...