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.
Adam Smith’s underappreciated wisdom on benevolence, happiness, and kindness
Brain Pickings remains free (and ad-free) and takes me hundreds of hours a month to research and write, and thousands of dollars to sustain. If you find any joy and value in what I do, please consider becoming a Member and supporting with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup Read More...
7 things science says about how you can grow smarter
I like to think I'm a pretty smart guy--but we all do stupid things sometimes. For example, I graduated near the top of my law school class, but I sometimes question how smart it was to go to law school in the first place. And, I'm reminded of the hour or so I spent not long ago searching for my Read More...
Eye-scanning ATMs could secure your money better
A new technology could eliminate the sometimes nervy process of withdrawing money from the ATM. Citigroup has begun testing its own kind of money machine that has no screen or PIN pad, and that allows customers to withdraw money by scanning their eyes. First, customers would use the bank’s mobile Read More...
How to approach life mindfully, according to Sherlock Holmes
Peter Bevelin’s first book, Seeking Wisdom from Darwin to Munger, is a one of the best books you’ve never heard of. He’s just released another book, A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes (Kindle), aimed at those who want to improve their thinking. I’m a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, and Peter is Read More...
5 scientific ways to make yourself smarter
About a decade ago, some early scientific research suggested that playing memory games could increase "fluid intelligence," which is--the capacity to solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge. A spate of apps, books and classes resulted, all claiming to make people Read More...
4 daily habits that lead to success
Can making your bed in the morning and keeping a to-do list get you closer to the life you want to lead? Sociologist Dr. Randall Bell, author of the upcoming book Rich Habits Rich Life: The Four Cornerstones of All Great Pursuits, says yes. Bell argues that there’s a direct link between daily Read More...
Colorado pushes for universal health care that’s governed by the people
First pot, now health. In November 2012, Colorado voters approved a ballot initiative that made recreational use of marijunana legal, despite a federal ban. In November of next year, the state will have the opportunity to lead the way again—this time, by opting out of Obamacare and replacing Read More...
How to find a job with meditation and mindfulness
In her first month of attending Ziva Meditation on 38th Street, the trend forecaster met Noël Rohayem, a clothing designer whom she later helped to find a new job. That led to a partnership, forged last summer, for which the two are creating a made-to-fit clothing line that will be introduced next Read More...
Afternoon naps are key to boosting learning power
A good nap could be the key to improving learning for students and children, according to new research. A team of scientists from the University of Geneva in Switzerland shows that napping can boost the consolidation of learning that is linked to rewards. Receiving rewards as we learn can help Read More...
An Israeli cafe is giving discounts to Jews and Arabs who eat together
A restaurant owner in Israel is trying to bring a bit of a peace—one dollop of hummus at a time—to a country where violence between Israelis and Palestinians has surged in recent weeks. “50 percent discount on hummus to a table where Arabs and Jews sit together,” wrote Kobi Read More...