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.
US government introduces new rules to reduce smog pollution, improving health
The Obama administration announced a new smog pollution limit yesterday. The standard for US smog levels is now reduced to 70 parts of ground-level ozone per billion, down from 75. Ground-level ozone—the main ingredient in smog—is formed when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides from cars and Read More...
The best ways to get to work, according to science
Commuting affects your mental health, your physical health, and even the way you think about other people. And these changes are more profound than you might think. The average commuter spends about an hour a day heading to and from work, but plenty spend as much as three hours commuting. Those Read More...
Bill de Blasio calls on New York pension funds to divest from coal companies
The global movement to divest from coal is gaining momentum. This summer, Norway's parliament endorsed the selling of coal investments from its $900 billion sovereign wealth fund, and earlier this month, California lawmakers passed a bill requiring the state’s two largest pension plans to divest Read More...
Optimistic seniors report fewer chronic illnesses and better overall health
Optimism has a remarkable impact on physical health, as several scientific studies have shown. A few researchers wondered what this effect could mean for elderly people, who more often get to deal with the mental and physical health effects of aging. They also wanted to find out if a change to a Read More...
6 simple ways to turn a bad day around
Some days just suck the life out of you, and no amount of cleansing breaths are going to change that. Here's what will. You’ve heard the standard advice about getting through a bad day—breathe deeply, meditate, be mindful. But some days just suck the life out of you, and no amount of cleansing Read More...
Boredom is not a problem to be solved. It's the last privilege of a free mind
Lean in to boredom, not your smart phone screen. You’ll learn more about yourself and the world around you than you think Confessing to boredom is confessing to a character-flaw. Popular culture is littered with advice on how to shake it off: find like-minded people, take up a hobby, find a cause Read More...
7 habits that force your mind to stop worrying
Worrying can get the better of almost anybody. Work stresses, personal concerns, and sometimes even irrational thoughts can seep into your mind and interfere with your ability to concentrate on ordinary tasks. Unfortunately, stopping those worries isn't easy--there's no "off switch" that can shut Read More...
Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg pledges free internet to all UN refugee camps
As the refugee crisis continues to divide families and communities across Europe and the Middle East, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg is doing his "share" to help migrants stay connected. At a UN forum in New York on Saturday, Zuckerburg made a pledge to bring the internet to all UN refugee camps. Read More...
No more flat tires? German researchers discover rubber that can heal itself
Compared to what Richard Branson is talking about this issue might seem less pressing, but still: a world without flat tires would be nice as well. Thanks to researchers in Germany, it could become reality. They discovered a way to manufacture rubber that can “heal itself” after being cut or Read More...
How to become a better writer...with neuroscience!
Writing often takes a lot of time and practice to master, but according to a new book by Yellowlees Douglas, an associate professor of management communication at the University of Florida, there are a few neuroscience-backed tips anyone can use to become a better wordsmith. Douglas wrote the book Read More...