Today’s Solutions: January 18, 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.

Portrait of happy young colleagues leaving office after work.

Britain’s four-day workweek trial shows no loss in productivity 

According to a survey of participants published last Wednesday, the majority of the companies taking part in a four-day workweek pilot program in Britain stated they experienced no productivity loss throughout the experiment—and, that in some cases, productivity was improved. According to Jack Read More...

Mother, father and children play, laugh, enjoy picnic in sunny garden.

6 family-strengthening strategies to try out this Family Day

These days, parents and children have hectic schedules jammed packed with work, school, and all the related responsibilities that pop up. While leading a fulfilling and busy life is great, it usually means that prioritizing family relationships requires being intentional, putting in the effort, and Read More...

Happy young ethnic female in casual clothes and eyeglasses smiling and looking at screen of tablet while sitting at table

Help your resumé stand out from the crowd with this simple flip

Traditionally, resumés highlight the roles that a job candidate has held in the past, listing them out in chronological order, complete with descriptions of the responsibilities and the results delivered.  While experience remains a big factor in the minds of hiring managers, a largely Read More...

Little African-American girl with hearing problem on light background

Hard of hearing? Here are 5 ways to improve your hearing health

Have you already been diagnosed with hearing loss? Or do you have a sneaking suspicion that your hearing abilities are not as they once were? Here are five easy ways you can take action to protect your hearing health and diminish the chances of it getting worse. Wear your hearing aids This tip Read More...

close up of woman hand adding spinach leaves to bowl

Research shows that foods that are good for us are also good for the planet

It comes as no surprise that since the dawn of the pandemic, people all over the world began typing “immunity boosting foods” into search engines. In fact, these searches rose by 350 percent. The results? It turns out that some of the food items that were popping up over and over again are also Read More...

Mature woman with hearing aid indoors smiling

Have you heard? Over-the-counter hearing aids to become available in the US

Hearing loss is a health condition that many people all over the world grapple with. In the US alone, approximately 30 million Americans have mild to moderate hearing loss. Though the majority of these individuals would benefit from the most common type of hearing aid (called air-conduction Read More...

Engraved low water markings, also known as hunger markings. Recent record low year 2018 is still visible.

Hunger stones, dino tracks, and lost cities; discoveries exposed by drought

The severe droughts that are plaguing many parts of the world are altering life as we know it. Even though the climate crisis and the warming planet may end our civilization, the silver lining is that it's led to the resurfacing of archaeological treasures that may have remained secret Read More...

Woman holding wicker basket with natural eco-friendly zero waste plastic free cleaning items: brushes, rugs, soap, essential oils, spray and sponges at the kitchen. Plastic free home.

8 clever cleaning hacks that are zero waste and toxin-free

When the average person reaches for their cleaning supplies, they are likely opening a cabinet full of plastic spray bottles, solutions, and solvents that employ harsh chemicals to make everything sparkle and shine. However, there are many alternative ways to clean the house without chemicals and Read More...

Rhiannon Giddens performs at The Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island.

The birth of the banjo— part III of True American, a mini-series

The banjo, widely considered a quintessential symbol of the United States (along with square dancing), is an instrument that tends to conjure up images of white rural life in the Appalachian mountains, or memories of the dueling banjos from the 1972 film "Deliverance" or TV shows like "The Beverly Read More...

Woman seamstress cut and repairs old blue jeans

5 simple yet profound ways to make the world a better place today

The word activism can bring up images of aggression and vehemence, but it turns out that activism can be practiced in gentle ways, too. Here are five simple yet radical things anyone can do in their day-to-day lives to make the world a better place. Find joy These days, the simple act of being Read More...