Today’s Solutions: November 04, 2024

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.

Senior woman doing woodwork in a workshop.

The surprising benefits of woodworking

The historical practice of woodworking is believed to have started thousands of years ago in ancient Chinese and Egyptian civilizations, as seen in drawings and artifacts preserved in tombs. Since then, the skill has grown into a hobby and evolved thanks to advances in modern technology. Of Read More...

Changing lives with Debate Mat

Changing lives with Debate Mate

For London trial attorney, Margaret McCabe, debate changed her life. It gave her the confidence to appear in court, to talk, and to argue for a living. She decided to bring debating to youth in London and started the nonprofit Debate Mate.  We sat down with McCabe, founder and CEO of Debate Read More...

Strong looking young woman boxes the air

3 Functional foods for all-day energy

You have a busy life, and now that the weather is nicer and Covid-19 restrictions are loosening up, you will likely find yourself with a busier schedule. How can you be sure that you’re fueling your body with food that will elevate your energy and sustain you with continuous strength? According Read More...

someone making banana peel compost

Simple tips for making homemade fertilizer

Making fertilizer at home is a great option for home gardeners who want to find ways to repurpose their waste and reduce their consumption habits. Making your own fertilizer is the more environmentally friendly choice as it could save you a trip to the store and you avoid the bags and plastic Read More...

Smiling calm young woman relaxing on comfortable wooden rocking chair in living room.

10 simple things you can do to boost your mood (according to experts)

All of us have days when it's hard to get out of bed, and it feels like nothing we do makes a difference. These ups and downs are part of life but learning how to cope with the down days can benefit our entire life, even when we wake up happy. Since The Optimist Daily is all about supporting a Read More...

Ladybug eating an aphid on a plant

A guide to the bugs eating your garden plants

The summer garden season is in full swing, but finding crawling critters and hole-filled leaves among your delicious produce can dampen your harvest season. If pests are eating away at your garden goods, here’s a guide on how to identify and banish those unwanted bugs.  First of all, the Read More...

Firefighting goats and The Oja

Firefighting goats and The Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council

Surrounded by rugged steep mountains penetrated by hot dry Santa Ana winds, the Ojai Valley is particularly susceptible to wildfire, being in the top one percent of regions in the U.S. and the top three percent in California. The region's limited evacuation routes, vulnerable grid dependency, and Read More...

beautiful Black woman rests peacefully on the couch

The case for setting “rest goals,” and how to do it

Now that it seems like the world is learning how to navigate life with Covid-19, many might feel like our lives are back in full swing and might even be accelerating to make up for lost time. While living amid a fast-paced environment that has historically stressed productivity and progress, Read More...

Coffee

Study suggests lower risk of early death for coffee drinkers

The United States drinks around 517 million cups of coffee every day. While caffeine can be a tough habit to kick, researchers are finding more and more health benefits to coffee. Health advantages range from reduced risk of heart attacks to treatment for ADHD.  Now, researchers in China found Read More...

Trans actress Laverne Cox walks the runway

Laverne Cox makes history as first trans Barbie doll

Laverne Cox, an American actress, and LGBTQ+ advocate was the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and the first to be nominated for an Emmy Award since Angela Morely in 1990. She is making history yet again as the first trans-Barbie doll. Mattel released the Read More...