Today’s Solutions: January 19, 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.

amaranth plants and amaranth seeds on a table

The health benefits and uses of amaranth — an ancient Mesoamerican grain

It's no secret that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is disrupting the worldwide wheat supply—which leaves us wondering, what kind of wheat alternatives are there out there? If you’re looking to expand your whole-grain horizons beyond rice, corn, and quinoa, then perhaps consider giving Read More...

Cooling home

Seven tips for cooling your home without AC

Many of us can already feel the heated start of Summer, along with the urge to crank up the air-conditioning. While heatstroke is a serious health concern, a whole city blasting cool air into their homes presents a threat to the power grid. Some places like Texas are already experiencing Read More...

Summer Jobs

Summer jobs do way more than just keeping kids busy

Nobody wants to see their kids spending the entire summer in front of a screen. While everyone can benefit from some time off, too much free time can be a detriment to everyone, especially youth and teens. Between ages 14 and 24, youth have formative experiences which affect the rest of their Read More...

Old retro camera on vintage wooden boards abstract background.

The bountiful benefits of photography

Photography is a powerful art form that can be universally understood no matter where you are from. No matter if you snap using your phone, a digital, or analog camera, the hobby is full of surprising benefits, here are five of them. It’s a type of meditation Photography focuses your mind on Read More...

Pile of used Electronic Waste on white background.

Got old electronics? Here’s how to dispose of them properly

Do you have a digital camera? Do you still use it, or does it sit quietly in a desk drawer, out of a job thanks to your iPhone? With the rate at which technology advances these days, chances are we all have old gadgets that are now obsolete or that we just don’t use anymore. Despite the amount of Read More...

diverse group does high intensity interval training

Why is high intensity interval training (or HIIT) so good for you? An expert explains

In recent years, interval training has taken off, with many gyms and online workout apps offering high-intensity interval training (or HIIT) sessions or videos. These short, high-energy sessions involve pushing yourself hard until you reach as close to your peak heart rate as you can for Read More...

Blue suitcase with face mask and travel accessories on blue background

Tips for summer travel coming out of the pandemic

After spending two summers indoors, everyone is itching to get away to unwind at some relaxing destination. Whether that be lying on a beach or hiking across a mountain trail, we all deserve some time spent in refreshing scenery. However, it’s important to keep in mind we are still coming out Read More...

Wrongfully accused bird watche

Wrongfully accused bird watcher gets his own TV show

In May 2020, Christian Cooper was bird-watching in Central Park when his life was changed forever. Simply trying to catch the sight of some of the 200 species that live there, the now 59-year-old ended up being caught in a racially charged attack. After Cooper asked a woman to keep her dog on a Read More...

Studio portrait of african young handsome man in meditation pose, trying to relax or calm down in zen

Don't let ADHD prevent you from meditating. Here are 8 tips for mindfulness

We’ve written quite often about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but we also recognize that it is sometimes a difficult practice to get into. Meditation is an active process that trains the brain to focus on the present — it’s much more than just quietly sitting still. For those Read More...

Group of red, orange and purple multivitamin gummies with the bottle isolated on white background.

Gummy vitamins may not be as healthy as you think

Turns out gummy vitamins aren’t just for kids anymore, with adults dominating around 80 percent of the market. More and more people are turning to these kinds of supplements over pills due to a phenomenon called “pill fatigue,” where taking multiple tablets every day leads to annoyance and Read More...