Today’s Solutions: January 20, 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.

plant leaf with signs of plant sunburn

Plants can get sunburnt too. Here’s what to do about it

Summer is just around the corner, and in this changing climate, that could mean even hotter weather and more intense droughts. While we’ve written various articles about how to keep cool in the summer heat and how to shield your skin from dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays, there’s something else Read More...

Overhead view of savory marinara, slow cooked all day in an enamel coated cast iron Dutch oven.

Did you know any vegetable can be turned into pasta sauce?

We’ve all been there at the end of the week with too many fresh vegetables in our fridge and nothing to do with them. Instead of throwing them away, why not use them to make a delicious pasta sauce? In no time, just a few ingredients can make a tasty and beautiful pasta sauce more so than just Read More...

Wooden round clock on yellow background showing the concept of five minutes.

This simple trick will help you get any unpleasant task done

How many times have you been faced with a task that feels insurmountable? Perhaps it has no end in sight or you don't know where to start. Maybe even it's just so darn unpleasant that you don't even want to begin! Life hacks for instances like this can help give you that little extra push to Read More...

middle aged professional woman with black short hair smiles

Internships for adults or “returnships” can solve gender imbalances at work

It’s no secret that the events of the past couple of years interrupted many people’s professional journeys—however one group, in particular, has been hit especially hard: women, namely mothers, in the workforce. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, it was difficult for mothers who’ve Read More...

father and son eating breakfast together

To breakfast or not to breakfast? Scientists weigh in

Some people stand by the statement that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, while others skip it altogether.  According to findings of a 2019 research review that looked at 13 breakfast studies, eating breakfast in the morning wasn’t a reliable way to lose weight, and skipping Read More...

Elderly woman farmer collects a harvest of ripe organic red strawberries.

Organic food can be expensive, here are the foods you should prioritize

With the knowledge that organic foods are typically grown using fewer chemicals, why do grocery shoppers still buy inorganic foods? The answer is simple: organic foods cost a whole lot more. Still, when it comes to buying produce, there are foods that you should consider buying organically and Read More...

wall with door covered in moss

Dutch startup purifies air in urban areas by wrapping buildings in moss

Now that we are aware of the great environmental and health benefits of integrating green spaces in our cities, many urban areas are beginning to design new buildings with foliage in mind. What should we do, though, about the concrete buildings that already exist?  Dutch startup Respyre has a Read More...

Fishing rod wheel closeup, man fishing with a beautiful sunrise behind him.

6 health benefits of fishing

As spring is in full swing, it’s the perfect opportunity to get outside with nature and enjoy the weather. Some people turn to hiking to get in their exercise in the great outdoors, though if you’re looking for a sport a little more relaxing, fishing may be right up your alley. Fishing may Read More...

LeVar Burton

Actor LeVar Burton will receive lifetime achievement award at new Children’s Emmys

It isn’t often enough that we publicly appreciate our teachers and educators. While he is mainly an actor, having performed in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Roots, LeVar Burton played the role of a reader and an educator for many years on Reading Rainbow.  Now, he will receive a Lifetime Read More...

someone spooning out peanut butter from the jar

Is peanut butter healthy?

Nutritionists have historically debated the health profile of peanut butter, mostly because of the spread’s high-fat content. However, when looked at in its entirety, most will agree that peanut butter offers “a great nutritional package,” (as Dr. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and Read More...