Today’s Solutions: December 16, 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.

Screen time

This app can reduce social media overuse

The time we spend on our phones can run easily from an easygoing couple of minutes to a dissociative hour of doom-scrolling where we finally look around and say, “How did I kill a whole hour?” These “dissociative states” are common. We get into them when we’re so focused on a task or Read More...

Baltimore Internet

Baltimore aims to expand public internet access with city-owned network

State and local governments are coming to appreciate the internet for what it is: an essential utility. With much of the workforce working from home and children going to school online, reliable internet is vital for workers in all sectors of the economy.  In the wake of successful programs Read More...

Young boy studies lying on the bed using computer and smartphone.

Teens should be spending the "Goldilocks amount" of time online

It’s nothing new that mental illnesses - like anxiety and depression - are a growing issue among teenagers in recent years. While toxic happiness, high achievement pressure, and societal changes have all played their role, social media is a key contributing factor to this crisis. To shed light Read More...

Thailand once again celebrates

Thailand once again celebrates LBGTQ+ pride after almost 16 years

Sunday 5th June 2022 was a huge day for the LBGTQ+ community in Thailand. For the first time in almost 16 years, pride was able to be celebrated in the country's capital, Bangkok. The Naruemit - Thai word for creation - Pride 2022 event, was organized by incredible NGOs which promote and advocate Read More...

Prolong your lifespan with the

Prolong your lifespan with these two exercising tips

While the link between regular physical activity and improved brain health is nothing new, combining specific types of exercising can actually go a long way in making your life longer. From exercise physiologist Ben Greenfield, here are two exercise tips to help promote your longevity: Engage Read More...

Pilates looks deceptively easy

Pilates looks deceptively easy, but here’s why it works wonders

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Pilates hit the big time in the mid-2000s when every gym seemed to be offering these classes, and flocks of people ran to participate. The activity was actually invented in the 1920s for rehabilitation, treating people such as soldiers returning from war and Read More...

Two happy mixed-race women hugging each other

Hugs, the natural stress-reliever

From lowering blood pressure to improving immunity, the health benefits of hugging have long been documented by researchers. Now, a team of scientists in Germany has found that a hug before a stressful event, such as a big presentation or an exam, can help calm your nerves. There’s one caveat, Read More...

Person looking through clothes in a store when shopping.

5 essential questions for the eco-friendly fashionista

We've all heard by now that fast fashion hurts the Earth, but the question remains: how can we buy clothes that meet our needs and support the needs of the planet? Over the past 20 years in the U.S., the average number of garments purchased per year has more than doubled, with Pandemic boredom Read More...

Retail Workers

Fair scheduling practices boost retail sales and employee well-being

Retail stores are notorious for unpredictable work schedules. Employees are often called in last-minute or sent home well before the end of their scheduled shift. They’ll work late one day and then open the store the next day, a practice known as “clopening.” This intense variation in work Read More...

The VEST “hackathon”: desi

The VEST “hackathon”: designing safety vests for everyone

Despite its importance, a lot of construction wear isn’t made for comfort, especially if you don’t have a “default male body”. With a wide range of body types in the construction industry and its growing diversity, construction wear seems to operate on a one-size-fits-all standard, even Read More...