Today’s Solutions: November 06, 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.

woman looks dissatisfied with spring cleaning products

3 eco-friendly swaps to “green up” this year’s spring cleaning

A common response to the increase in sunshine and fresh spring air is an undeniable desire to purge the heaviness of winter from our homes and make everything feel as clean and new as the budding light-green baby leaves on the trees outside. Even though spring cleaning can be hard work, Read More...

Person's hand squeezing a yellow stress ball with a smiley face on.

What is meta-stress and how can you avoid it?

When you know a high-stress event is coming up, it’s natural to work yourself up before it even happens. That anticipation can cause you to spiral down a rabbit hole of “what ifs,” and those thoughts can feel both mentally and emotionally taxing. Researchers say this common pattern is called Read More...

6 Ways we can help our dogs li

6 Ways we can help our dogs live long and healthy lives

Research has shown that having a dog can help boost our physical and mental health as well as make us feel younger. Pets are an enormous source of joy and comfort, and as dog parents, we want to help our furry friends live a long and happy life. Today, we share six tips from MindBodyGreen holistic Read More...

Hand draws planet Earth with multicolored felt-tip pens on on a blue background.

World Happiness Report shines a light in dark times

The past few years have been incredibly challenging for the world, though it turns out we’re doing better than you might think!  According to an international research project, levels of social support and benevolence actually increased in this difficult time. This year is the 10th Read More...

Homeowner taking care of her plants in the kitchen

5 small changes to make your home feel fresh and comforting

These days our homes are more integral in our lives than ever. They serve as spaces of work, play, and rest. If you’re getting a bit tired of looking at your own walls, here are some tips from interior designers on simple ways to spruce up your home. 1. Open up your pantry Glass-fronted or Read More...

man sleeps with eye mask

Cut the lights! The case for sleeping in total darkness

New research from scientists at Northwestern Medicine presents a persuasive argument for people to get rid of nightlights and break the common habit of being lulled to sleep by a television program. Why should we sleep in the dark? According to a press release about the study, even a small amount Read More...

Doctor physician hand on happy elderly senior patient to comfort in hospital examination room or hospice nursing home or wellbeing county.

3 ways senior health rights improved post-Pandemic

The pandemic has been especially hard on the elderly population. Being in a high at-risk group meant that many older individuals could have no visitors and had their interactions hugely restricted even when living in the same home. This combined with staff shortages in hospices meant the levels of Read More...

flat feet against each other

A podiatrist and PT share the 5 best stretches for flat feet

Individuals with flat feet have a wide footbed and lack an arch. Both of these factors unfortunately make flat-footed folks more likely to experience pain. Luckily, most of the time, flat-footed foot pain can be alleviated through regular stretching. “Since the pain from flat feet can be due Read More...

Foraging basket

Nature’s shopping list: a beginner’s guide to foraging

Two years ago, The Optimist Daily published a small piece on the advantages of foraging. This means walking past the grocery store to the park or a riparian area to search for, identify, and collect your own food resources. The practice has become more popular in recent years, especially during the Read More...

Portrait of a girl wearing face protective mask at Youth strike for climate in protest of climate change policy.

5 simple steps to become a climate activist in everyday life

We recently posted an article discussing impactful changes we can make in our personal lives to help avoid a climate crisis. If you still have a fire within you to enact planet saving change in your community, then maybe consider becoming a climate activist. Being a climate activist doesn’t Read More...