The Optimist Living
10 insights about the science of happiness
Experience awe. Don't be cynical. Establish good peer relationships... These are some of the 10 most inspiring findings from the science of happiness, handpicked by the wonderful Greater Good Society, which is dedicated to the science for a meaningful Read More...
Want to reduce anxiety, and increase cognitive ability and memory? Try meditation
For many people, the new year is a great time to start meditating. We won't hold you back! Like a muscle that needs regular workouts to get stronger, your brain needs disciplined training to learn to be present and relax. “Every time we come back to the present, we are increasing our mental Read More...
15 times plant-based diets stole the spotlight in 2015
There’s no better investment in our health than a better—mostly plant-based—diet. Last year showed a promising trend. A nice overview of 2015 moments that supported the shift to a healthier lifestyle for society. Top advisors to the U.S. government voted for a vegan diet, a veggie burger was Read More...
5 simple habits that will make you feel happier
Life’s complicated. Between work, family, and all the things we must do on a daily basis, we tend to lose sight of what’s most important: being happy. Finding happiness doesn’t have to be complicated though, in fact, a neuroscientist at the University of California believes he has found the Read More...
11 steps to creating better habits
Most of us will make a New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier, or to floss our teeth, or to workout more. Often times however, we don’t pull through with our commitments to these better habits. Building great habits takes time and patience, and sometimes, a little guidance too. Here are 11 Read More...
10 ways to beat holiday stress with fitness and nutrition
Joy and cheer aren’t the only things that come with the holidays. Between the chaos of traveling, meeting in-laws and delicious yet unhealthy meals, the holidays can sometimes bring on a lot of stress. So to help you truly enjoy the end of the year festivities, here are 10 nutrition and fitness Read More...
Moderate drinking associated with lower risk of death for people with Alzheimer's
A new Danish study shows that for people with early Alzheimer's, moderate drinking is linked to a stunning 77% lower risk of dying. The results came as a surprise to the researchers, who already knew that moderate drinking leads to a reduced risk of death from coronary disease. However, they did Read More...
How to teach your children tolerance after terror attacks
A wave of terror attacks—from Paris to Beirut to San Bernadino, California—has led to mounting fears and growing anti-Muslim rhetoric. How do we deal with this as parents? Our children mirror most of what we say and do. One important way to raise global citizens is by being tolerant ourselves. Read More...
Taking fewer car trips is best way to save the environment
Evidence is mounting that switching from cars to taking trains or buses, bicycling, or walking is the fastest way to cut greenhouse gases. Reducing the number of cars on the road and, more importantly, the number of total trips, can cut the 27 percent of greenhouse gases that originate from Read More...
A five-step process to avoid overthinking
You’re supposed to think long and hard about the decisions you make, but we often tend to overthink, making us doubt our original ideas and instinct. Decision-making doesn’t purely rely on the information at hand, or on gut-feeling. Rather it takes the right mix of information and intuition to Read More...