Picking up new hobbies has helped us combat boredom, de-stress, and stay connected to loved ones from afar over the past year, but hobbies are not just pandemic pastimes. Recreational activities like baking, painting, and yoga have mental and physical health benefits. Many are even great for Read More...
Sometimes we feel on top of the world. Our focus is sharp, our creativity is flowing, and nothing can stop us. But then there are times where we fall into a slump—where we can’t figure out how to climb back to that peak level of creativity. While we can’t just force ourselves out of a Read More...
From increased happiness and reduced stress to boosting your immune system and protecting against dementia, expressing your creativity has been found to have incredible benefits for your health. If you lead a busy life, you might find you have little room in your schedule for creative activities. Read More...
Are you a math person or a writing person? Right-brained or left? New research indicates that the two might be more interconnected than we might have thought. Although we often think of arts and science as opposites, it turns out the same type of creative thinking is critical for both. A new Read More...
As children, our creativity is regularly encouraged. Through art, games, and play we are constantly expanding our imaginative side, but as we get older, we tend to let our creativity slide. Fortunately, our brains’ plasticity allows us to continue to learn and grow even into old age so it is Read More...
Just like we at The Optimist Daily are striving every day to lead a healthy, positive lifestyle, we want our readers to be able to do the same. Modern brain science has a lot to say about what helps protect us given the risk factors of today. With that in mind, here are 20 strategies to practice Read More...
There’s nothing perfect about being a perfectionist. You waste time on relatively unimportant decisions, you get excessively annoyed with yourself over small mistakes, which drains you, and, because you expect others to conform to your standards, you sometimes make collaboration more difficult. Read More...
COVID-19 has all of us picking up new hobbies. If you’ve always wanted to write a book, here’s how. Carve out time to write and actually start writing. This doesn’t have to be an entire day or even an entire afternoon. If you have a free hour after dinner or in the morning when you Read More...
If you’re feeling anxious, agitated, or even a bit bored during quarantine, creativity is a great outlet for an escape. Tapping into your creative side will let you explore new hobbies and feel more engaged without leaving your home. So how can you stimulate your creativity? We have some Read More...
Not all of us have jobs or passions that fall into a classically "creative" category, but you don't need to be a writer, singer, or painter to know when your creativity is humming and when it feels blocked. If you feel sapped of creative energy, here are some quick strategies for dialing up Read More...