Today’s Solutions: May 16, 2026

One study found that people older than 50 who read books for 30 minutes daily lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers or magazine readers. The practice of reading books creates cognitive engagement which improves lots of things, including vocabulary, thinking skills and concentration. It also can affect empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence, the sum of which helps people stay on the planet longer. Other research shows that reading fiction—as opposed to non-fiction—leads to more open-mindedness and creativity.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

A daycare built a ‘forest floor’, and it changed kids’ immu...

Time in nature is valuable for children’s physical and mental health, so one daycare in Finland decided to invest in a playground that replicated ...

Read More

This 30-minute training can help teenagers’ response to stress

Many successful people live by the expression “in every tragedy, there is an opportunity.” It turns out that the same kind of thinking can ...

Read More

The ongoing success of the 4-day workweek: a year in, companies share insights

Nearly 61 British businesses made the historic switch to a four-day workweek in 2022, setting in motion a cascade of beneficial effects that are still ...

Read More

Bartering is back: how to trade your skills and goods without spending a dime

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where we’re used to swiping cards and tapping phones to pay, it might seem old-fashioned ...

Read More