Today’s Solutions: December 17, 2025

Education

Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.

Cute tiny puppy stands outside in transparent raincoat

8 ways to minimize your pet's environmental pawprint

Over the past two years and counting, many people have taken on the company of a cat, dog, or other animal companions to ease the feelings of isolation that the pandemic has brought upon us. According to the American Pet Products Association, over 70 percent of American households own a pet. Read More...

Person working happily, with colleagues talking in the background.

3 Ways to speak up at work when you’re naturally introverted

We recently provided our Optimist Daily readers with a guide on 'How to boost your confidence as an introvert' that was a big hit. So, here's another article for all you introverts out there focussing on work-life. There are distinct benefits to being both an extrovert and an introvert. But Read More...

Lunar New Year illustration of Tiger

Year of the tiger: Bringing in the Lunar New Year

On Tuesday this week, almost two billion people all over the world celebrated the Lunar New Year which is also called the Chinese New Year (or the Spring Festival in China). Traditionally, it’s a time to get together with families to honor ancestors and deities and to enjoy the exciting street Read More...

Young pretty woman happily brushes teeth

All Colgate products will be 100% recyclable by next year

Some form of toothpaste is necessary for keeping our teeth clean and healthy, however, toothpaste in its most common packaging—the tube—does not do the same for our environment. Toothpaste tubes, like so many other items, are notoriously difficult to recycle. This is due to the mix of Read More...

Young man with glasses sits in front of computer and sends work email

Avoid these 10 irritating business buzzwords in your next work email

Here on The Optimist Daily, we share a lot of stories about the weight of words and how much they matter (our articles on Wordle and the man in India fighting to stop sexist swearing are great examples to check out). Plus, with the rise of remote work over the course of the pandemic, so many more Read More...

Excited african and caucasian business team giving high five at office meeting motivated by victory, achievement or good work result, multi-ethnic employees group celebrate corporate success together.

Why it’s important to celebrate small victories in the workplace

Hopefully, we are coming out of the worst of the pandemic. This readjustment period to get ourselves back to our ordinary lives is a difficult task for everyone, especially if you have to lead this effort. Increased pressure and anxiety from external factors can inevitably leak into the workplace Read More...

Finding the courage to be conf

Finding the courage to be confident: A peek inside "Dare to Own You"

"Just because you have a voice and can speak, does not necessarily mean you are being heard; find your voice." - Liz Brunner In 2021 people were quitting their jobs at an unprecedented rate.  The media had fun creating phrases like "the Great Resignation" and "the Big Quit" to characterize the Read More...

bowl of yellow vitamin D supplements with letters spelling vitamin D

5 Surprising myths about vitamin D

In the article we wrote about the telltale signs that your body needs more vitamin D, we pointed out that around 42 percent of Americans meet the criteria for clinical vitamin D insufficiency. With such a significant portion of the population not getting enough of this important vitamin, it’s not Read More...

child in yellow rain coat holds sign reading: THERE'S NO PLANET B

High-schooler presents first student-written bill for UK climate education

Youth climate activist Scarlett Westbrook decided that she was fed up with the lack of formal education UK students receive on the devastating climate crisis. At one point during a geography exam, she was even asked to list the benefits of climate change — and while this was disappointing, she Read More...

Leprosy patients in Nepal

Doctors in Nepal trial potentially revolutionary leprosy treatment

High up in the mountain ranges of Nepal, a bit south of Kathmandu, doctors at the Anandaban leprosy hospital are trialing a new treatment for skin wounds that could be revolutionary for millions of patients around the world. The study, which is led by the University of Birmingham and funded by Read More...