Today’s Solutions: December 19, 2025

Health

Finding good health news amidst a pandemic can be quite daunting. That’s not the case with The Optimist Daily, where positive news is in high supply. Our Health section covers the latest good news from the health sector, featuring solutions ranging from mental and physical health to immunity, nutrition, and cutting edge medical research.

This simple 15-minute mindset

This simple 15-minute mindset exercise can ease anxiety, science shows

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research is revealing how a short, simple activity that is done in just 15 minutes can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and promote long-term emotional well-being. The practice, called the Best Possible Self exercise, invites people to Read More...

More US states and cities are

More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers?

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across the United States are taking matters into their own hands. In 2026, 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wage rates, offering millions of workers Read More...

8 fermented foods that your gu

8 fermented foods that your gut will love (and that taste great, too!) 

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Fermented foods have been a dietary staple in many cultures for centuries, but in the U.S., they’re only recently starting to get the attention they deserve. From sauerkraut in Germany to kimchi in Korea, many traditional cuisines have long leaned on Read More...

Vision board ideas for adults:

Vision board ideas for adults: how to create one that inspires real change

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A vision board might look like a crafty throwback to childhood afternoons spent collaging. But don’t write it off now that you’re #adulting. This practice is far more than a cut-and-paste project. Vision boards are a creative and science-backed tool for Read More...

Scientists build first fully h

Scientists build first fully human bone marrow model to revolutionize blood disease research

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a transformative leap for regenerative medicine, scientists have developed the first entirely human-engineered bone marrow system. This lab-grown “blood factory” may change how researchers study blood diseases, test treatments, and ultimately care for Read More...

7 cold and flu season mistakes

7 cold and flu season mistakes doctors want you to quit making

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You’ve heard the warnings: cold and flu season is no joke. But despite our best intentions (and fully stocked vitamin C stash), plenty of us still fall into avoidable traps when trying to fend off seasonal bugs. Sure, COVID has dominated the conversation Read More...

Gift shopping for a loved one

Gift shopping for a loved one with cancer this holiday season? Here’s what actually helps

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The holiday season tends to magnify the pressure to find the perfect gift, especially when the recipient is facing cancer. People often hope that a warm gesture will communicate affection, encouragement, and presence during a frightening time. Yet gift giving Read More...

Smelling your own farts might

Smelling your own farts might be good for your brain, science says

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM It’s long been the butt of jokes, but the science is catching up: fart gas might actually be good for you. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say that hydrogen sulfide, the chemical behind that telltale rotten-egg smell, might help protect the aging Read More...

New stem cell treatment shows

New stem cell treatment shows promise for reversing vision loss in macular degeneration patients

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For millions living with age-related macular degeneration, seeing the world head-on becomes an exercise in frustration. Faces blur, road signs fade, and once-clear scenes dissolve into a grey smudge at the center of vision. Existing treatments can only slow Read More...

3 so-called bad habits that mi

3 so-called bad habits that might actually be making you a better person

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Let’s be honest. Most of us have habits we wish we could kick. Maybe it’s venting too much after a stressful day, putting off that one task for tomorrow (again), or chatting about a coworker’s awkward lunchroom behavior. We often see these behaviors as Read More...