Today’s Solutions: December 19, 2025

Lifestyle

Alongside taking care of other people and the planet, make sure you take good care of yourself. The Lifestyle section at the Optimist Daily has solutions for everyday wellbeing on topics like food, beauty, fashion, and the latest trends. Curious about caring for houseplants, eating plant-based, or parenting tips? It’s all in there.

3 inspiring Black LBGTQ+ pione

3 inspiring Black LBGTQ+ pioneers

Part of the cultural reassessment that's been occurring over these last few years has been the recognition that many contributions of both the Black and LBGTQ+ communities have been pushed under the rug for too long. In honor of Black History month, we wanted to shed light on three incredible Read More...

bottles of a variety of cooking oils

The most eco-friendly ways to dispose of cooking oil

Cooking oil is an ingredient that most of us use every day, but disposing of it in an environmentally friendly way is pretty tricky. This is because the consistency of oil can leave an oily residue on plants that makes it more difficult for them to absorb oxygen. Plus oil negatively impacts Read More...

couple in deep conversation

Make your conversations more mindful in five simple steps

If you've ever practiced mindfulness, you're probably already aware of the many benefits it offers for the dedicated practitioner. When we open ourselves to this practice, we create the potential for our lives to be transformed in ways that might seem subtle but are truly life-altering. Take Read More...

understanding mother comforts teen daughter

What is validation and why do we need it in relationships?

Validation is crucial for building healthy relationships. This word encompasses the simple act of listening and understanding another person, which communicates that you “get” what they might be going through. In other words, validation is reflecting what another person might be feeling, and Read More...

Art Changes Minds by changing hearts

Tapping the creative force, art changes minds in a changing climate

“The arts matter because we matter, and our stories matter. We are moving miracles, walking creators engaging in a cosmic dance. The art we express is timeless.” –Mohammed Sheriff, Division Coordinator at the National Endowment for the Arts (USA) By Oliver Kammeyer At The Optimist Read More...

full side view of Asian American woman walking against grey wall

Do long weekend walks make up for daily ones? Here’s what the experts say

It’s no secret that regular exercise is good for our health—physical, mental, and emotional. However, during the week our schedules can get pretty hectic, which leaves us hunched over our desks, visualizing all the work that’s piling up in our minds, all the while talking ourselves out of the Read More...

young healthy vegan couple prepares meal in kitchen

Plant-based pleasure—why vegans have better sex

It’s common knowledge in the emoji world that fruits and veggies (peaches and eggplants) have a sexy rep—but could the sexiness of plant-based foods translate to real life? The answer is yes. We’ve shared many stories about how eating more plants is better for the planet and our bodies, Read More...

Amos Rex art museum Finland

These urban playgrounds might be why Scandinavians are so happy

We’ve written a good deal about “what makes people the happiest” at The Optimist Daily. We’ve enjoyed examining the lifestyle aspects of the Blue Zone countries or the joyous aspects of Finnish culture. While looking into Scandinavia, though, it’s important to check out their notion of Read More...

Beautiful resilient flower growing out of crack in asphalt.

How to train your own resilience as if it were a muscle

Resilience is like a muscle—we have to target it and actively build on it for it to grow. We have to be able to recognize that life isn’t always rosy and adapt with a stronger mindset that will ultimately lead to a happier life. In order to help foster more resilience within you, here are Read More...

diverse team of professionals put hands together

A seat at the table for underrepresented communities

Climate change is already affecting all of us—however, those that bear the brunt of these consequences are predominantly from low-income, marginalized, BIPOC communities. So why is it that out of the organizations that are trying to confront climate change and find solutions, about 95 percent of Read More...