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.

How to plan the perfect summer

How to plan the perfect summer break: balance connection, adventure, and true rest

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer is prime time for pressing pause. Between sunny skies and school breaks, it’s the season when many people plan getaways. But vacations are more than just a fun escape. They play a vital role in well-being, helping people reset, reconnect, and return Read More...

How to cope with collective gr

How to cope with collective grief when tragedy strikes close to home

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The heartbreaking flash floods that recently swept through Texas have left devastation in their wake. As the death toll continues to rise and rescue teams search for those still missing, communities across the Hill Country are grappling with loss, Read More...

A tragedy in the heart of Texa

A tragedy in the heart of Texas: how to help flood victims 

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the span of just a few hours, torrential rains turned the Guadalupe River into a raging torrent, submerging homes, campsites, and communities across the Texas Hill Country. Entire families were swept away with little warning. Campers, many of them Read More...

10 effective ways to get kids

10 effective ways to get kids off screens this summer

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer vacation presents an excellent opportunity for children to disconnect from their digital gadgets and participate in stimulating screen-free activities... But anyone with kids these days will know that getting them to embrace this chance is quite the Read More...

7 tips for zero-waste air trav

7 tips for zero-waste air travel

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This month is Reduce Plastic Month, also known as Plastic Free July in the United States, making it the perfect time to revisit simple but impactful ways to cut down on plastic waste, especially while traveling. With summer in full swing, many of us are Read More...

Why hope may matter more than

Why hope may matter more than happiness, according to new research

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM At The Optimist Daily, we believe that good news isn't just nice to hear. Hope is essential for building a brighter world. That’s why this new research out of the University of Missouri struck a hopeful chord: it suggests that one simple emotion may shape Read More...

How books about boys are quiet

How books about boys are quietly rewriting the script on masculinity

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you want to counter toxic masculinity, don’t start with a think piece. Simply hand a boy a book. That’s the quiet but powerful idea rippling through this year’s Carnegie medals for children’s writing, where male friendship and nuanced portrayals Read More...

Summer hair care made simple:

Summer hair care made simple: 11 natural ways to protect your locks

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer is the perfect time to loosen up and let your natural hair texture take the spotlight. Ditch the high-maintenance routines and focus on keeping your hair strong, soft, and sun-safe. With a few mindful tweaks, you can keep your locks looking lovely Read More...

25 easy and effective ways to

25 easy and effective ways to help protect insects—starting today

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Insects are facing a crisis. Their populations are dropping at alarming rates, even in pristine nature reserves. That’s bad news not only for bugs but also for the birds, bats, amphibians, and ecosystems that depend on them. The good news is that you can Read More...

How to soothe a sunburn with a

How to soothe a sunburn with argan oil

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Suffering from sunburn and just used the last drop of aloe vera gel? Don’t fret—there’s a lesser-known sunburn soothing remedy that you may already have in your cabinet: argan oil. What makes argan oil so great for sunburns? Argan oil, thanks to its Read More...