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.

Where memory lives: community

Where memory lives: community cafes bring joy and connection for people with dementia

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a cheerful, sea-themed room in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, a small group of people gathered under balloon jellyfish and streamers. There were pastries, coffee, trivia games, and coloring pages. But what made the space truly special was the people. Read More...

Why you wake up hungry (or not

Why you wake up hungry (or not) and what your body is trying to tell you

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Everyone wakes up a little differently. Some leap out of bed, stomach rumbling and ready for breakfast, while others barely glance at the toaster before heading out the door. What gives? Morning hunger can be influenced by a surprising number of factors Read More...

Why little treats matter: the

Why little treats matter: the science-backed benefits of small daily joys 

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You know those small moments that somehow make everything feel a little better? Maybe it’s stepping outside into the sun, sipping something sweet and cold, or taking a breath between back-to-back tasks. Lately, people are calling them “little treats”. Read More...

10 surprisingly doable ways to

10 surprisingly doable ways to make this your family’s best summer ever

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer isn’t just a season; it’s a state of mind. It’s a break from routine, a burst of light, and a golden opportunity to deepen family connection. The trick? You don’t need plane tickets or Pinterest-level planning. With just a bit of intention, you Read More...

Is sparkling water good for yo

Is sparkling water good for you? What to know about the bubbly drink trend

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Sparkling water is having a moment, and for good reason. This fizzy drink has become a go-to for people who want something more exciting than plain water. But if you're drinking it daily (or hourly), you might wonder: is sparkling water actually good for Read More...

A surprising look at how Fathe

A surprising look at how Father's Day came to be

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Unlike Mother's Day, which was swiftly embraced and made official in 1914, Father’s Day spent decades in limbo. Though it finally became a national holiday in 1972, the idea faced resistance for years—ironically, in a society dominated by men. Why was Read More...

Why your antiperspirant isn’

Why your antiperspirant isn’t working (and how to fix it)

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever swiped on antiperspirant only to find yourself sweaty and smelly by midday, you’re not alone. The issue might not be what you’re using, but when you’re using it. And according to dermatologists, timing is everything. The timing mistake Read More...

A new way to stack bricks coul

A new way to stack bricks could help clean Bangladesh’s air

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the cool, dry winters of Bangladesh, the country’s 8,000-plus brick kilns roar to life. Coal-fed and open-air, they bake nearly 30 million bricks annually, filling the skies with thick black smoke in the process. But a new study has found that a few Read More...

The tortilla that doesn’t ne

The tortilla that doesn’t need a fridge will help Mexico’s most vulnerable

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a brightly lit lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), food scientist Raquel Gomez peers through a microscope at microorganisms doing some heavy lifting: enriching tortillas with probiotics and preserving them for weeks without a Read More...

Sunshine guilt is real—but y

Sunshine guilt is real—but you don't have to feel bad about staying in

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever looked out your window on a bright, beautiful day and felt a pang of guilt for staying indoors, you’re not alone. That uneasy feeling, now widely referred to as "sunshine guilt," has entered the modern lexicon, especially as social media Read More...