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.

California will be the first s

California will be the first state to pay restaurants to feed seniors

As we all know by now, the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the service industry, causing restaurants to close their doors and lay off workers. In a novel attempt to get restaurants rehiring workers right away, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new aid program in which Read More...

Ten books for when you’re cr

Ten books for when you’re craving a culinary escape

What is your favorite part about travel? For many of us it is experiencing the delicious cuisine of other cultures. While you may not be able to travel at the moment, you can still dive into the marvelous world of international food with these 10 travel reads for food lovers. Cooking with Read More...

Three types of stress and stra

Three types of stress and strategies to manage them

It’s no surprise that stress takes a toll on your mental and physical health. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines three types of stress: acute, episodic acute, and chronic. Today we look at how these differ and how to address them in your own life.  Acute stress is caused by Read More...

Here are three mental habits t

Here are three mental habits to help you build resilience amid the crisis

Limited social contact with our friends and loved ones, being cut off from our workspaces, and the general loss of so many of our habits that used to make up our day-to-day lives can put a lot of strain on our emotional health. And while it’s no easy task to suddenly become content with the Read More...

Skip the bureaucracy: This cha

Skip the bureaucracy: This charity gives coronavirus research grants fast

It takes a really long time to get a grant for scientific research. Official advice from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is the largest source of grants for scientific research in the US, recommends that grant planning begin nine months in advance of the deadline for the grant. Time Read More...

New York State says “I do”

New York State says “I do” to online marriages

Virtual meetings, brunches, dates, and baby showers have become part of the new normal in the face of COVID-19. If you live in New York State, you can celebrate another age-old tradition online: marriage.  This weekend, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that couples in the state who Read More...

How to reduce your energy cons

How to reduce your energy consumption while sheltering at home

COVID-19 shutdowns have reduced overall energy consumption greatly in the US. Without businesses, factories, and offices running, it is estimated that the country’s overall energy use will drop by 3 percent in 2020. However, energy use in many homes is on the rise. Isolating at home has people Read More...

The ultimate guide to making a

The ultimate guide to making a quarantine garden—even without much space

Throughout both World Wars, the US government encouraged its citizens to “sow the seeds of victory” and plant War Gardens to assist in the fighting effort. Every day folks were expected to convert every idle plot of land they could muster into gardens to grow crops, which freed up resources for Read More...

99-year old veteran raises mil

99-year old veteran raises millions for charity walking laps in his yard

When 99-year old Captain Tom Moore began walking laps in his garden to raise money for NHS Charities, his goal was to walk 100 laps and raise £1,000. Since he began walking on April 8, he has far surpassed his goal and raised over £18 million.  Moore walks 10 laps a day in the 25-meter long Read More...

What neuroscience can teach us

What neuroscience can teach us about lowering anxiety

If coronavirus has disrupted your usual daily rhythm and kept you indoors, it’s totally understandable if you’ve been feeling a bit more anxious lately. The good news though is that neuroscience can offer some non-pharmaceutical, research-backed ways to mitigate anxiety. Let’s see what the Read More...