Today’s Solutions: December 18, 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 get over your phone sep

How to get over your phone separation anxiety

We may not like to admit it, but lots of us suffer from nomophobia, which is defined as a fear or anxiety of not having a mobile device or not having access to a mobile device when it’s needed. It has also been more broadly described as the fear of feeling disconnected from the digital world, Read More...

How improv classes can serve a

How improv classes can serve as natural remedy for anxiety

Feeling anxious? Taking improv classes might just be a fantastic natural remedy for your worrying ways. In a pilot study in the Journal of Mental Health, scientists in 2017 discovered that improv exercises may provide a “strong and efficient treatment for patients with anxiety and depression.” Read More...

Babies show altruistic behavio

Babies show altruistic behavior by sharing food even when hungry

Altruism is acting out of concern for another’s well-being. Often, people behave altruistically when they see others in desperate circumstances and feel empathy and a desire to help. But when, and how, does that spirit of giving start? Well, new evidence shows that it may actually begin as early Read More...

4 steps to help you leave work

4 steps to help you leave work at work

Some jobs have very clear lines between when you’re “on” and when you’re “off,” while in others the lines are blurred — or potentially nonexistent. That makes not being distracted by work, especially mentally, a major challenge. If you find yourself struggling to get out of “work Read More...

At this internship, students e

At this internship, students earn scholarships and learn to build homes

The average internship for high school students typically involves unpaid time spent completing mindless tasks such as filing papers, making copies, or taking coffee orders. But unCommon Construction offers a unique alternative that's better preparing young adults for life beyond the classroom. Read More...

Here’s how to recognize when

Here’s how to recognize when you’re overthinking things

As human beings, we have an ability to predict, within reason, what might happen. And while that may give us a feeling of control, what often ends up happening is we latch onto this way of thinking and start overthinking. Because it can be difficult to determine when thinking is helpful and Read More...

Want to help bees? Don’t mow

Want to help bees? Don’t mow over those dandelions

Spring is drawing closer, meaning it’s almost time for the great bloom of flowers. Speaking of which, there’s one flower that doesn’t get much love: the dandelion. Being such a common flower that grows on peoples' lawns, people tend to just mow over them. But according to the new president of Read More...

Planning a ski trip? Consider

Planning a ski trip? Consider one of these eco-friendly resorts

For those of you who love the thrill of hitting the chilly slopes, skiing is one of winter’s most exciting prospects. Unfortunately, climate change is taking a toll on winter snow levels and, with high energy consumption, transportation emissions, and bulky equipment, the sport itself takes a Read More...

At this clinic in Nebraska, pa

At this clinic in Nebraska, patients can pay for surgery by volunteering

Surgeon Demetrio Aguila saw a recurring problem at his clinic Healing Hands of Nebraska: patients who couldn’t afford the surgery. So, six months ago, the nerve specialist started a program that offers patients the option to pay for surgery by volunteering for local humanitarian groups. That’s Read More...

Here’s why you should consid

Here’s why you should consider swapping your morning coffee for a long walk

Most of us need coffee to just get out of bed in the morning. The World Health Organization classifies caffeine as one of the “most widely used psychoactive substances” in the world. Caffeine does have some health benefits, but research has found that exercise can give you the same alert Read More...