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 mindfulness can help us get better at processing fear
For years, psychologists have used something called exposure therapy to help people overcome their biggest fears. This type of therapy involves that particular thing you fear most while in a safe environment. But according to a brand new study, there is an alternative way to overcome fears that Read More...
This city in North Carolina is designing America’s future composting systems
In the city of Durham, North Carolina, roughly 30% of the garbage residents throw away is compostable. Two-thirds of that is food scraps (the rest comes from paper products). The problem: like most municipalities, the city doesn’t offer a residential composting program. And not everyone has space Read More...
This man ran a marathon in under 2 hours
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge cemented himself as perhaps the greatest long-distance runner the world has ever seen after pulling off a superhuman feat in Vienna in 2019. At the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, Kipchoge became the first person ever to run a full marathon in under two hours. The elusive time Read More...
How to discover the best campsites online
Whether you want to glamp on a cliff above the ocean or sleep in a tent deep in the forest, camping helps you get away from it all. But one of the hardest parts of camping—wherever you like to be—is finding that perfect campground. The most popular campsites near metro areas or in Read More...
Why you should consider getting a bidet installed in your bathroom
The bidet: in much of the world it’s the normal, hygienic way to clean your bum after using the toilet. In America, it’s virtually unknown. And that’s a crying shame, both for public health as well for the environment. If you don’t know what a bidet is, allow us to fill you in. It’s Read More...
How to be a conscious consumer, even on a budget
Sociologist Joseph Cohen once said, “America is a place where the luxuries are cheap and the necessities are expensive.” While we might feel like our lives are overrun with cheap goods, it can be difficult to shop more sustainably when it feels like the greener options eat away at your Read More...
Next time you need a boost in creativity, try this simple trick
We’ve all been there-you're sitting at your desk, trying to come up with some juicy new idea, only to find your creative pipes clogged. While sometimes we blame it on a lack of caffeine in our bodies, some of the most frustrating roadblocks to creativity can actually stem from being in a static Read More...
Money talks: what's yours saying about the environment?
So you bring your own bag to the grocery store, you carpool to work and are cutting down on your meat consumption. Looking for something more to shrink your personal carbon footprint? Changing the way you manage your money can actually help make your lifestyle more sustainable. Here are eight ways Read More...
FUTURE OF FOOD: The Follies of Food Waste, or How to have your food and eat it too!
Someone may offer you a freshly caught whole large fish, like a salmon or striped bass. Don't panic - take it! - Julia Child BY AMELIA BUCKLEY One evening when I was eight years old, I sat in a small french cafe with my sister and parents when the waiter delivered my father's plate - an Read More...
Do you have any old LEGO bricks? Here’s the best thing you can do with them
Despite being made from plastic, there's something to be said for LEGO bricks. They are exceedingly durable and their historically consistent connecting system makes their design the opposite of planned obsolescence. The Danish company has an impressive record of sustainability – from investments Read More...