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.
‘Having fewer children does not save the planet’
According to a new study that identifies the most effective ways people can cut their carbon emissions, the greatest impact individuals can have in fighting climate change is to have one fewer child. That’s a sad conclusion as having children is arguably the most fulfilling dimension a human Read More...
How to be mindful while reading
Find a window of time when you can focus on your reading, rather than trying to squeeze it into a busy day or get a few pages in before bedtime. Pick reading that will engage but not deplete you, something that requires a bit of mental energy, but doesn’t end up as another item on your growing Read More...
How to build a business model on altruism
When I was in the hospital several years ago battling cancer, I was given a beautiful candle that soothed me, imparting hopefulness and peace of mind. The mission of my company was birthed out of that experience, and I wanted to reflect that hope and healing back to my community — and the Read More...
A South African startup is using bitcoin to turn digital pirates against each other
The scholarly environs of the New Media research lab at Stellenbosch University in South Africa gave rise to a diabolically clever plan to deal with video piracy in 2015: Lure pirates with bitcoin to find out the source of the contraband material. That project has become the basis for a startup Read More...
France urges resumption of Israel-Palestine peace talks
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a resumption of long-stalled peace talks between Israel and Palestine based on a two-state solution. Macron said on Sunday that France was ready to apply diplomatic levers toward renewed negotiations, but gave no specifics. He did not indicate any Read More...
Generosity makes you happier
It has long been acknowledged that acts of generosity raise levels of happiness and emotional well-being, giving charitable people a pleasant feeling known, in behavioral economics, as a "warm glow." But so far, no studies have investigated the mechanics behind the correlation between altruism and Read More...
This is why working at home is much better than in the office
China’s largest travel agency Ctrip recently did a fascinating experiment. The company’s leaders had half their employees work from home for nine months, and the other half work only from the office. The results? Those who worked from home had a 13 percent improvement in performance from people Read More...
Our political climate is so stressful, there’s an app for that
No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, today’s ear-ringing political landscape can be a little bit overwhelming. While many have likely turned to meditation as a way to cope with the stress, an app has taken things a step further, touting a series of mindfulness programs geared Read More...
Experiences or stuff, what’s the best buy for a happiness boost?
Ah, the joys of (social) science. You’ve been saying something for years, as publicly as possible, and then new research comes along that suggests you might have been wrong all along. A few years back, I gave up a stable job and bet the proverbial farm on writing a book about what I believe is Read More...
Are you ready to consider that capitalism is the real problem?
Eight men in the world currently control as much wealth as the poorer half of the world’s population. Does that seem like a fair system to you? Take a look at this opinion piece that might make you reconsider whether capitalism is the system that’s best suited to build our future Read More...