Today’s Solutions: December 17, 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.

Revolutionizing roadway power:

Revolutionizing roadway power: Detroit pioneers wireless EV charging

Detroit proudly reveals the nation's trailblazing innovation: a length of road that wirelessly charges electric vehicles (EVs) on the move or at rest, signaling a big step forward in automotive evolution. Eliminating EV charging challenges The introduction of wireless charging on highways Read More...

The vegan advantage: proven he

The vegan advantage: proven health benefits revealed in a rare identical twin study

While the health benefits of a plant-based diet are well known, a recent pioneering study on identical twins has confirmed these advantages. Stanford University's groundbreaking study, which included 22 sets of identical twins, highlighted the outstanding benefits of adopting a vegan diet over a Read More...

How West African hairdressers

How West African hairdressers offer mental health support and a pathway to healing

DECEMBER 21ST, 2023 UPDATE: This solution is a Reader's Choice selection of 2023! Here's why one of our fellow optimists nominated this story: "A few days before [this article was published], I was at my favorite salon getting my hair done. As she was conditioning my hair and massaging my scalp Read More...

Breaking the ice: Swedish city

Breaking the ice: Swedish city combats winter loneliness with "say hello" campaign

In the frozen embrace of Luleå, where daylight dwindles to mere hours, plunging into icy seawater becomes a ritual. For Katariina Yliperttula, a dip before work is about more than braving the cold—it’s an invigorating thrill. "It’s like a happiness rush afterwards," she says, recounting her Read More...

woman wraps gifts with eco-friendly and reusable furoshiki

7 sustainable alternatives to wrapping paper

The season of giving and receiving gifts is just around the corner. Although giving loved ones presents has a great impact on your (and their) mental health, it is also of utmost importance to be mindful of the impact gift exchanges have on the environment. Stanford University estimates that the Read More...

Recovering from family gatheri

Recovering from family gatherings: your essential guide to recharge and reset

A flurry of family visits might leave you reeling and wondering, "What just happened?" The intensity of spending time with family may be emotionally and physically demanding, whether the commotion has just ended or looms on the horizon. Psychologists have dubbed this phenomenon "family jet Read More...

Opting out: 4 alternative move

Opting out: 4 alternative movements to redefine Black Friday

Right now, the Black Friday shopping festivities are undoubtedly engulfing our screens and storefronts. It's easy for consumerism to take center stage, but nonetheless, amid the consumption frenzy, emergent movements provide respite for people wanting a break from the buying frenzy. Here are four Read More...

Study shows children of gay da

Study shows children of gay dads thrive

Researchers dug into the lives of families with gay fathers in a landmark study published in the journal Family Process, challenging prevalent preconceptions and shedding light on the resilience and success of these family dynamics. Contrary to some belief, children born to homosexual couples Read More...

35 years later: Tracy Chapman

35 years later: Tracy Chapman is first Black woman to win CMA Song of the Year

Tracy Chapman makes history at the Country Music Awards (CMAs), becoming the first Black woman to win the coveted Song of the Year award with her timeless song, "Fast Car." The unfading allure of "Fast Car" "Fast Car," which was published in 1988, has weathered the test of time, becoming an Read More...

Parental leave revolution: Sou

Parental leave revolution: South Africa's landmark decision sets new standards

South Africa plans to pioneer shared parental leave, making it the first country in Africa to implement this provision. The country's highest court recently declared that both parents had the right to time off following the birth or adoption of a child, allowing them to determine how to divide a Read More...