Today’s Solutions: April 26, 2024

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.

Young black woman gesturing STOP on pink studio background.

4 signs you need to say NO from time to time

Saying “no” to a request is understandably difficult. Professionally or personally, we either want to help, accommodate a friend, or fear we may upset someone we care about. That’s why we can be inclined to say yes to those we're close to. If your schedule is already filled with work, Read More...

person grates apple with box grater

How to use all four sides of your box grater

Think about the box grater sitting somewhere in your kitchen. Are you maximizing its uses? Chances are you only use that one side to do that one thing: shred cheese. Some seem to forget that this handy metal contraption has four sides, most of which are sadly ignored—truly a disservice to the box Read More...

Boy giving white and yellow flowers to elderly woman.

Findings from largest public study on kindness

Kindness can turn a bad day into a great one in a matter of seconds. We all hold the power to give the gift of kindness within us, whether that's giving someone your full attention in a conversation or just simply smiling at a stranger on the street, these little gestures can mean a lot. As a Read More...

woman looks at troubling news on her phone

Expert-approved ways of dealing with bad news (part 2)

Welcome to the second half of a two-part series that shares expert advice on how to deal with all the bad news that fills our social media feeds and news outlets. If you haven't read it yet, click to check out part I. Mindfulness over matter According to former NHS general practitioner Nicola Read More...

elderly Indigenous Bolivian amazonian woman

Remote Bolivian tribe has lowest dementia rates worldwide

A remote and unique indigenous population in the Bolivian Amazon called the Tsimane (pronounced chee-MAH-nay) sparked the interest of scientists when they were found to show almost no cases of age-related heart disease.  Since then, scientists have carried out various studies into the Tsimane Read More...

young man sits in chair with laptop on lap and rubs neck in pain

A massage therapist's advice on WFH without hurting your back

When more people started working remotely, licensed massage therapist and treatment trainer Polly Brasch reported seeing “more postural problems among [her] clients.” She “noticed a big swing in clients having pain in their middle and upper backs,” which is certainly an outcome of the Read More...

Person holding pile of brightly colored patterned pillows.

Check out these Black-owned home decor brands to liven up your space

The Optimist Daily has regularly tried to draw positive attention toward black-black-owned businesses. Being mindful where you spend your money and choosing racial minority owned stores can help close the racial wealth gap, celebrate black culture, promote representation, and create jobs. With Read More...

Drive slowly

To save money and gas, driving slower helps

Many of us take the speed limits on the side of the road as, well, more of a suggestion than a hard line never to cross. Whether on the highway or in midtown, many of us feel we’re losing time or just plain bored if we’re not in the fast lane. Gas prices are rising, though, and even when we Read More...

man receives bad news on phone

Expert-approved ways of dealing with bad news (part 1)

With everything that’s going on in the world, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to deal with the seemingly endless negative news. From the war in Ukraine to the rising cost of living and the climate crisis, it can simply be overwhelming. Here are some strategies suggested by experts on Read More...

Rear view of busy female artist sitting on chair in front of easel, painting with fingers, using white and blue oil or acrylic paint.

Adopt this mindset to cultivate a hobby you truly love

Here at The Optimist Daily, we understand how valuable your free time is and the value of enriching it with pleasurable activities. This could be anywhere from simply resting to rejuvenating your energy levels, puzzling, or painting, whatever floats your boat! However, our competitive modern Read More...