Today’s Solutions: April 25, 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.

Man watering a Maranta Leuconeura, Fascinator Tricolor, houseplant with a plant mister bottle.

Four ways to clean your house plants

Cleaning your plants may seem trivial, but there is scientific support behind keeping your leafy friends squeaky clean. The stomata and chlorophyll of plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and help perform photosynthesis, can be clogged and blocked by dirt and dust. Cleaning your plants helps ensure Read More...

Infinity Train Green future

This “Infinity Train” only needs gravity to recharge

Australian mining company Fortescue and Fortescue Future Industries are collaborating with UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering to create the Infinity Train—the world’s first battery-electric self-charging train. How does it work? A zero-carbon electric train that never needs to stop to Read More...

middle aged woman with glasses wipes houseplants

How to prep your houseplants for spring

The days are getting longer and warmer, so if you’re a house plant fanatic like us at The Optimist Daily, then you’re probably noticing that your house plants are starting to perk up after a dark and cold winter. Outdoor plants are more in touch with the seasons, but indoor plants need a bit Read More...

meal cooked in cast iron pan

Can a cast iron pan boost your iron intake? A dietitian weighs in

Cast iron cookware has a great reputation in the kitchen. You can use it for a multitude of cooking techniques from browning meat and veggies to baking bread, to slow-cooking flavorful stews. Did you know, though, that anything you cook in cast iron might actually increase your daily iron Read More...

Hand playing with a snowball, snowy surroundings, trees with snow on them.

Got debt? Here’s a strategy for paying it off.

According to financial experts, Around 80 percent of American adults are in debt in some shape or form. Whether it’s student loans, medical bills, car payments, credit cards, or mortgages, to put it bluntly, the nation has some bills to pay. With these huge sums lingering over our heads, there's Read More...

woman shops for ceramics and homeware

Boosting prices to raise wages? This brand’s customers approve

The way that the pandemic has forced us to reevaluate our lives and the systems that govern them cannot be overstated. One of the many concerns that bubbled up to the surface was the plight of the worker. Unfair wages, overloaded schedules, lack of childcare, mounting anxiety and stress, and Read More...

Fresh Food In Garbage Can To Illustrate Waste.

How to cut down on your food waste

Cutting down on food waste helps the environment in a number of important ways. Most obviously, it saves the resources and energy that go into producing unneeded food at every step of the supply chain, from farming to packaging and shipping. Food that winds up rotting in landfills also produces Read More...

woman's hands apply sunscreen to arm

Squid-inspired device warns you when you've had too much sun

Spring is just around the corner—but before we get too excited to throw on our swimsuits and sunbathe in the park, it’s important to remember that we have to be careful when it comes to sun exposure.  Even though those lovely warm rays may feel great against bare shoulders, it’s been well Read More...

homeless woman begs on a street in London, UK

The UK repeals anti-homelessness law

The UK Vagrancy Act criminalizes sleeping outside and begging—essentially homelessness—in England and Wales. Under this law, police have the power to arrest people found begging in public, or in enclosed spaces. Anyone convicted of these crimes is charged with up to £1,000 in fines along with Read More...

Man with dark hair lathers shampoo in the shower

Experts reveal which is better: hot or cold showers?

For when your mind is foggy, your body is tired, or when you just need to shake yourself out of a mood, taking a shower is one of the most refreshing things you can do! Whether you prefer piping hot sessions to quick cold spray downs, a good shower has the power to make anyone feel Read More...