9 home interior design tips for longevity
The lives and habits of those who live in Blue Zones, otherwise known as the regions where the longest-living people on the planet live, have always fascinated us at The Optimist Daily. We’ve already shared stories about how Blue Zone dwellers drink alcohol, eat, and sit, and now, to add to this Read More...
This stovetop potpourri will make your home smell deliciously festive
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, fall is in full swing and you’re likely looking for ways to make your home feel more comforting as the days get shorter. Conventional air fresheners can contain irritating chemicals, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your home smell deliciously cozy. Read More...
5 Ways digital nomads can cultivate a sense of home while on the road
Digital nomadhood has been on the rise since before the pandemic, which only accelerated the shift from working in traditional offices to location-independent remote work that relies only on a good internet connection. As we adapt to the Covid-19 virus, remote workers everywhere are likely Read More...
3 Signs there may be mold in your home
Most of us can recognize mold on our loaf of bread or our favorite cheese, but when it comes to spotting mold in your home, things aren’t quite as simple. Mold can hide in hard-to-spot places, negatively impacting your health from an unseen location. Here are three sneaky signs you may have mold Read More...
Four ways to address the new IPCC report on an individual level
Even for those of us perpetually concerned with the disastrous effects of a changing climate, the most recent IPCC report was tough to swallow. The reality is that even with our strictest existing climate measures, we are still going to experience devastating impacts from the emissions we’ve Read More...
How to discern between toxic and safe household plants for your pets
The pandemic has created a surge in houseplant popularity, which is a lovely way to make an indoor space greener and even has its fair share of health benefits. However, if you also care for pets such as dogs or cats, then it’s best to be selective when bringing plants in to join your personal Read More...
What architects can do to ease the PTSD of veterans
For veterans with PTSD, the realities of war are no longer at their doorstep, but the lasting impact of war’s trauma impacts life on a daily basis. So researchers are looking for ways to make architecture more accommodating for veterans with PTSD. Especially these days, we’re all spending Read More...
How to feel at home in a place where you don’t really belong
For all the upsides of living life as a digital nomad, there are a few major downsides. The main one is that constantly being on the road can make you lose that distinct feeling of homeliness. Yes, the flexibility of the traveling man or woman is desirable, but having that feeling that you belong Read More...
Passive House: Super energy efficient housing
How a new kind of home which produces more energy than it consumes, can drastically reduce fuel bills and CO2 emissions. Ursula Sautter | June/July 2009 issue Governments around the world are scrambling to address the twin crises of our times—the recession and climate change—by investing in Read More...
Hydrogen in every home
How the Japanese are trying to slash energy use and CO2 emissions—by installing fuel cells in people’s backyards. Winifred Bird | April 2009 issue Yasushi Kawamori has a power plant in his backyard. Not the kind that belches clouds of CO2 into the atmosphere, but the kind that’s small Read More...