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...
Understanding the brain through mindful mandala coloring
Mandala coloring is a centuries-old tradition. Coloring in these beautiful geometric configurations has been used by many as a technique for mindfulness, focusing your concentration on a certain task to improve overall mental health and wellbeing. Researchers, from the University of Lancaster, Read More...
5 benefits of knitting and crocheting—Stitch your stress away
At The Optimist Daily, we’ve written about the benefits of various indoor hobbies like tackling a jigsaw puzzle or getting crafty with painting. However, if puzzles confound you and painting doesn’t call to you, then perhaps you can stitch your stress away instead by trying out knitting and Read More...
10 Reasons to pick up a paintbrush: Good for your heart and soul
The cold winter weather combined with continuing concern for our health and safety during the pandemic may mean that many of us are opting to spend more time indoors these days. To keep boredom from taking hold, try to see this as an opportunity to delve into some fun hobbies that are not only Read More...
These are the 20 best cities world-wide for mental wellbeing
Thanks to modern technology, the world, though still so vast, has for many become smaller. Thanks to these advances, you can wake up in Greece and have lunch in France. You can be backpacking in Thailand but have a videoconference with your parents in Boston. However, for these past 20 or so Read More...
Scientists have figured out how to instantly cure hiccups
Scientists have designed a device that can get rid of hiccups and won't require you to hold your breath or recruit a friend to scare you: a drinking straw. What happens when hiccups, or singultus as it’s known in the medical world, start to plague you is the sudden contraction of your Read More...
5 research-backed reasons why it’s important to have fun
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Everyone has a slightly different definition for fun, but whether you love hitting the town with friends or going for a long hike, research shows that having fun is good for your health, both mental and physical. Below, you can find five science-based reasons Read More...
Study: Regular gardening improves mental and physical wellbeing
Whether you took up gardening during the pandemic or have been a lifelong cultivator, we have good news for you — a recent study found that the outdoor hobby may do wonders for your wellbeing, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. According to the study, conducted by the Royal Read More...
Resilience helps us through hard times. Here’s how to harness it
While we all know people who seem to be handing things amazingly well right now and see the pandemic as an opportunity for growth, many of us are just doing our best to get by. If you fall into the latter category, working to boost your resilience can help you cope with these uncertain times. Read More...
Novel surroundings and fresh experiences can make you happier
New experiences and places to discover may be in short supply these days, as people haven’t been able to travel and move around too much due to coronavirus restrictions. Yet, in a study that reveals a connection between our daily experiences and our sense of well-being, researchers suggest that Read More...