Nice News

Kathie Lee Gifford has been a constant fixture in countless Americans' lives for decades, delving into everything from music and comedy to acting, writing, and, of course, the world of daytime television, where she'd become an iconic morning talk show host. She spent 15 years co-helming "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" before taking the reins with Hoda Kotb on the fourth hour of "Today" from 2008-2019. Her bubbly personality and sharp wit have captured hearts, but the 70-year-old has also faced her share of trials and tribulations over the years. In an exclusive interview with Nice News, the Emmy winner opened up about how spreading positivity and helping people have been the guiding forces of her career, and how her belief system has been key to her resilience. 

In the United States, talking about death can be somewhat taboo, with many people preferring to keep the end of life out of mind. Unfortunately, this tendency may have the unintended consequence of placing us at a disadvantage when it comes to being prepared for the inevitable. No matter your age, putting certain plans in order can provide you peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of, your property will be passed into the right hands, and your wishes for medical care will be followed through. Get our recommendations in the article below, and consider sharing it with others you feel could benefit from the information.

Every year for the better part of the past two decades, polling organization Gallup has been taking the temperature of the room, so to speak, with its Global Emotions Report. The results are in from its latest survey, and the news is positive, if a bit surprising: The world is feeling better.  The findings were derived from nearly 146,000 interviews conducted in 2023 with people ages 15 and older in 142 countries and areas. Researchers asked participants questions about their feelings and experiences the previous day, then created two index scores, positive and negative, reflecting the responses.  For the first time since 2014, experiences of stress, sadness, anger, worry, and even physical pain all decreased. Read about more of the noteworthy takeaways below.

It’s possible to have an incredibly meaningful job — sharing positive news with the world comes to mind — and still feel moments of stress at work. So for those who are less than satisfied in their current positions, strain and tension may run even higher. We put together some tips for mitigating these experiences, from reevaluating your toolbox to deriving meaning from little moments. Let us know if you put them into practice!

You’ll probably find more differences than similarities when comparing European work culture to that in America, but U.S. employers are increasingly borrowing one thing from some EU countries: “summer Fridays.” 🌞 The concept refers to reduced hours during the warmer months — some companies will even shorten to a four-day workweek between Memorial Day and Labor Day, while others opt for half-day Fridays. In addition to allowing workers an early start to the weekend, summer benefits can help employers with retention, fight employee burnout and, as a result, boost productivity.

Social media influencers can get a bad rap for incessantly advertising products, but one man is turning the stereotype on its head by promoting something you can’t buy in stores: gratitude. Using the handle TodayIAmGrateful, 39-year-old college administrator David (who asked that Nice News refer to him by first name only) posts short, daily videos of himself expressing appreciation for everything from salt to ceiling fans and cell service. And they clearly resonate with others looking to slow down and feel more thankful — since launching his accounts, he’s amassed over 340,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. We interviewed the father of three about his gratitude journey — check out the article below to watch some of the videos and learn his advice for starting a practice of your own.

With the rise in remote work and amid an ongoing loneliness epidemic, community feels more important and more elusive than ever. If we’re lucky, we feel a sense of belonging at home, among the people we love. And if we’re even luckier, we experience some degree of camaraderie at work as well. But these two places alone can’t always provide the level of nourishment our social selves need. Enter: the third place. Separate from home (the first place) and work (the second place), third places provide us the opportunity to connect with and meet new people, receive support, and tether into our personal identities. And they offer a wealth of benefits for our mental and emotional health. Read our article below to learn more about the concept and get tips on establishing your own third place.

The word “luxury” may conjure up images of silk robes and superyachts, but experiences and items need not be extravagant to qualify as luxurious. Some of life’s little joys also fit the bill, and can offer mental health benefits to boot. “Incorporating little luxuries into your life is an easy ‘self-hack’ that prioritizes your well-being and enjoyment,” psychologist Robert Cuyler told Verywell Mind. “By indulging in small, meaningful pleasures, you can reduce stress, boost your mood, and cultivate a more positive outlook.” That happens in large part due to increases in dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that plays a role in several vital functions. So what counts as a little luxury? It could be a nightly ritual, delicious snack, or comfy item of clothing. The criteria is pretty broad, and it’s all dependent on you. Read our article below for advice on how to add little luxuries to your daily routine.

Like many paths to revelation, Stephanie Harrison's started at a low point. In 2013, the author found herself “deeply, desperately unhappy,” she writes in her debut book, “New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong,” out today. She’d been doing everything she thought she should — working hard at the big job, living in the nice apartment — yet contentment consistently felt just out of reach. At that nadir, Harrison began questioning her values, subsequently making changes in her life to align with her emerging belief system, including earning a master’s in psychology. By 2018, she’d synthesized her ideas into a philosophy she called “New Happy.” The crux of Harrison’s perspective is simple: To truly be happy, you need to help others be happy. She recently spoke to Nice News about her work via email. Click below to read the interview.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and today we’re sharing a story about the impressive ninth grader who earned the title of America’s Top Young Scientist this past fall for developing an affordable soap that can treat the disease. Heman Bekele plans to refine his invention over the next five years and create a nonprofit to distribute it in low-income communities. The teen spent four months competing against nine other finalists in 3M and Discovery Education’s Young Scientist Challenge, which encourages kids to “think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions.” He was paired with a mentor, who helped him turn his idea into a prototype. Learn how it works and get advice on performing a skin cancer self-exam in our article below.