Mindfulness and self-care have become increasingly popular in recent years, and this is definitely for the better. These ideas have helped many people relax and handle the stress of daily life, while also making better decisions for improving themselves. Believe it or not, making mindful choices isn’t just better for you – it’s also better for the environment.
Here are a few ways you can incorporate your self-care and mindfulness goals into going green.
Remember To Reuse
Mindful living encourages awareness of everyday routines and daily habits, meaning you’re paying more attention to the little things you do every day. This includes being conscious of what you’re using and getting rid of regularly, like water bottles.
Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, so take this opportunity to switch your habits to use more reusable items, like reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastics.
Materials Matter
Being conscious of little choices throughout the day means you’re more aware of opportunities to go green. Even using less paper can be an option. About 15% of papers get misplaced anyway, so why have them in the first place? And if you’re looking to change up your materials, now is the time. For example, when you’re shopping, you might initially be tempted to purchase items made from wood, but instead consider materials that give you a similar look with a reduced impact, like bamboo.
The bamboo plant is a highly renewable resource that is able to grow to maturity in as little as three to five years, making it far more eco-friendly and just as attractive as wood items.
Awareness Of Alternatives
Your lifestyle changes can impact areas of your life you don’t often consider as well. You might not always think about where your electricity is coming from when you turn on your lights every day, but a shift in mindset might make you start to wonder about your energy sources. Consider following in the steps of people in places like North Carolina, which is ranked second in the nation for solar panel installation.
Do some research on where your home is sourcing its electricity from – you might be surprised what you learn. The average American home consumes 40% less natural gas than it did 40 years ago. Additionally, some energy companies allow you to select renewable source options for your home, so by being more aware of your energy use, you could make a serious impact.
Shopping Small
Many people nowadays take e-commerce and online shopping for granted, but once you start becoming more aware of yourself and your belongings, you might want to stop and think about the impact your one-day shipping has on the environment.
Purchasing products online from large retailers means more resources that are being used to drop that product off on your doorstep. Instead, look for local small businesses you can support instead. There are nearly 28 million small businesses in the U.S that could use your support, and shopping locally reduces the environmental footprint you’re leaving due to shipping resources.
Low-Waste Lifestyle
For those who are truly committed and dedicated to changing their lifestyle, consider going zero-waste. Cutting out as much waste as possible and forcing yourself to create no trash whatsoever pushes you to be even more conscious of what you’re using in your day-to-day life.
You’ll think twice about that unnecessary purchase because of the packaging it comes in, and you’ll likely start eating healthier, fresher foods where you can compost scraps and not worry about the packaging it comes in. Going zero-waste isn’t for everyone, though, particularly very busy families, so make sure you’re ready to commit yourself to that decision.
Being more aware of yourself and your smaller daily decisions can be good for both your own mental health as well as the environment. Consider whether you’d be able to make some of these adjustments to your regular routine to improve your quality of life while also going green.
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