Self care and caring for the planet go hand-in-hand. If something is good for your physical, mental or spiritual health then, more times than not, it is good for the planet. If it is bad for your health then the same rule tends to apply.
Many people around the world are talking about self care and what it means to them. We are beginning to realize the more we care and tend to our own needs, the more productive role we can play in our lives, our communities and the world. It may seem like a small act of self care couldn’t reach that far but let’s look at it from the other side.
If you are ignoring your basic, emotional, physical and spiritual needs you may begin to feel burnt out over time. This can show up as constant fatigue, irritability, feelings of hopelessness, inability to feel joy and overall feeling detached from yourself and those around you. In this state, it is hard enough to get out of bed every day let alone make it to the gym, make a healthy meal or stand up for a cause you may once have been passionate about.
In what ways can you implement self care into your routine that creates a larger impact around the world?
Eat Good Food
This is one of the greatest acts of kindness you can not only do for yourself, but also for the planet. Eating locally sourced, organic foods is good for you and the natural environment. Locally sourced food is generally extremely fresh, plus less energy is consumed getting the food from the farm to your table (shorter travel distance!). Plus, you are supporting YOUR community which feels great and supports the local economy.
Organic foods are free from pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to our air, soil and waterways. Chemical pesticides and herbicides can also cause harm to us by making our food less nutritious and passing toxins into our body. Organic meat products are free from hormones and, for the most part, are free-range cutting back on a HUGE portion of greenhouse gases entering our atmosphere. Nourishing your body can also nourish the planet!
Ditch the Plastic
By now we all know what plastic straws are doing to sea turtles and as a majority have chosen to quit using straws for the sake of these cute sea creatures (sorry not sorry straws!). But why stop there? Ditching plastic can be easier than you think.
Opting for a reusable metal or glass water bottle instead of store-bought water in plastic bottles comes with many benefits. You can fill it up over and over again, promoting better hydration for your body. Staying hydrated will promote a healthier digestive system, higher energy levels and it will help with weight management! Another way to ditch plastic is to use reusable bags at the grocery store instead of plastic bags, plus the dreaded walk from the car to your front door is MUCH easier with durable, reusable bags with practical straps to drape over your shoulder.
When you can’t REPLACE the plastic (because let’s face it, we are all human and we can’t be perfect 100% of the time), buy products that are recyclable like many of ours here at Zemvelo. Do your part by recycling them or reusing when you can (check out this article on reusing plastic bottles as planters!) Eliminating plastic, reusing and recycling as much as you can in your day-to-day will decrease the waste that you generate, helping the planet!
Stand Up
Let’s face it, most of our days throughout the week include a lot of sitting. We sit during our commute to and from work, we sit at work and then most of the time we come home to sit on our couch and enjoy the latest episodes of our new favorite show on Netflix or Disney+. All this sitting can have negative effects both physically and mentally on you. As an alternative, walking or biking to work can give you a morning boost of energy to have a productive day in the office AND you are no longer just another car polluting the air we breathe. Maybe your job is too far away, but you could walk or bike to the grocery store once or twice a month, or the bookstore on a Sunday morning. Really, anything helps! Plus, spending more time outside instead of inside an office, a car, or on your couch is a great way to stop and smell the roses every once in awhile.