You can exchange simple swaps for the sake of your health (and the Earth).
Hi friends! I hope you have a nice morning! I’m looking forward to hanging out with some friends and catching up on some SEO and other blogging work that I tend to put off for as long as possible. 😉
Since we’re a little into January of the new year, some of the dust has settled and we can dial in a few things that we’ll be working on. I know many of us are looking forward to making healthy changes for ourselves, our families, and also for the earth! In today’s post, I wanted to share some ideas for simple swaps and changes you can make in your routine. Please keep in mind that this is not a do-it-all list. Take a look and see which ones will work for you and are applicable to your lifestyle, and start with the one that makes the most sense and is important to you. Once you’ve done that, maybe add something else over time!
I find that habits are so much stronger when we take the time to build them individually into our routine. There’s no need to overwhelm ourselves by trying to do everything at once, and some of the things on the list may not apply to you or may not be something you care about, and that’s okay too.
Just sharing some thoughts on the inspo, and if you have anything to add, please chime in in the comments section – I’d love to hear it!
Simple swaps you can make for your health (and the Earth)
Assess the water quality and invest in a filter
In many American cities, our tap water…isn’t. Some places are better than others, but you can Check the quality of your local tap water here. Our beautiful Tucson waters are full of arsenic, as well as nitrates and radium.
Unfortunately, refrigerator filters don’t do a great job of filtering out chemicals, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens. Our favourite Big Berky Makes the water taste great – I recommend it too akwasana Another option is Therasage. If you are filtering out all the bad bacteria, it is sometimes necessary to filter out minerals as well in the process. To add the minerals back in, you can use real salt (such as Redmond), trace mineral drops, or experiment Sakara Beauty Drops <-- This is what I use.
Fertilizer
This is something I want to do this year. Every time I throw away leftovers and countless other things, I think to myself, “You gotta compost that.” I know our gardeners will love it, and even if you don’t have a garden, there are local farmers who will accept compost landings, and some larger cities offer compost collection.
Use fewer paper towels
friends. This has been one of my goals for years, but I have yet to find a suitable replacement. I use a lot of paper towels. If you have an option that you love, please shout it out in the comments!
Reduce your morning stress (alarm clock, meditation practice, etc.)
When you wake up to a loud, boisterous alarm clock, you may be setting yourself up for a huge cortisol spike. It can be irritating to be quickly awakened in the flight or fight response, and it can have an effect on insulin sensitivity, hunger levels, mood, digestion, immune function, etc. Try to find ways to get up slowly and calmly. Even if you use a traditional alarm clock, try to avoid spending too much time on your phone first thing in the morning. On what other day do you start your day more peacefully?
Earth in the morning
Get those little things in the grass or dirt and sunshine in your face when you wake up. It helps reset the circadian rhythm (allowing necessary melatonin to be produced at the right time later), and can also have therapeutic effects. According to this study, Grounding, or “earthing,” can help with chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, HRV disorder, hypercoagulated blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.
Set up a bedtime routine
My best sleep tips are in this post! I also highly recommend the book Sleep smart.
Use reusable plastic bags and reduce single-use plastic
Shrinking plastic used to be more challenging, but fortunately, there are many more options available now! I love storage bags (we get them from market flourish)stainless steel, storage bottles and containers, and beeswax wraps for sandwiches and odds and ends (like half a bell pepper or onion).
Simplify your cleaning products
This is one of my favorite times of the year to completely empty our stashes and closets, throw away what we don’t need or have expired, and get everything organized. When you run out of items it’s the perfect opportunity to swap this item for a safer option. For example, the thought of switching out all your cleaning products at once can be really hard, but when you run out of all-purpose cleaner, try a new product with better ingredients. Order most of our cleaning supplies from The market is booming.
BUY FROM LOCAL FARMERS – Choose food that is in season and local
It’s important to support and connect with local farmers (especially when eggs are $10 at the grocery store…). Foods may be higher in nutrients because they don’t have to sit on a truck for so long in transit, they reduce transportation emissions associated with food, and I find they always taste better and taste better. The same goes for food in season; It is not necessary to travel long distances to reach your plate. Take a look at this Seasonal Food Guide!
Check your meat sources
If you are truly a carnivore like yourself, it is important to know where your meat comes from and the diet you are consuming. How was it treated? Was he given steroids or antibiotics? Was she able to eat her normal diet? Has it been colored with artificial dyes (such as salmon)? I am very picky about the meat we buy for our family, and I will only get it from her Butcher box (My fave source for organic meat and wild-caught seafood), whole foods, and certified organic or wild-caught foods from Trade Joe’s. It’s even better if you get your meat from a local farmer!
Don’t be afraid to buy used clothes, rent clothes, and donate clothes instead of destroying them
This is an easy way to show a little extra love for the Earth. I’m a huge fan of renting clothes – I’ve done Rent the Runway Unlimited Forever and now I’m back at Nuuly – donating, sharing, anything to help a piece of clothing get going.
Get rid of perfume
The term “fragrance” is a trade secret that companies can use to hide over 200 chemical ingredients. It’s easy to avoid in cosmetics, skincare, cleaning products, and candles. For more ingredients to stay away from, check out this post.
Start a garden
My gardening tips are all here! It’s so much fun being able to walk outside and grab everything you need to make a salad. I had to learn a lot along the way, but it’s one of those things you can’t improve on until you actually do. 🙂
Carry a reusable water bottle
Make your favorite water. Not only are you hydrating yourself, which can have a big impact on skin, satiety, digestion, immune function, etc., but it also helps the earth because you’re not using single-use bottles.
So there you go!
I’d love to hear any ideas you have on simple trade-offs you can make for your health and the Earth, or any goals you’re working towards this year.
xo
Jenna
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