Holistic Soul Series: Environmental Self-Care
Photo Credit: TuTu
You may be asking yourself, what is environmental self-care? When I first started my wellness journey I just thought taking time to “treat yo self” was self-care. I spent time booking nail and massage appointments and took long bubble baths. I had no idea it involved a holistic approach that would touch upon every facet of my life.
My minimalism journey began two years ago when I read Marie Kondo’s magical book which is now a well known netflix series. We were moving into a bigger apartment and I knew we had to plan and move smart. That is when I decluttered and planned every room down to the bare essentials. I wanted every object to have a purpose and an intended place.
When you have a clean and organized space you feel more at ease. Whenever the house feels cluttered I feel my anxiety rising and I cannot rest. Once I’m able to tidy up and clean I feel much better. That is what environmental self-care is all about. It is about taking care of your living space. This helps you to live with more purpose where everything is in it’s place which gives more room for you to be creative and productive, and most importantly to REST.
Let’s explore how you can incorporate environmental self-care into your everyday life:
Recycle and repurpose
We all know the benefits of recycling and how it’s good for our planet. Be sure to separate your plastics, cardboard from the rest of your trash. Do you need paper plates and cups? Buy eco-friendly options! In need of planters for your plants? Repurpose bean cans to add an eclectic aesthetic to your decor. Do you have a large plastic bag that is filled with small bags somewhere that you use? ( I was guilty of this haha) Why don’t you use an old kleenex box as a dispenser to hold all those small plastic bags!
Donate and Shop thrift
Donate those old clothes and items or sell them on apps to sell your used things ( Let Go or Mercari are ones I use). When you go shopping try vintage stores. Fast fashion is very harmful to our planet and causes environmental pollution in developing countries. You can create a capsule wardrobe where you buy a few well crafted items of clothing ( this may be more expensive but it is well worth it for quality). If you MUST buy items from retailers of fast fashion be sure to keep the garment for as long as you can and donate it when you don’t want it anymore.
glass jars for your pantry
Glass jars should be used in your pantry to store all of your dried goods ( pasta, beans, nuts, etc). Not only will this save you money to buy in bulk but it also reduces the incidence of pests. Cockroaches are attracted to the glue used in cardboard boxes of your cereals and pasta. Living in NYC and other crowded metropolitan areas are breeding grounds for rodents. Keeping your food in containers and getting rid of cardboard boxes in your pantry will help keep your kitchen pest free.
Keep your workspace neat
Working from home is now the new normal for a lot of us since Covid-19 pandemic and it’s so important to keep your workspace organized. Keep it neat by using desk trays to store papers and cups for your utensils. Add some fresh flowers to brighten it up.
Toxic free cleaning
Utilize non-toxic cleaning solutions. when cleaning your house. My favorites are Seventh Generation and Meyers. It is good for the environment, your health, and your things are not damaged from harsh chemicals.
Freshen the air
If you don’t have any already, get yourself some houseplants! Not only are they beautiful but they filter and clean the air. Some air purifying plants are: snake plant, golden pothos, and peace lily.
Get Oily or burn a candle
I’m a huge fan of essentials oils. I use it in my diffuser and it really is a game changer. I use citrus and rosemary for when I clean. I love to go on pinterest to discover new scent combinations to add to my diffuser. Candles are also a favorite of mine and I love scents that are clean and minimal. It really transforms the room after a good cleaning!
I hope these environmental self-care tips help!
Disclaimer: This post does not contain any affiliate links. I’m not compensated for the products listed.