Why Wellness And Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand
Wellness and sustainability are deeply connected—caring for yourself and the planet creates lasting harmony, promoting healthier lifestyles while preserving resources for future generations.
As people become more and more aware of the impact the choices they make every single day (and many times during the day) have on their lives, their health, and even the environment, they might begin to see a link between wellness and sustainability – and that’s a really good link to be able to spot. The fact is that if you live a more sustainable life, it’s not just something that’s going to benefit the planet; it’s something that can benefit you personally (and your family and friends too, come to that), and there are so many ways it can be done that it doesn’t have to be all that difficult – in fact, with just a few small changes, it could even be easy. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how you can ensure that wellness and sustainability go hand in hand in your life as much as possible.
Sustainable Eating
One of the easiest connections between wellness and sustainability to see and understand (which makes it the perfect place to start if you like this idea and can see the benefits of it) is through food – if you opt for sustainable food when you need to choose what to eat, it’s not only good for the planet, but it can (again, with the right choices) by the right option for your health as well.
For example, think about locally sourced, organic, plant-based foods. These things tend to have a much lower environmental impact compared to processed foods and foods that are heavily packaged or have to come from a long way away (and therefore have a bigger carbon footprint). If you can eat fresh, seasonal food that you get from local farmers and producers, and if you can cut back on how much meat you eat, that’s definitely going to help you and the planet in all kinds of ways.
If you want some tips when it comes to sustainable eating, start by making sure you’re reducing your food miles and buy from a farmer’s market or an independent store close by – walking distance is best, but if you do have to travel, what about public transport instead of driving? And if you pick organic food, that’s going to limit your exposure to harmful chemicals, which is clearly good for your health. Plus, the less meat you eat, the better – you don’t have to become a vegetarian or vegan, but having one or two meat-free days each week can be a great idea.
Eco-Friendly Wellness Products
You’re always going to want to have wellness products around you – some are one hundred percent necessary, and others are things that make you feel good, so they’re great to include in your life in some way. And interestingly, the wellness industry is one that’s really expanding at the moment, massively growing all the time, meaning there are more and more products available, and since there’s such a big push for sustainability, you’ll often find products with this label on them, from skincare to hygiene products. That means you can easily choose eco-friendly products as alternatives to the standard ones you might usually buy – and as for your health, you’ll find that these more natural products will have fewer chemicals and other potentially harmful ingredients in them, so that’s a good thing too.
Take the fact that many traditional wellness products will come in plastic packaging, for example, or they might contain synthetic ingredients that aren’t great for our bodies or the environment – choosing sustainable, natural products that offer you the same benefits but that aren’t harmful and have more considerate packaging just makes a lot of sense – you’re not missing out on anything, but the planet can benefit as a result of one small and easy choice.
It’s great that brands like Tampon Tribe are dedicated to offering organic, plastic-free tampons and pads that are just better for your body and produce less waste – these are products that some people certainly will need regularly, and if there’s a better alternative, then that’s the route to take.
You can also do things like switching to a reusable water bottle and using stainless steel straws (don’t forget to clean them properly so you don’t get sick, of course) to cut down on plastic waste, and you can also choose natural skincare products that use biodegradable packaging and sustainably sourced ingredients. And in general, you can stop using single-use items like cotton buds or face wipes and go for something you can wash and re-use. These are just a few small changes but it’s easy to see how great they could be in terms of the environment and your own wellness.
Sustainable Fitness
You probably already know that staying active is crucial for your mental and physical health, but did you also know what the way you go about doing this fitness can make you and your life more sustainable too? It’s true – most people don’t notice that the way they’re currently exercising might not be ideal for the planet, especially if they’re getting good results for their health, but stepping back and considering all the different angles can certainly make a difference and might put you on a better, more sustainable path.
Think about what you wear when it comes to your workout gear, for example. If you’re wearing synthetic workout clothes, that’s not great for the planet (they take a lot of resources to make, plus they’re harder to dispose of), but you could swap them for things made from organic cotton or recycled materials, for example, which helps to solve a few different problems, including the fact that you’ll be able to be part of reducing the demand for production processes that cause more harm than good.
That’s a great start, but what about the activities you choose to do? Well, the best bet is to pick the ones that don’t need any equipment that uses energy – you can pick yoga or hiking or cycling, for example. Or, if you love going to the gym but you have to drive to get there, what about investing in a home gym instead? Even one or two pieces of equipment at home can mean you go to the gym less (if at all) and therefore don’t drive as much.
Sustainable Fashion
We’ve talked a little bit about clothes above, but it’s worth saying that it’s not just workout clothes that can be problematic – all clothes can, and the fact is that your wardrobe might play a bigger role in sustainability and wellness than you think. There’s a term called ‘fast fashion’, and it’s something that’s been seen for a while now as an issue – it’s actually one of the industries that’s the worst for damaging the environment because it contributes so much to waste, pollution, and energy consumption (not to mention exploitation, although that’s a topic for another day). On the other hand, sustainable fashion is all about slowing down and just investing in clothes that are ethically produced and made to last – you might have to spend more at the outset, but in the end, you’ll save money because you won’t have to replace them so often, plus you’ll be able to feel good while you look good because you’re doing a lot for the planet.
Wearing sustainable clothing, which could be made from organic materials and will be produced by companies with fair labor policies who specifically work hard to take care of the planet is a fantastic thing to do – plus, if this is how you buy clothes, you won’t be bothered by changing fashion trends because it’s just not going to interest you, so that can take a lot of pressure off (which might even be pressure you didn’t realize you felt).
Other options when it comes to being more sustainable with your clothes is to shop at second hand stores – these are clothes that could be perfectly great quality but that the original owners just don’t want or need anymore, and you can get them for a great price and stop them from going to landfill. Or what about clothing swaps? These are fun events where you take clothes you don’t want and pick up clothes you do for free – they’re ideal if you want to clear out your wardrobe and get some new outfits without having to spend a massive amount of money to do it.
Sustainability And Mental Health
As well as physical health, sustainability actually has a good connection to mental health and wellbeing, and living a more sustainable lifestyle can mean you get to simplify everything and slow down a lot more – essentially living in the present more – and that’s going to have a positive impact on your mental health.
You could, for example, spend more time in nature (it could be hiking, gardening, or just walking through a park) and that’s been proven to reduce stress and boost your mood. And if you happen to pick up some litter or make sure you use a reusable water bottle while you’re doing it, that’s even better. If you’re able to be more sustainable and slow down how you live your life (and the two often do go hand in hand), you’ll be able to have a calmer, more focused life and you’ll be doing your bit for the planet.
