Sustainable Self-Care: Eco-Friendly Practices for Mental and Physical Well-being

Self-care should extend beyond individual well-being to include community and environmental care. Sustainable self-care refers to actions taken to benefit one's mental and physical health while minimising environmental impact. It involves being mindful of our products and practices, ensuring they are eco-friendly and ethically sourced.

Mindful Consumption

Choose Sustainable Products

Opt for eco-friendly personal care and cleaning products. Look for items with minimal plastic packaging and organic ingredients. Brands that prioritise sustainability often use biodegradable materials and avoid harmful chemicals.

Reduce Single-Use Plastics

Replace daily-use plastic items, especially single-use plastic ones, with reusable or planet-friendly alternatives. This minimises the environmental impact and reduces the amount of microplastics entering your body.

Eat Local

Buy fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat from the farmer’s market. Avocados flown in from a far-off city will not provide you with the nutrition that an apple from the local store will provide. Be aware of what you eat, how it impacts your health, and the environmental stress it causes.

Use Organic Products

Most household products contain harsh chemicals that harm our health and the environment. Wherever possible, use homemade cleaning alternates like baking soda and white vinegar. Making this change in your lifestyle might seem effort-intensive, but you will know it is pretty simple once you start doing it. 

Simplify Routines

Go Outside

Outdoor activities are a big part of staying physically and mentally healthy. Take long nature walks, run whenever possible, swim in freshwater, and sit by the beach. Nature has the power to heal you. If you are physically active through outdoor activities, you can reduce the time you spend at the gym, reducing the carbon footprint you’ll create using gym equipment. 

Relax and Reflect

Unwind after a long day by journaling your thoughts, integrating mindful practices and reflecting on your day with a cup of herbal tea. Try using digital journals like Paperlike instead of pen and paper for your journaling. They are easy to access and also light on the planet. 

Reduce Screen Time

It may seem contradictory that we are asking you to use digital devices for journaling and immediately telling you to reduce screen time. But spending ten minutes typing down your thoughts and binge-watching two seasons of a show is not the same. A report says one minute on Instagram is equivalent to driving 13 meters of a light-weight vehicle. Why would you want to fry your brain and spoil the environment simultaneously by spending hours on the phone? 

Have Creative Outlets

Activate your mind with creative hobbies and DIY projects that are fun, eco-conscious, and calming. You can upcycle old stuff from your house to create art pieces, engage in gardening, try your hands on baking, and even make your daily-use products.

Spend Quality Time With Loved Ones

Taking time out with your family and friends is essential to maintaining mental balance. Actively organise parties, come together for special occasions and even spend random weekend evenings with ‘your people’. While organising the get-togethers, ensure you don’t waste food, use eco-friendly dinnerware and create plastic waste to a bare minimum.

Caring for yourself doesn’t need to be intensive. We are manipulated to need a relaxing spa day, pizza for dinner and an ‘everything shower’ to get back on track. But a simple home-cooked meal and a long walk can do the trick. Try these simple, guilt-free well-being routines and see your health peak gradually!