Green Self Care to Help the Environment

When we talk about self care, we talk about caring for ourselves. The same can be said about the environment. Green self care helps the environment mindfully and deliberately.

Initially, people think about self care and massages, facials, and beauty routines come to mind. When in reality, it can be much more than that. The practice of green self care focuses on being mindful about what we do, without adding toxic chemicals into the air or adding more things to our already crowded lives.

While the focus of green self care is not to completely erase your footprint on the planet, it’s about making better choices that allow you – and the earth – to thrive. Keep reading to learn more about green self practices you can incorporate in your life today.

Go Toxins-Free

Think for a minute or two about the products you use at home. From cleaning products, skin care creams, hair sprays, and so on, you’ll be shocked to learn that most of them have skin-irritating, flammable, and even poisonous ingredients that can be harmful to your health.

Long-term exposure to these chemicals can cause inflammation and irritation in our bodies, making us prone to a plethora of health issues. To practice green self care, look for toxin-free products that avoid using harmful chemicals for ourselves and the environment.

Become a Mindful Water User

Water is a precious element. The way we use water has a direct impact on the environment. As you’re practicing self care activities like bathing or gardening, be mindful about how you use water. Remember that this precious liquid is not available everywhere and that it must be cared for as well. A few tips to try are:

• If you take a bath, repurpose the water to clean other areas of your home, or bathe your pet afterward to make the most use out of it.
• If you’re washing dishes, do your best to use the least amount of water possible. Use a bowl to save the excess water, which can be repurposed for the toilets, for example.

Look for ways you can save as much water as possible in your daily activities. Remember that the core of self care is being mindful and present in the moment, making choices that are thought through and with purpose. Your use of water should reflect that.

Practice Gardening

One of the biggest activities self care practitioners engage in is gardening. Most people don’t believe planting trees and plants can hurt the environment, after all, planting trees is supposed to be the Earth’s salvation, right? Well, it turns out that lawn chemicals can be extremely dangerous. There are even studies that link these chemicals with canine cancer. Many ingredients in these products have been tested and proven to be somewhat safe for humans. However, their impact on the environment is rarely analyzed.

It isn’t until now that businesses and scientists are starting to look at the impact certain products have on the environment. As a self care practitioner, you should (and must) look at the impact the products you choose for gardening or other activities are safe – for everyone.

Make Less Waste

Self care revolves around the fact that we’re doing our best to trim down negativity, focusing on what matters most, and not adding a thing to our never-ending to-do list. Learning how to make less waste can be a fantastic way to practice green self care.

For example, try to repurpose food leftovers to experiment with new recipes. Save vegetable scraps and turn them into compost. Be mindful about your shopping habits by buying recyclable shopping bags, recycling food packages, and so on. These are all green self care practices that help you and the environment.

A Word from GR8NESS

Self care can be a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve been neglecting yourself for years. Take a step back and breathe. The goal is to become a more mindful person and take better care of yourself while thinking about the environment at the same time. Before you know it, you’ll start seeing the benefits of making cleaner, healthier, more thoughtful choices in your life that will eventually have an impact on the planet.