Have you wanted to live a more mindful lifestyle?
If so, this simple guide is written to help you lead a life that is good for you and your community. Plus, it will help you thrive as an environmentally-conscious being during your time here on earth. Most of these tips will cost you nothing to implement. But better yet, many of them will save you money.
In fact, they will help you to increase your health and happiness and that of the people. Additionally, you’ll find tips for engaging with the animals of our planet, and the environment in which you live.
But beware! People will think you are awesome.
You will be flooded with compliments, love, and appreciation. People will want to talk to you and be around you. You will give your life a new sense of purpose And, you will regain your zest for life.
14 Ways to Achieve a More Mindful Lifestyle
1 – Eat well
Eat a whole food plant-based diet which means more veggies, fruits, grains, and nuts and fewer animal products. Try to buy organic and unpackaged food as well. You’ll not only feel better eating healthily, but you’ll cut down on plastics and wraps that you discard.
2 – Alternatives to your current transportation
Start bicycling, walking, and using public transportation and minimize your time in cars. You’ll become fitter and cut back on your reliance on fossil fuels.
3 – Think local to make a global impact
Go local. Eat local, shop local, play local. Spending your money with local merchants and service providers adds to the economy of your community. You will build relationships and support small businesses so they can sustain growth.
4 – Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.And in that order.
Recycling comes last on that list. Why? Because it is a very energy-intensive process. Much of the trash we create takes 100ss of years to biodegrade. This fact means that the best solution is to try to cut back on the amount of trash and recycling that you generate. Compost your food waste, repair items that still have life in them, and find new uses for old stuff by upcycling.
5 – Share!
Your parents had it right–you should share your things! Share your stuff and share others’ stuff. Be a part of the sharing economy.
This plan can be especially useful for single-use items. Here is one example. Think of the closet filled with bridesmaid gowns you’ll never use again!
6 – Embrace the concept of minimalism
Buy less stuff and purchase used items when you can. When thinking of purchasing something ask yourself if you really need it. This will leave you money to buy the things that you really need and want.
7. Conserve resources
Conserve water and electricity. Just be conscious of your usage. There are 100s of ways to cut back and you will start to see them if you pay attention.
For example, set timers to turn your lamps off at the appropriate time. Or when your toilet needs to be replaced, invest in a model that consumes fewer gallons per flush. Take ten minutes to fix that dripping kitchen faucet once and for all.
Small changes yield big results in terms of savings on your energy bills and for respecting Mother Earth.
8 – Pass up disposables
Use products that are reusable and avoid using disposable items such as bags, take out containers, water bottles, straws, dishes, and paper towels. There is an earth-friendly alternative to almost any disposable item.
For example, you can make two small changes to cut back on your plastic consumption. First, you can carry your own tote bags to the grocery store. Second, you can invest in a refillable water bottle for your daily hydration.
9 – Practice positive consumerism.
Buy from businesses who practice corporate social responsibly. Businesses have a responsibility to people and the planet as well as profit. Support responsible companies and boycott companies who only care about profit.
10 – Simplify your routine.
The less you need the easier it is to be friendly to our earth. And the less money you need the more time you will have to do what you love doing. Develop habits that assist you in reaching your goal of a sustainable lifestyle consistently, and you will learn to enjoy simplicity in your life.
11 – Be conscious of origins.
When you make decisions take into account where things come from and how they were produced. Take responsibility for your own decisions. Find out where the things you use come from and if you don’t like what you find then seek out an alternative.
Here’s a fantastic real-life example of how this principle of a mindful lifestyle can impact lives.
A civil war rages on in Syria, but refugee women resettling in Lebanon started a unique business enterprise called Jellyfish. With no resources or money, they began to collect discarded plastic bags from a nearby landfill. They cut the plastic bags into strips and worked it into plarn, plastic yarn. They use the plarn to crochet unique, colorful tote bags, children’s toys, home furnishings, and more. They named their line Jellyfish and now sell them online.
They save thousands of plastic bags from the landfill weekly and support their families at the same time. And that support comes from conscientious consumers who spread the word about the good quality products and the need for these ladies to sustain an income in otherwise dire living conditions.
12 – Live beyond yourself.
Think not only of your imminent actions but also about the ripple effect you will create. How do your actions affect other humans, animals, and the earth? Make your decisions based on the wellbeing of everyone and everything, not just you.
13 – Be good to others.
This is a basic principle that we’ve all heard since childhood. Good creates goodness. Kind actions foster kindness. Smiling makes someone else smile. If you want to be happy just make others happy.
14 – Set your priorities.
Is eating healthy food more important than getting drinks at a bar or eating out? If so, spend your money on the former rather than the latter. You will continue to become physically and mentally stronger. Moreover, you will have extra money to spend on the things that matter the most to you.
Final Thoughts on How You Can Adopt a More Mindful Lifestyle
Start small. Choose what will be easiest for you and do that first. Your confidence will build over time and each step will become easier as you progress in living a an authentic, mindful lifestyle that is good for everyone involved. Over time you’ll find yourself happier and healthier and you will likely feel liberated from the things that were holding you back. Your positivity and health will likely rub off on others and you’ll find yourself creating a more vibrant world around you.
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