Happiness Is Going A Little Bit Greener Every Day:

By Carole Fogarty

Editor Rejuvenation Loungeand facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

Rejuvenate Your Home:

“Remember tomorrow, recycle today”

I’ve been very proactive for a long time now, embracing a chemical free existence.  I do my best to feed my family organic (as much as I can afford), super keen to eliminate as much plastic from my home as possible (it seems to never end), shop at local farmers markets  and have switched most of my household cleaners for natural, good old fashioned remedies.

Photo by Matthew Fang’s

And, while the whole “green thing” is an an ongoing, work in progress, I’m very happy to give myself a big silent thumbs up each day knowing that I have made a small, yet worthy contribution to the health of my family, environment and children’s future. It simply makes me feel happy.

I’ve deliberately only shared what I felt to be the easiest changes that I have made over the years. They require very little of your time, thinking space and energy to make the green change.

In addition to the suggestions below, you may also like to read a previous article I have written called Detox your kitchen bench: Six simple things you can do now:

Enjoy.

20 Super Easy Ways To Feel Happier and Greener:

 

1. Start using glass for storage containers and slowly get rid of the plastic
2. Switch to bamboo chopping boards.  I love my bamboo boards. They have a naturally high antibacterial quality and are very environmentally friendly.
3. Stainless or bamboo cooking utensils are the green and friendly options.
4. Use cast iron or stainless steal pots to cook in.  Aluminum is a “no no”.
5. Say no to plastic shopping bags. Bring your own cotton string or environmentally friendly shopping bags when you shop. Leave one across your steering wheel until you get into the habit of remembering.
6. Use natural fibre pillows like Kapok or latex.  I’m saving up for Kapok pillows, the fibre comes from the kapok tree and is naturally antibacterial and resistant to dust mite and mildew.
7. Throw away plastic coat hangers and make the change to bamboo or wood hangers
8. Switch to chemical free or organic toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners.  I did this very slowly so it didn’t get too expensive all at once. First I started with the toothpaste and the following month added shampoo and then the following month something else.
9. Switch your shower head to a low flow water faucet.  You’ll save on hot water and of course water.  I’ve been using one for about 6 months now.
10. Go for good old fashioned wooden pegs for your clothes line or to seal food bags.
11. Stop using the dryer and hang the clothes outside (if you can). I don’t own one, although I do live in a tropical climate.  It helps.
12. Wash clothes in cold water.  For years now I have only used cold water.
13. Throw out the chemicals and use natural remedies for stains and cleaning
14. Turn all electrical things off at the wall when not in use.  My boys has mastered this habit now after about a year.
15. Use a micro fibre to clean benches or floors.  They only need warm water and no chemicals.
16. Buy stainless lunch boxes instead of plastic.  This is my most recent contribution to going green.
17. Treat yourself to an environmentally friendly drink bottle from your local health food store.
18. Lose the toxic air fresheners and spray your rooms with essential oils mixed with water
19. Invest in a water filter. For over 7 years now I’ve had a reverse osmosis water filter which removes all nasties from the water.
20. I’m now in the process of saving to buy a more energy efficient fridge and washing machine.  As I said before, going green is a work in progress.

Earth watch suggests building your own earth kit  which includes things such as smart strips that can sense when your computer or television shuts off. When it does, the Smart Strip automatically cuts power to your peripheral devices (monitor, speakers, DVD, etc.) to eliminate their ‘phantom loads.’ It also knows when to turn your devices on automatically - saving you time, money, and energy.  Click here for the earth watch institute web site:

Thanks for reading my article. Carole.    You are welcome to come back and visit my blog the Rejuvenation Lounge anytime or treat yourself to deep rest at one of my Zen Rejuvenation Retreats in Bali, Australia or Italy:

More resources:

The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time

Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living
Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Green Ur Life:

Similar articles:

Six simple solutions if you can’t shift your clutter

The emotional cost of clutter:

Detox your kitchen bench: Six simple things you can do now:

9 things you don’t know about your childrens bedroom: