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Sustainable Self Care | 7 Ways To Approach Self Care With The Planet In Mind

Taking care of ourselves and the Earth

By Emma Jarek-SimardPublished 3 years ago 6 min read
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Sustainable Self Care | 7 Ways To Approach Self Care With The Planet In Mind
Photo by Kitera Dent on Unsplash

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Self care is all the rage nowadays, but what about sustainable self care? Here are seven ways to practice self care and take care of the planet at the same time.

Beginning A Practice Of Sustainable Self Care

Starting to cultivate a practice of sustainable self care is shockingly simple.

Self care has become widely commercialized in recent years, prompting consumers to buy a product in order to have some kind of luxurious self care experience. While there is nothing wrong with purchasing products occasionally to up-level your self care practice, needless consumerism in the name of self care is neither sustainable nor necessary.

Sustainable self care is the practice of self-love focused on simplicity. By foregoing, for example, all of the new clothes and single-use face mask packets, we can open up to different avenues of self care that are focused more on ourselves and less on the products we buy.

Through working with what we have available to us already, we can get more creative with our practices of self love. By going back to the basics, we can start to connect more deeply with ourselves and take care of the planet at the same time.

1. Practice Some Self Reflection

One of the most simple, yet most effective ways to take care of yourself is to practice self reflection. Whether through journaling, meditation, art, singing, or anything else, self reflection often opens up doors to parts of ourselves we didn’t even know we had.

Another benefit of self reflection is that you can do it anywhere, anytime. You don’t need to use anything except yourself to reflect on how you are feeling if you don’t want to! If you do want to use a journal, sketchbook, or something of that nature to enhance your practice, they are available almost everywhere for very reasonable prices. They are also products that are easy to find more sustainable versions of — made with recycled paper or water-based ink, for example.

Try adding some form of self reflection to your sustainable self care menu, and see how it makes you feel!

2. Go For A Long Walk In Nature

Another amazing way to practice self care sustainably is to simply go for a walk in nature.

Being out in nature is so therapeutic, and is just plain beautiful. Going for a mindful walk is a great way to get moving, reduce stress and unplug for a bit. It is also completely free and can fit into anyone’s schedule!

In addition, more and more studies are showing that there are also significant health benefits to getting out in nature, including lowering our blood pressure, heart rate, and regulating our hormones.

If you want to dive deeper into the science behind this, check out these resources!

How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing? | University of Minnesota

Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health | Yale School of The Environment

3. Cook A Delicious, Nourishing Meal

Food is an amazing way to bring more enjoyment into your day. For another sustainable self care option, cook yourself a delicious and nourishing meal at home.

You can do this in any way you like, but if you’re keen on sustainable living, try opting for a plant-focused meal using local, organic ingredients.

There are tons of great cooking and baking blogs out there to get inspiration from, or, if you are a creative chef-type, you can just throw some things together and see what happens!

Want to get even more enjoyment from your meal and share the love? Invite someone to share it with you!

4. Spend Some Time Reading A Great Book

For all of the bookworms out there, this one is a no-brainer: read! More specifically, read something great.

Reading is an amazing way to learn, broaden your perspective, and escape from busy everyday life. Personally, I like reading a good mix of fiction and non-fiction books in a variety of genres, but do whatever works best for you!

Brew a nice hot beverage, get cozy, and give yourself some time to get into an amazing book.

5. Catch Up On Episodes Of Your Favourite Show

What is better than relaxing and watching a few episodes of a favourite show? Especially while you are snuggled up in a blanket, enjoying a snack or something to drink?

All you need for this tidbit of sustainable self care is access to a TV or streaming service, and you are good to go!

6. Treat Your Body To Some Feel-Good Stretches

A self-care idea involving moving your body while not being too intense is treating yourself to some lovely stretches.

Set aside some time for yourself to loosen up any areas that get tight on a regular basis, and really connect with your body. Stretching is such a beautiful way to bring mindfulness into your day and take care of your body at the same time.

There are loads of great YouTube videos that guide you through stretching, or you can do your own thing if that’s more your style! Here is a video I enjoy from the lovely Cassey Ho over at blogilates if you don’t know where to start.

7. Buy Yourself A Gift From A Sustainable Brand That Aligns With Your Values

Finally, sustainable self care idea number seven: get yourself a little sumthin’ from an amazing sustainable brand!

This is definitely the most extra of these self-love ideas, but sometimes it just feels nice to buy yourself a little gift — just be sure it’s something you will get lasting use and joy out of. This feels especially good when you know you are supporting a brand that is helping to make the world a better place!

Not sure what sustainable brand to start with? Here are a few suggestions!

Made Trade | Home goods, clothing, accessories and gifts

Follain | Skin & body care

100% Pure | Skin & body care

Besame Cosmetics | Sustainable vintage cosmetics

Allbirds | Shoes and apparel

Organic Basics | Casual clothing, loungewear and underwear

Boody Eco Wear | Casual clothing, loungewear and underwear

If you found this post valuable or have anything you think I missed when it comes to sustainable self care, I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to find me on Pinterest and Instagram so that we can connect! In the meantime, have an incredible day.

Wishing you joy and light,

Emma

Sustainability
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About the Creator

Emma Jarek-Simard

My name is Emma, and I am hugely passionate about personal development and the environment. I believe that when we see the beauty and worth of the world that surrounds us, it’s a powerful motivator to become the best versions of ourselves!

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