First there was self-care, a gentle nudge to take better care of your body mind and spirit. The idea started along with the rise of the civil rights movement and women’s rights. The concept grew that people needed to take an active role in taking care of themselves. Dan Rather opened a segment of 60 Minutes in 1979 with the statement, “Wellness: Now there’s a word you don’t hear every day.”
Thankfully, we do hear the word wellness most everyday now. There is a growing awareness in the quality of our foods, our need for exercise and wide acceptance of alternative healing practices. People are taking control of how they wish to treat their bodies. The idea of self-care has grown becoming more widely accepted and to me, it’s becoming green-er.
By green self-care, I’m widening the scope of the word. Just as we need to feed our bodies more natural, organic, non-GMO foods, our planet benefits also when people demand that food. Small local growers and home gardeners do so much more good for our ecology than does industrial agriculture’s bathing the soil in chemicals and genetically changing the plants to survive the poisoning.
Green self-care calls you to remember that chemicals you use in your home and on your body are then washed into the water supply. What is good for you is good for the planet. Think of the broader effect your choices can have.
Here are some ways to consider how you can take better care of yourself AND mother earth at the same time.
Outdoors
- Embrace the idea that the survival of our pollinators is more important than a dandelion-free yard.
- Plant native plants and fruit trees in your landscaping so animals and insects get the food and shelter that they need.
- Consider catching rain water for gardening rather than flooding your garden with fluorine and chlorine that is common in many city water supplies.
Indoors.
- Learn about the chemicals in our cleaning products and make a shift to less toxic ways to keep your home clean and sanitary. Making your own cleaning products from a few simple ingredients can save money, your health and help the planet. Consider soap and water… amazing to clean hands and homes. 😉
- Scent your spaces with fresh flowers or essential oils for a natural lift and healing freshness.
- Consider setting times when computers, televisions and even WIFI and cell phones are turned off in your home. Exposure to the energy from these important tools is not healthy for you.
On and in your body
- Health and beauty products are often not healthy. Learn about what’s in them. Make decisions about what is good for you based on knowledge and not on product advertising. Buy products from local makers or at the health food store. Read the labels.
- Eat low on the food chain, meaning eat food that is pure, fresh and not highly processed. Know where your food comes from. Food raised in natural conditions is filled with good vital energy. Fill your body with that food and you can thrive.
- Water, water, water. Our bodies bathe every cell in water. Find a clean source of water then drink deeply. Note: clean sources of water do not come bottled in plastic. ?
All these broad general suggestions aren’t meant to alarm you. They’re more intended to remind you that products and concepts sold to us through advertising, aren’t necessarily healthy for you or the planet. Remember that self-care is your job and an important part of thriving in our world today. Make intelligent choices about how your self-care, remembering that your choices also affect our planet’s wellness.
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More info? Here’s some links I’m using in writing a series of articles on green self-care.
1- https://www.ecowatch.com/5-ways-eating-processed-foods-messes-with-your-body-1891128657.html
5 Ways Eating Processed Foods Messes with Your Body- Processed foods have been chemically engineered to make us crave them. Packed like bite-sized grenades that explode with off-the-charts flavor, it’s well-known that processed foods can cause us to overeat and experience uncontrollable cravings. But, that’s not all.
2 https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Inflammation_A_unifying_theory_of_disease
The four horsemen of the medical apocalypse — coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s — may be riding the same steed: inflammation-.Apr 1, 2006
3 https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
Excessive alcohol use led to approximately 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year in the United States from 2006 – 2010, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years.
4 https://www.bewell.com/blog/risks-from-toxic-ingredients-in-cosmetics-personal-care-products/
The Cancer Prevention Coalition and Organic Consumers Association warn of major risks to health from the great majority of cosmetics and personal care products.
5 https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/august-2014/cancer-prevention-cosmetic-beauty-tips.html
Have you been unknowingly increasing your cancer risk for the sake of beauty? It depends on what products you use.
6 https://www.bcpp.org/resource/red-list/
BCPP’s Red List serves as the basis for a restricted substances list of chemicals that a brand, company or manufacturer prohibits or restricts from use in their beauty, personal care, or cleaning products.