Exploring Environmental Wellness

The seventh and last post of the Exploring Wellness series is all about Environmental Wellness. Over the last six posts, we’ve explored what it means to live in wellness and why each dimension is so important to our overall health and well-being.

The Environmental Wellness dimension is about our connection to our surroundings and how they affect us. This includes the planet and to the environments we inhabit, like our homes, offices, bedrooms, etc.

Our Planet

As of now, we have only one planet to call home. It’s no secret that our current practices are not sustainable and our natural resources are in jeopardy. We see this evidence in the increase of natural disasters, global warming, and changes in many ecosystems.

In a letter from the Executive Director of the 2019 UNEP (UN Environment Programme), Inger Andersen wrote:

“2019 was a year when our past finally caught up with us and science provided an unambiguous call for urgent action. A year when the world witnessed devastating storms, ice sheets melting in the Arctic, giant wildfires and deadly floods. A year when we were warned that 1 million plant and animal species face extinction. A year when we were reminded that unless we act immediately to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, we will alter life on Earth forever.”
Inger Andersen

You can view the full letter here.

We have a responsibility to do a better job.

If we each make small changes to our daily lives, we could make a huge difference for future generations.

Sustainability

The practice of sustainability is to create products and practices that have a much lower impact on the environment. By using less of our natural resources, sending less to landfills, and reducing our use of toxins, we can slow the rate of decline.

“To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Going Green

As previously mentioned, we can all make changes that are better for the environment. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. Remember that?
Replace single-use items with reusable ones like paper towels, napkins, diapers, wipes, feminine products, etc. Yes, it’s true you may have to do a bit more washing, but that brings us to the next one…
Use less warm/hot water for washing. Choose cool water whenever possible and limit long, hot baths or showers. Opting for air drying is better for your clothes and the environment too! Win-Win!
Opt for “clean” cleaning products like white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, etc. Many of the commercial detergents we use are terrible for the environment. Want soft, fresh towels? Replace fabric softener with white vinegar.
Clean up your beauty routine. Choose toxin-free makeup, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, deodorant, perfume, etc. In fact, the beauty industry is one of the biggest offenders of toxins! I use an app called Think Dirty, which scans and analyzes a potential purchase to give you information about the ingredients.
Compost your food scraps and other organic materials. Even if you never plan to garden with the rich soil composting creates, this is still recommended. As organic matter breaks down inside plastic bags, it creates methane gas, which is one of the worst greenhouse gases.
Reduce your consumption of energy. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, unplug appliances when not in use, air dry your hair whenever possible, etc. Choose more fuel-efficient vehicles and walk when possible.
Eat a more plant-based diet. This is not going to be popular with everyone, but the fact remains that factory farming is a major contributor of many of our environmental problems, like deforestation, antimicrobial resistance, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and that’s just to name a few.
Be an advocate. Volunteer or help to put more environmentally-friendly practices in place where you work or play.

Start small and do whatever you can. When those practices become habitual, take on something new. If we each do our part, we can make great strides together.

Our Homes

Your home is your sanctuary — or at least it should be.

Doing what we can for the planet is necessary, but we also have a responsibility to ourselves to create a home environment that offers a safe and peaceful retreat from a very chaotic world.

Consider Your Home

What does it feel like when you walk in the door? Do you sigh-out in relief or do you feel your stress level rise as you take in the surrounding clutter?

With our hectic lives, it’s easy to have a hectic home. We rush from obligation to obligation and don’t always have time to devote to our homes. That’s what Saturday morning is for, right?

Now, consider how it would feel to walk in the door and have immediate peace and contentment. Pretty good, right? Cultivating Environmental Wellness at home is all about creating a functional space that helps you relax and unwind.

Creating Your Sanctuary

Consider what would make you feel at ease when you walk through your door. A clean and organized entryway? Artwork or photos of loved ones? A special spot to place each of your belongings?

Make a list and start making changes.

This ideal atmosphere will undoubtedly vary from person to person, but we all benefit from

Organized systems for coming and going, like a having place to hang your purse or keys, put the mail, hang-up your coat, etc.
Manageable routines for cleaning and tidying.
Rooms designated for specific purposes, like a bedroom or office. I mention these spaces specifically because work can have a tendency to travel to the bedroom and interfere with quality sleep.
Clutter-free spaces which decrease visual stimulation and stress. Arrange your knickknacks artfully and put away things that don’t belong.
Spaces filled with things you enjoy, such as family photos, art, flowers, aromatherapy, candles, etc.

Setting the Mood

Once your space starts working for you, take time to create a little atmosphere.

Engage your senses. Try creating a relaxing space with soft music, low lighting, and aromatherapy. Using an essential oil diffuser or burning clean candles, such as 100% soy or beeswax, can really help you unwind.

Going Green At Home

Another way to cultivate Environmental Wellness is to reduce the amount of toxins present at home.

You can accomplish this by “greening-up” your beauty routine and cleaning products as mentioned above, but also by getting your air ducts and carpets cleaned regularly, using a water purifier, and choosing natural pesticides or pesticide-free lawn and garden solutions instead of toxic chemicals.

According to an article from Country Living magazine, you can purify the air in your home by adding houseplants such as aloe vera, ivy, or spider plants. Check out the ten best purifying plants here.

Environmental Wellness At Work

Believe it or not, your desk or office might be the key to your productivity, or lack thereof. De-cluttering, organizing, and adding some pleasurable touches will make your space feel more comfortable and less stressful.

Our surroundings play a big role in our health and well-being. While there are plenty of things we cannot control in our environments, there are many things we can. Start making changes where possible and enjoy the process.

Resources

See more of the Exploring Wellness series as we take a closer look at each of the seven dimensions of wellness; Physical Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Spiritual Wellness, Social Wellness, Occupational Wellness, and Environmental Wellness.

Exploring Environmental Wellness