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Written by: Noga Sachs Yo mama said you need to recycle. She also said you need to conserve the amount of electricity you use. And the list goes on for the “need to do” activities to be eco-friendly to your mother earth. It gets to be pretty overwhelming at times and, frankly, it seems not all that relevant when your head is trying to wrap around all the stuff you’re stressing about already. Don’t worry, liberals are not out to guilt you with their creative, empathic ideas, they’re trying to help you find harmony.

The top stress researchers continually find that the best stress busters take out time to do relaxing, purposeful activities regularly. We usually think of adults sitting cross legged, surrounded by candles, wearing large white cloth diapers, saying “ohm” ad nausuem when thinking of stress relieving techniques, but it’s not necessary to reach out to Eastern India to find one’s inner peace. Regularly attending to something that is personally meaningful allows one to experience a feeling of control over their environment as well as a sense of accomplishment in having an emotional investment in its progress.

And speaking of environment, working to preserve, reduce damage to, or simply enjoy the harmonious systems in the little greenhouse we live in proves to be one of the top stress relievers for stress of all types. So, breathe, say “ohm,” and pick a purposeful thing or two you can do today to let off some steam and be good to your mama

1. Use Canvas Bags When Shopping. Reduce the trash created by reducing the need for production of all those piles of plastic bags. Grocery stores are coming out with some stylish colors (my favorites are yellow and pink!) so you don’t have to feel a fool when toting your canvas grocery tote. Don’t worry if you forget to bring your bag to the store, you can always use those bags to line bathroom and bedroom trashcans too!

2. Coffee Mugs and Nalgene Bottles aside from being cozy, spill proof ways to carry your liquid necessities, help to reduce the waste created by plastic bottles and coffee cups. The same goes for using real silverware, Tupperware and whole host of resusables to decrease the use and production of, disposables.

3. Bike to work and everywhere else! Not everyone has the spare time Fergie has to go to the gym to work on their fitness. Kill a couple birds with one stone and strap on those walking shoes or hop on your two wheeled wonder to use up some of your own energy and save some of those sooty carbon emissions.

4. Turn off the lights, unplug your appliances, and live in a hole. No, just kidding. It is good to be conscious of your use and non use of electricity though. Quick poll, how many people have left a room with the lights still on? Yep, that’s about 85% of people paying to light a room, or rooms, that they’re not using at all. Plug in all your TV, stereo, and computer appliances to one surge protector and flip the lights and all those off when leaving home sweet home with just two clicks. You’ll see a major savings in your electric bill and please your mother earth too!

Noga Sachs M.S. Health & Wellness Science and Motivation
Health and Life Coach
www.nogacoach.com
@nogasachs