greenliving

The next time you consider popping a pill to ease that neck-ache or take the edge of your back ache, think of trying any one (or all) of the following suggestions:

1. Try changing your pillow: Lying on a too thick or too thin pillow can put a strain on your neck/back. According to the Better Sleep Council, your pillow should be selected based on your sleeping position; side sleepers need a firm pillow, back sleepers a medium thickness pillow and for those who sleep on their stomachs, a soft and thin pillow works well.

2. Stop slouching: By standing as tall and straight as possible, you’ll not only seem taller and slimmer, but your back and stomach muscles are pulled into a relaxed position. Slouching on the other hands puts additional pressure on your spine.

3. Do neck rolls and deep breathing exercises: The neck is where most of our tension gets accumulated in. Try doing regular neck exercises such as neck rolls. Deep breathing also helps. Inhale through your nose for a count of 10 seconds. Exhale gently through your mouth.

4. Give acupuncture a shot: Acupuncture has been in certain cases, found to have provided intensive relief lasting up to 6 months. While the results may vary, it’s always an option to be checked out. 

The kids are outgrowing their clothes and toys faster than you can buy them. You wish you could treat yourself to a new dress and perhaps some shoes, but money is tight and so is your wardrobe space. Your home could do with a bit of updating, but you’re loath to throw away your old furniture. Sounds familiar? Most of us would love to update our clothes, furniture, kids toys etc, but it all costs money, not to mention that extra space you have to make for it.

Enter good old fashion bartering. You want something someone else has; they want something you have - a simple exchange and you are both happy. You don’t have to spend money or throw away stuff, which means the planet has with one less landfill to accommodate.

Swap Clothes at http://swapstyle.com

Swap DVD’s, Games and CD’s at http://barterbee.com

Swap Kids Toys and Kids Clothes at http://totsswapshop.com

Swap stuff for your Home at http://swapathome.com

All these sites are free and they all work on a point system. You upload information about what you want to get rid off, you earn points depending on your giveaway’s value, and then you use those points to get the items you want.

And I’m not referring to french fries or MacDonald meals. Upgrading to a larger size has become an increasingly popular trend in North America. Take our homes for instance. From the 1970’s till the current years, our home sizes have increased by an outstanding 50%, while the residents who live here have decreased by 17%. Don’t believe it? Speak to your neighbours or friends over 50 years of age, and they’ll tell you how they and their children grew old together in a 3 bedroom, one bathroom home and very comfortably at that.

And how about cars? Not only have we upgraded to two or even three cars per family, but most of us will own at least one SUV amongst them. Even our RV’s are no longer small ‘towed by the family car’ trailers, but huge road dominating vehicles which carry all the comfort of our homes in them; including big screen plasma TV’s. Did you know for example, that a 42″ plasma screen consumes 400 watts of energy. Or that an LCD TV is more efficient than a plasma screen? If  you didn’t, then you’re not alone. Most of us will not do the research it needs to find out what is the most energy efficient path to take. Yet, as we continue to supersize our lives, we contribute to more and more greenhouse gas emissions, waste and dumping increases and a greater burden for the Earth to carry.

Consider sub-sizing your lifestyle, in small increments if need be. Smaller choices are often wiser choices; lower mortgages, lesser strata fees, fewer parking and petrol costs and a healthier and cleaner world for all of us.

It’s been a while since I last blogged and thanks to my careful planning, I have lost the weight I intended to. However, with food being constantly on my mind (dieters will relate to this), it’s no wonder that recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance it plays in our lives and yet, how much for granted we take it.

Every 60 seconds, there are 250 people born! And of course, China and India are leading the world’s population race, with each country being inhabited by more than one billion people. Scientists claim that at this rate, the world’s population will touch more than 9 billion people by the year 2040! To feed such a population, we must either grow more food on existing farmlands or carve out more space from our wilderness on which to harvest it. And what about the other challenges that food cultivators face? Electricity consumption, disposal of waste products and pollution are only some of the side effects that have to be dealt with.

And that’s only one side of the picture. Currently, we produce enough food for our 7 billion inhabitants. But not everyone gets a taste of this production. Food distribution is still widely unbalanced and families in poorer nations will still feel the pangs of hunger each night as they lay their heads down to sleep. In the recent years, food production has increased, but the question is what goes into creating this extra food. While ‘organic’ farming is on the increase, so is the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the production of crops and the use of steroids and hormones in cattle farms.

So in the end, whose problem is this really? Rich nations often lay blame on developing or poorer nations with high birth rate figures. But can a family of 4 with a gas-guzzling SUV and an extra large home really afford to point fingers of blame elsewhere?

And so, as I munch on my apple and contemplate not only my future, but the future of the two children I’ve brought into this world, I can only think of ways I need to contribute, small as they may be. And I hope that this can be a lesson to my children and theirs too; to think before buying, to stop before wasting, to recycle before throwing out and to appreciate all what they have, instead of wishing for all they do not.

I’ve put on a lot of weight! Honestly, it’s not just one of those ‘girly’ things we women say, but the good, old fashioned honest truth. And I put it on in California! The land of the sun, sea, surfboards and sexybodies apparently didn’t transmit its message to my brain. Which in turn for some unearthly reason, stuffed my mouth and now it’s all quite happily visible around my waist! And if you follow my running blog- http://bcrunner.blogspot.com , then you’ll see that I’ve been using other modes of transportation to get me places.

So, I’ve finally decided to take action, ban the sweeties from my kitchen and begin to rediscover good, healthy food. And here are some things that are going to help me:

1. Shopping seasonal: So now that I’ve bought a whole lot of fresh fruit and veggies from our neighbourhood farmers market, I’m going to be forced to cook and eat them.

2. Chewing slowly: Remember how mum always said (in my case, she continues to), chew slowly?  Chewing slowly allows you to taste and appreciate the food. And the slower you eat, the sooner you’ll feel full.

3. Selecting whole grains: I’ve always eaten whole-grain bread, but now I’m switching to brown rice and whole grain pasta too.

4. Keeping a food diary: There nothing like seeing what you actually eat to completely put you off your next meal. Unless it’s part of point no. 1!

5. Starting each morning with warm water and lemon: Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice into your warm glass of water and drink it as soon as you wake. It refreshes you and gets your digestion going.

6. Ending each day with 200 sit ups: I know, this has nothing to do with food or digestion; but everything to do with my belly! So hopefully, as the world reads this and gets inspired to join me, knowing that it’s online shall act as my challenger and motivator.

Here’s to a newer, slimmer and healthier us!

We’ve just returned from a vacation to California and while it’s great to be back home, there’s tons of work to catch up on. One of my primary goals this summer is to improve the ‘greenness’ in my office. As I work out of my home, it should not be a difficult challenge. However, as a writer and when I’m printing out reams of papers to edit, I begin to see when I need to start.

My paperwork : I belong to that genre of people who believe that everything needs to be printed in order for it to be real. It’s not an age issue, but a mindset. And overcoming this has been tough, but I’m getting there. I now save online- just about anything and everything, because you never know when you  might need it. But over the last 5 years, I’ve reduced my paperwork considerably. What I do need to print out however is work that I must edit. And so I now print double-sided and on recycled paper.

Commuting: Since commuting involves getting up and waddling bleary eyed to my office desk at 5:15 each morning, I save considerably on carbon emissions (no jokes please). But to make up for it, I take the kids cycling or on their scooter at least thrice a week. Results? My 3.5 year old is off training wheels and my 5 year old is already asking for a BMX bike! And we all feel super healthy.

Lighting: My desk is placed near a window and so I get in ample amounts of fresh light and air; which for me, eliminates the need for daytime lighting and fans. I do have a desk light with three levels of luminosity available and this allows me to vary the amount of lighting I need at any given time.

Energy: I do have a desktop as opposed to a laptop (laptops can conserve up to 70% energy). However, I also have  a netbook and if I’m using it, then I am sure to hibernate or even shut down my desktop. And I definitely remember to shut everything off before I go to bed. Doing a simple small act like this can have a great impact on the environment as well as your wallet.

With summer around the corner (though given today’s weather, it seems like a long way off!), most of us have begun to dig out our dresses and shorts. And when that happens, can dusting off our razor kits be far behind?

According the Gillette, the largest supplier of disposable razor blades, over 1.7 billion men shave daily. And that’s just men! Factor in the number of women who shave their legs, underarms etc. on a regular basis, and the numbers that emerge can be quite staggering.

If you must use a razor, go in for the reusable kind. Electric razors are another alternative as though they are filled with toxic hazards (and there’s an upside to that??); they last for years. Select one that plugs directly into a socket rather than the battery operated ones, which don’t last as long.

And while we’re talking razors, why not go in for organic, natural shaving creams? Weleda and Avalon Organics both make excellent natural shaving creams.

There are always alternatives and if you do know of some excellent organic options, do share them with us!

I’ve not been updating this blog as much as I’d like to. But ‘Green Living’ is something important and something I believe needs sharing; so as of today, my earth day gift to myself is to update this blog with simple, easy to follow ’single tips’ on a regular basis. And if and when I get the chance to turn out good articles, I shall add them on.

Carbon Footprints

Aviation may account for 15% of all greenhouse emisisons. You may not be able to avoid flying, but you can do something about it. Companies like Carbon Fund (www.carbonfund.org) will allow you to calculate your carbon footprint online and negate it by buying offsets. They then reduce your Co2 emmissions by various methods such as planting trees.

This Earth Day, how about doing something special and teaching your kids all about going green. They are never too young to learn about it and even a toddler or preschooler can contribute to a better planet.

Here are some easy ways you can teach your child to live green:

1. Help them conserve water and electricity by teaching them to switch of taps while brushing their teeth or soaping their hands, and switch of lights when they leave the room.

2. If you carry a cloth bag, why not get them to carry one too? Kids love to create works of art- buy a simple canvas tote from a craft store or sew up a small bag using leftover cloth. Make sure you include two sturdy handles. Get them to decorate their bag with paints or beads/buttons. Let them use their bag for the library, swimming pool or even when they come shopping with you!

3. Make recycling a game and they’ll learn to do it the right way. Explain how certain items can be cleaned and recycled and certain items like milk cartons, which have waxed paper, cannot.

4. Encourage them to walk, skate or bike rather that be driven around. Explain how this is better than using a car and if you need to go a longer distance, take the bus or train. Not only does it become an adventure, but your kids will be happy they’re contributing towards a greener lifestyle.

5. Get them involved when shopping for healthier, non-toxic items. If you are creating your own home-made cleaners, they can even help by rinsing out the bottles or measuring non-toxic items like baking soda. However, beware of getting children involved if you are using potentially harmful ingredients like borax.

6. Teach  your child how to select seasonal, local produced fruits for their snacks. You can also take them on a field trip to a local farm so they get to see firsthand where their snacks come from.

7. Children love to get involved in activities such as composting. Allow them to throw egg shells and fruit peel on the compost heap. Don’t forget to explain why you’re doing this.

8. Get them involved in recycled craft projects. Toilet paper rolls, empty carton boxes, scraps of unused cloth and gift ribbon are just some of the things that can be used to create wonderfully creative projects.

There’s so much you and your child can do together to make a wonderful, cleaner, greener planet. All it takes is a little time and initiative on your part, but the good habits they learn today will last with them a lifetime.

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.
–Doug Larson

If like me, you welcome spring with a good clean scrub, then you are probably getting ready to dig out your bucket, gloves and cleaning equipment. But before you do, take a moment to think of the chemicals you’ll be using- toxic to the environment, the body and the home itself. And how about your kids who crawl on the newly cleaned carpet or pets who drink from your freshly scrubbed toilet bowl? Are they breathing and ingesting these harmful products?

Most regular household products are non-biodegradable and may contain toxic chemicals including bleach and ammonia. Not only do we harm the environment by using these products, but we do no good to our own bodies either.

Transitioning to greener products is very easy as nowadays most supermarkets and stores carry natural based, biodegradable cleaners. You can also try the following:

-Make your own products at home. Visit www.busymadeeasy.com for some excellent home-made cleaning recipes.

-Buy natural non toxic products.

-Recycle your toxic products and product containers where appropriate.

-Read all labels before you make any purchases.

-Invest in a green cleaning company.

-Use flowers, beeswax candles and other natural aromas to freshen your home.

-Keep your windows open for at least a few minutes each day to air out your home.

-A good wash of all your linen and sofa/cushion covers will also add to a clean, fresh feel.

Simple yet effective remedies to welcome spring into your home!