EMBRACING THE ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE

Embracing a  lifestyle change such as incorporating eco-friendly habits on a daily basis  can sometimes  be a complicated change. It becomes especially challenging if you have a large family or small children or work long hours. It is important not to become  too overwhelmed and stressed about the process of adopting these habits. 

However, species such as blue macaws have become extinct in the recent years and official list of endangered animals and plants is growing at an alarming rate. The negative impact on the environment  caused by human activities cannot be argued with.  It is of paramount importance that all of us choose to intentionally embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle. Let us be a part of the solution instead of being a part of the problem 

1. It may not possible to incorporate eco-friendly habits in all areas of our lives.
We can only incorporate Eco-friendly habits  to areas of our lives which we have control of, at least in the beginning.  Many of us are employees who work in traditional corporate style work places. We use paper products (which are  made by cutting down trees), or  write with plastic pens (which are non-recyclable) or drive long distances for work (carbon emissions). Some supermarkets may still put the produce you buy in plastic bags. Restaurants will continue  wrap the their foods plastic wrap. It becomes virtually impossible to incorporate a zero waste lifestyle when certain areas of our lives are just beyond our control. Therefore, it is important to stick to what we can control and learn to gradually  incorporate  zero waste and environmentally friendly habits in  areas of your life on a consistent basis.

2.It's not an all or nothing concept

Many people give up on adopting a lifestyle which lowers the impact on the environment, because they feel that what they are doing is not enough or that the change that they are making will not have a significant impact. They feel if they can't completely change their lifestyle to incorporate all known eco- friendly practices it is pointless to start with little things. 
Merely because we fail or find it difficult  to incorporate eco-friendly habits and practices in to all areas of our lives, it is no reason to give up on adopting at least a  few habits that reduce our impact on the environment. It is important to remember that  every single step you take to reduce your carbon foot print, to reduce the waste you produce or to prevent pollution  of our environment counts in the long run. Adopt one habit and follow that consistently. Even if you manage to stop one plastic bag, one plastic bottle or one plastic straw from going in to a landfill or in to the ocean you are helping the environment and the future of this planet.

3. Forgive yourself

You are going to slip up one time or the other. That is human nature. No one is perfect and has the lifestyle or the budget to adopt absolutely perfect fool proof  eco-friendly habits and practices over night. That does not mean that if you forget to take a re-usable bag to buy your groceries this week that you have to continue that habit. Following any eco-friendly practice is the last thing you are going have on your mind if your loved one is sick or your pet has  emergency surgery or you are facing a crisis at work. Life sometimes gets in the way.  It's all right to accept these situations and forgive yourself. Then, get back to following eco-friendly practices as soon as possible. 

Simple Eco-Friendly Habits for Daily life

Simple Steps to save the Environment

LIFE SKILLS EVERY TEENAGER AND YOUNG ADULT NEEDS TO LEARN

It is no secret that as we become adults we are expected to know certain skills. These skills help teenagers and young adults  to learn and adapt to various situations in life throws at them without  having to seek help from their parents or their friends. Further, these skills help them to become more functional, self-reliant, confident and productive adults, enabling them to manage their own affairs without difficulty or being a burden to someone else. Learning these skills is not gender exclusive and must be taught to both boys and girls.

Some of these valuable skills are :-

1. Cooking

All teenagers must learn the basic skills to prepare a home cooked meal. It is not necessary for them to  master  complicated recipes with lots of  unfamiliar ingredients but, they must be capable of making a few basic meals on their own. It is important that this skill is taught to all teenagers by their parents, especially to those who will be moving out on their own soon. Learning to cook basic meals instead of ordering take out meals or using microwave to cook ready-made meals will help teens and young adults to eat a more nutritious balanced diet, reduce their intake of fat, sugar and sodium. It will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they are living away from home. 

2. Money Management

The importance of educating teenagers and young adults in money management cannot be stressed enough. These money lessons mastered in their youth will help them to become financially savvy adults in the future. It is important that young adults  have a clear understanding about budgeting, savings and investments. Encourage them to live below their means and to use credit cards responsibly. They must learn the importance of paying their bills on time and managing their cash flow. It is vital that they are taught the difference between needs and wants. These lessons on personal  finance will be greatly useful  to prepare the  young adults for various obstacles they may face when they are working their first job making entry level salaries.  It will also help them to avoid consumer debt and give them a better chance of being financially independent. Encourage teenagers to get a part-time job so that they develop a good work ethic and learn how to balance school and work.  

My earlier post 11 SIMPLE TIPS ON MONEY MANAGEMENT will provide some basic tips of being more financially savvy. 

3. Housekeeping and Organization
Learning how to cook, clean, how to do basic household maintenance and how to do laundry are also valuable skills that all teenagers will benefit from learning. Teach them to develop a routine for cleaning the house and for doing laundry. Teach them to come up with an organization system that works for them and also teach them how to live with less possessions. Start with teaching them  to organize  their room and study material and gradually teach them to how to efficiently run a household on their own.

4. Time Management

This is an  important skill for a young adult that will greatly benefit their future. It is good  to start teaching time management when they first start school. Teach them to use a planner and organize their day. Teach them how to prioritize their homework and the importance of submitting tests and assignments on time. It is important that they learn to assign time for homework, household chores, extra-curricular activities and for fun. If teenagers can get a part-time  job after school or during their vacations which will further help them to learn how to manage their time is a productive and efficient manner. 

5. Personal Safety
Teaching young adults  how to be safe and take care of themselves in an emergency will greatly benefit them. This will also give their parents peace of mind about their child's safety. A few safety tips to remember are 
-Be aware of  your surroundings 
-Use caution when using social media
-Don't Drink and Drive.
-Keep all doors and windows of your house locked.
-Don't hide spare keys under doormats, give the spare key to a trusty neighbour or to a relative who lives close by. 
-Keep your car locked all the time.
-If you are at a party/club don't leave your drink unattended, don't accept any drinks from strangers and never leave any of your friends alone anywhere if they are drunk. Be responsible and take care of each other. 
-Safeguard your cash, credit cards and online account passwords.
-Learn to contact  emergency services if the need arises.

The above list  contains just 5 skills  that a teenager or a young adult must learn before they move out in to the world and this list is by no means exhaustive These skills will enable them to face the realities of adulthood and their parents can be a little at ease knowing that they have raised a young adult who can take care of themselves. 

HOW TO REDUCE STRESS

Everyone experiences some form of stress in their daily lives. For school children it could be stress related to exams, sports, peer pressure or bullying. High school students stress about their college entrance exams or relationships. As for adults the word 'stress' is as common as the word 'breathing'. Financial stress, work related stress, stress about medical issues and relationships becomes so common that it start affecting peoples physical and mental health. 

In the fast paced, achievement based, career driven, and technology dependent life, avoiding stress completely is almost impossible. However it is possible to observe some daily practices which will help manage the debilitating effects of stress and achieve a healthy mind and body. 

Seek professional help if you feel it is necessary

Many people find it difficult to manage stress related to day to day life. Due to the social stigma attached to seeking professional help in relation to mental health, most adults as well as teenagers avoid seeking professional help. However, seeking professional help is the most important step you can take to safeguard your mental and physical health. Your mental health and wellbeing is not something to be taken lightly. Maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing should be one of your top priorities. It  is essential that you seek help from a professional, if you feel such help is necessary to manage your stress level. Professionals are capable of understanding the underlying causes of stress and help you find a solution. You can ask a school counselor or your family doctor for help if  you feel that the stress level in your daily life is overwhelming and that it is affecting your school or work performance and the quality of your relationships seeking help may benefit you tremendously in the long run.  A trained professional will be able to help you to come up with a plan to cope with stress and manage and delegate your tasks to help you be more productive an help you improve your  mental health.

Adopt a minimalist lifestyle  

Minimizing material possessions and getting rid of unnecessary items can help reduce stress, by reducing responsibilities related to home maintenance and organization. By choosing to surround yourself with things that you need, love and adds value to your life you become more relaxed and it helps you to become more content with your life. Gradually introducing minimalism, even in a few areas of your life, will greatly help reduce stress. 

Advice for Aspiring Minimalists 

Meditate and Exercise 

Meditation has become one of the most effective and highly used techniques to manage the ill effects of stress. Meditation has proven health benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety, improving the memory and concentration.  Try to spend at least 10 minutes a day to sit in a quiet room and do some breathing exercises or follow a guided meditation for beginners. Meditation will help you to reduce anxiety, depression and help you become more focused and productive. 

Physical exercise has proven to be very beneficial in improving your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins which helps you feel happy. Physical activity will help you to maintain a healthy weight, and fend off illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Exercise has also helped people battle with depression. If your goal is to reduce stress in your  life make it a point to exercise daily and be more physically active. 

Save for an emergency 

Financial related stress affects the majority of the working adults. Given the rising cost of living, debts, the lack of  job security and increasing unemployment, money troubles seem to be the one of the leading causes of stress. Make it a point to save an emergency fund of at least 6 months of living expenses so you can have some peace of mind, even if you suddenly find yourself unemployed. 

Talk to a Friend and Get a Pet 

Having a close group of friends whom you can rely on for advice or help when needed can be a great way to reduce stress. Studies have shown that people who have successful relationships and friendships tend to live longer, be more positive. It can also help you feel less isolated. 
Having a pet such as a dog, cat, or a bird helps with reducing stress and anxiety, become more social and even help you become more outgoing and physically active in your daily life.

Simplify Your Daily Life 

Adopting a few simple habits such as making your bed in the morning, being more organized, creating a bill payment method, and spending time with your family will greatly  reduce stress in your life and build better relationships within the family. 

17 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE 

Find a hobby or interest  that is completely unrelated to your job or career field. 

As we become working adults it is quite common that we tend to forget our hobbies/interests which were part of our childhood or we simply don’t have the time to even think about a hobby. These hobbies were often simple pleasures such as collecting stamps, seashells or rocks, writing, and singing. These hobbies helped us to relax and reduce stress. As adults even if we follow a certain course of study or develop a skill, it is usually in the hopes of advancing your career and to improve our skills to do our jobs or to add another  achievement to our resumes. It is very helpful to adopt a new hobby or interest which has nothing to do with your career. These hobbies will serve as a welcome distraction from work and the stress associated with it. I personally  started this blog as way to express my ideas and experiences. This simple hobby which is not even remotely  connected to my career has helped me a great deal in dealing with stress.