Low Waste Self Care Tips to Get You Through Winter

2/16/2021

Written by Allie Willison, Customer Experience @blueland

Since the Groundhog saw his shadow this year, we’ve got a few more weeks of winter ahead of us. Not to mention this past year has brought on a ton of stress. Humans just aren’t meant for the kind of isolation we’ve been dealing with.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and along the way there are a few ways you can take care of yourself without hurting the planet. Here are some fun tips for low waste self care.

Can Plants Relieve Stress?

If you live on the east coast, December-April means stay indoors or freeze, try bringing plants into your living space to brigent your mood. Plants might be the perfect low waste self care option they can:

• Bring down blood pressure
• Create a positive mood
• Relieve stress
• Help concentration and memory retention, a recent study (https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/#.WTowAXV97ow) shows

There’s also Biophilla. Or the innate human need to feel a connection with nature, a love, a closeness. It’s why we breathe a little easier after walking down a forest trail, or can’t help but smile when we see sunflowers on the edge of the road. A part of self care is bringing peace to your space, and doing so can be made easy by surrounding yourself with greenery.

Try talking to your plants too: it helps you (finally, an unbiased listener) and it helps them (oxygen)!

Can Exercise Reduce Stress?

As Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” This (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax) is actually scientifically true!

When you exert your body, your body creates endorphins that are our internal mood elevators. This is the reason people describe a “running high.” Whether you’re the fitness warrior of quarantine or one of us who considers running down a flight of stairs for your take-out their daily exercise, your inner self will thank you for adding in some more time for your body.

Plus, there’s zero to no waste involved, just make sure to keep your reusable water bottle close by!

Looking for at-home workout ideas that won’t break the bank? Skim Youtube for anything from dance lessons (salsa, disco, funk, KPop!) to core workouts. And check out some of your favorite fitness classes on Instagram, some fitness brands like Barry’s Bootcamp and 305 Fitness have IGTV workouts you can do at home for free!

Low Waste Tips For At-Home Self Care

What most of us think of when we imagine self care is a bubble bath, a glass of wine, perhaps a face mask. So how can you do this while keeping it low waste?

• Make homemade bath salts (https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/simple-homemade-lavender-bath-salts/?rq=bath%20salt) or bath bombs (https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/homemade-bath-bomb-recipe/) in big batches
• Light candles, these cool ones from Esker (https://eskerbeauty.com/products/plantable-candle?variant=36518971048096&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyJOBBhDCARIsAJG2h5dVbns6R5p51FVmj3JzzCasxRPAy04BPL_sC9zL3iMHdp3LJHF0NlgaArSQEALw_wcB) have seed paper included so you can grow a plant after the candle burns down!
• Pick out a soothing playlist or podcast.
• If you only have a shower, check out these DIY body scrubs (https://www.brit.co/organic-body-scrubs/).

Unplugging For Self Care

Meditation, doing small puzzles, journaling (on a virtual notebook or using some of our low waste office tips (https://blog.blueland.com/how-to-keep-your-workspace-low-waste/)), or drawing to wind down are other ways to practice self care. After a day of work or socializing it’s helpful to take a moment for yourself and do something grounding.

Make time to shut off your tech and unplug from the world. In the age of endless social media and doomscrolling, sometimes taking a breath away can be the healthiest thing to do. Taking time away from your screens (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_reasons_to_take_a_break_from_screens) and social media can help you sleep, be more empathetic, be more present and boost your productivity when you do return to them.

All in all, you deserve some you time and no you time is better than that which creates low waste. We’re hardwired to feel better about things and ourselves when we’re doing the right thing not only for us but for others. So when you practice self care, practice it with the planet in mind. You’ll be happier for it and so will the planet!

Check out some more of our low waste self care tips here (https://blog.blueland.com/5-low-waste-self-care-tips-for-you-and-the-planet/).