Combating overconsumption for healthier mind and healthier planet
OVERCONSUMPTION:
When looking at how to become more sustainable a lot of people first think of new things they can buy to make their life more sustainable, but a big part of sustainability is actually using less. We are constantly being shown new products that are said to make our life easier but when you own all of these different items it just becomes more complicated.
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL DOWNFALLS:
When we over consume our minds and bodies are bombarded with a bunch of extra things we do not need. Overconsumption often leads to cluttered spaces which can lead to a cluttered mind.
Overconsumption also impacts the planet drastically as every item we make uses up resources like water, energy, materials…etc. It makes us appreciate the items we do have less.
WHAT HELPED ME COMBAT OVERCONSUMPTION:
Something that has helped me to combat the cycle of overconsumption is by being more creative. By doing this I was able to use things that I already had in ways that I did not think of before. It also helped me appreciate what I already have. An example of this would be making outfits. I started to be more creative and match different patterns and colors and in result I didn’t feel the need to go buy more clothes, while also appreciating the ones I already had even more.
A big thing that also helped me stop the cycle is before I buy anything I ask myself if I need it or if I can see myself keeping it forever/until it breaks. If I could not see myself wearing it for at least the next couple of years the answer was usually to not waste my money on it. Doing this I started to make little challenges for myself such as no buy weeks or no buy months. This would be a certain period of time I would challenge myself not to spend money or anything that was not essential like groceries or gas. If I am still not sure, I also try to take a picture of it and wait a week or two so I can see if I really wanted the item or if it is an impulse purchase. This did not only help me not over consume but also helped my bank account.
During this process I have found it so important to find a group of people who support you whether it’s your loved ones or joining a local group that shares the same passions as you with sustainability.
HOW HAS MY LIFE CHANGED SINCE I STOPPED THE CYCLE OF OVERCONSUMPTION:
Stopping the cycle of overconsumption can be a very hard and long process. Even thought I have been getting better over the years I am still not perfect. Consuming less has helped me have a clearer mind, helps me save money, makes me more creative and makes me feel more accomplished in my sustainability journey. The journey is a very fulfilling process and not only benifit us but our future generations. We are so happy we get to share our journey with you💚
When looking at how to become more sustainable a lot of people first think of new things they can buy to make their life more sustainable, but a big part of sustainability is actually using less. We are constantly being shown new products that are said to make our life easier but when you own all of these different items it just becomes more complicated.
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL DOWNFALLS:
When we over consume our minds and bodies are bombarded with a bunch of extra things we do not need. Overconsumption often leads to cluttered spaces which can lead to a cluttered mind.
Overconsumption also impacts the planet drastically as every item we make uses up resources like water, energy, materials…etc. It makes us appreciate the items we do have less.
WHAT HELPED ME COMBAT OVERCONSUMPTION:
Something that has helped me to combat the cycle of overconsumption is by being more creative. By doing this I was able to use things that I already had in ways that I did not think of before. It also helped me appreciate what I already have. An example of this would be making outfits. I started to be more creative and match different patterns and colors and in result I didn’t feel the need to go buy more clothes, while also appreciating the ones I already had even more.
A big thing that also helped me stop the cycle is before I buy anything I ask myself if I need it or if I can see myself keeping it forever/until it breaks. If I could not see myself wearing it for at least the next couple of years the answer was usually to not waste my money on it. Doing this I started to make little challenges for myself such as no buy weeks or no buy months. This would be a certain period of time I would challenge myself not to spend money or anything that was not essential like groceries or gas. If I am still not sure, I also try to take a picture of it and wait a week or two so I can see if I really wanted the item or if it is an impulse purchase. This did not only help me not over consume but also helped my bank account.
During this process I have found it so important to find a group of people who support you whether it’s your loved ones or joining a local group that shares the same passions as you with sustainability.
HOW HAS MY LIFE CHANGED SINCE I STOPPED THE CYCLE OF OVERCONSUMPTION:
Stopping the cycle of overconsumption can be a very hard and long process. Even thought I have been getting better over the years I am still not perfect. Consuming less has helped me have a clearer mind, helps me save money, makes me more creative and makes me feel more accomplished in my sustainability journey. The journey is a very fulfilling process and not only benifit us but our future generations. We are so happy we get to share our journey with you💚