Get Clean with Spring: Give House and Body an Eco-cleanse

What exactly is an eco-cleanse? Take a section of life, such as eating habits, and how it is done every day. Now, how can it be made better in relation to the environment and health? Using different methods and incorporating them gradually to make them become the new daily activities.

There are seven areas that can be made over to be more organic, healthy and eco-friendly: plastic and paper; electricity; food habits; drinking habits; schedules; automobiles; and consumerism.

Knowledge is Power

Before any of these changes are implemented, research and another daily habit should be in place. For research, venture through a few green Web sites such as Treehugger. Also scour the Internet for green books, but don’t buy them — at first! Right down the titles and search at the local library for copies, which will save on resources. If they are not available at the library, use a book swapping site to get a used copy. Research does not require a new book, and then these books can be re-swapped once done, saving money and the environment. Click here to get more info about the best cleaning service in your area.

Another way to stick with the eco-cleanse is establishing a green journal. Begin with observations, and they do not have to be long. Sit in a local park and observe the landscape. Are there ducks or birds? Is the grass green or brown, or maybe some other weird color? Once becoming aware of the surroundings, reporting about changes in habits or noticing changes in the environment will be easier as concentration and observation has been building. Continue to use the journal to talk about the struggles of the eco-changes and to brainstorm on how to make it work better.

Cleansing Body and Mind

After the groundwork has been put into place, it is time for the eco-cleanse. Try each one of the tips for a few days before starting the next, in order to incorporate all at some point in the future. Some tips also may take some planning ahead of time.

• Fast from electricity. Before going to bed, shut off the television, the computer and any electronic device not needed to wake up in the morning. Wake up early to start the coffee machine instead of leaving it plugged in all night. If a television is needed to sleep, turn a timer on for an hour or bit more so it will turn off automatically. Also, choose one day to go completely off the scale and be electricity-free, using this time to read, spend time with family and friends, exercise or any other non-electronic activity.
• Try being vegetarian, or vegan. This is one of the most green ways to help the environment, and a great way to help the body. If vegetarianism is a new idea, try adopting the method to one meal a day. Once that seems comfortable, try two meals or see if a whole day can be planned minus meat. If the vegetarian diet has already been adopted, try going vegan with the same method. This type of change requires planning and preparation but once implemented for awhile, it becomes almost second nature and it does such a huge help to the body and environment.
• Change drinking habits. As this ties in a later tip, ban the plastic bottles. Buy a water filter instead, or just drink from the tap, which is actually pretty well filtered water (unless you live somewhere where it’s not.) There are other ways to get juice, once of which is buy items in glass bottles. It can be pricey, so why not make juice? A juicer, electric or otherwise, can create a quality product and possibly a better product. Try to look for products that use recycled material.
• Make one day of a week a slow week. By slowing down, it can help your health. Life can be a stressful mess and that stress has a negative effect on the body. In the long run, it can have a negative effect on the environment when the easiest way to get things done is through disposable products. But these products really harms the Earth. Slowing down means embracing family meals (maybe try a vegetarian dish), an organization of papers (recycle them!) or some meditation.
• Try breaking the plastic and paper habit. Start with recording how much plastic and paper is used every day. After a day or two, start reducing that consumption. Stop buying plastic bottled drinks and water, be conscientious of the packaging items have around them and buy fruits and vegetables not in plastic. Carry reusable bags everywhere. Print two-sided or don’t print at all! If items need to be bought, recycle what is left. Really think about the item being bought before buying, and if it can be bought without the plastic or paper surrounding it.
• Give the automobile a break. The United States have become a nation of car drivers and many other nations are following suit. Instead of driving around the block to drop off mail, walk to the nearest mailbox. Get out and walk or ride a bike to the grocery store, bringing a backpack or large bag easy for carrying. If driving is necessary (obviously for food or medicine,) plan out trips in order to cut driving all over town for a variety of items. If another mode of transportation to work is unreasonable, try a carpool.
• Become an un-consumer. If something is needed (other than food and medicine,) buy it second-hand. Resolve to buy nothing new. This may sound like a crazy idea, but it helps to cultivate if certain items are really needed and if they can’t be bought for cheaper and just as good condition as a new item. By reusing an item, it doesn’t sit in a landfill and gets a second life. It’s not only about being frugal but reducing consumption of natural resources and stepping away from the culture of never-ending consumption.

Being a Green Person

These tips can cleanse the body, mind and environment. By taking steps to be conscientious to the surroundings, a person can make their body and environment as one.