your sustainable life - issue #1
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Our Mission is to make sustainable living a common practice in all homes across Australia and globally to make our world a healthier and better place for generations to come.TRANSCRIPT
YOURSUSTAINABLE LIFE
EnvironmentalSustainability
Seven Secrets toSustainable StressFree LivingCLICK HERE
T H E E C O F R I E N D L Y M A G A Z I N EO N L I N E O N L Y
JAN 16 ISSUE #1
Exclusiveinterviews ofAward winningeco-friendlybusinesses
Korryn Malzard explains how YOUR smalllifestyle changes can make a big difference...
F R E E M I N IC O U R S E
PLUS
Is it just the flavour of the month?
BONUS
W W W . Y O U R S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E . C O M . A U
03 Editor's Note
11 Pinterest Picks
16 Seasonal Eating
18 Sustainable Brands
S T A P L E S
- Wasteless Pantry
pg 18
- Good & Green
pg 20
Interviews
3 Sustainable tips to
cope with stress.
pg 22
BONUS FREE mini
course - Seven Secrets
to Sustainable Stress
Free Living
Wellness
5 Reasons why your skin
is ageing faster than it
should...
pg 13-14
Beauty
3 Steps to filling up your
self love barometer
pg 4
Love
Environmental
Sustainability - Is it just
the flavour of the month?
pg 7-10
Featured Article
Y O U RS U S T A I N A B L EL I F E
Issue 1
EDITOR'S NOTE
Kelly PeteringE D I T O R - I N - C H I E F
W W W . Y O U R S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E . C O M . A U
Hi there and welcome to the first edition of Your Sustainable Life Magazine.
We want to thank you for subscribing and taking the time to read our thought provoking articles and
checking out how you can make a difference!
Your Sustainable Life is about inspiring everyday people to step up as Leaders in their community,
organisation and in their own lives in general to work towards a sustainable future.
Our Mission is to make sustainable living a common practice in all homes across Australia and globally
to make our world a healthier and better place for generations to come.
What is Sustainability?
I love this definition from NSW Business Chamber;
“Sustainability is a form of progress or development that meets current needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs.” (Source: http://www.businesschamber.com.au/)
We are here to inspire health and happiness through sustainable living.
And we want you to join the movement…
Over the past 8 years, I have had the absolute privilege of travelling extensively throughout our exquisite
country, Australia. As well as many places overseas, including China, the UK, part of Europe, South
Africa and the USA. And I have been blown away at the sheer beauty of this planet. We are so lucky to
be able to have access to all these incredible places…
But the reality is… we are doing so much damage to the environment and ourselves through our fast
paced, consumer focused society and it’s time to make some changes.
These changes don’t need to be massive gestures –
it’s often the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
ISSUE 1 | JANUARY 2016
3 Steps to filling up your Self Love Barometer
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and for a moment imagine living a life where you are constantly in a place of self love.
How do you think you would experience your world differently from what it is now? What would you be seeing, feeling,
hearing and telling yourself?
Self love is imperative to one’s survival in life, there is no negotiations on this topic. We survive life because of the love we
experience with ourselves and others. Without self love we would live a life full of anxiety, self hatred, anger, blame, guilt
and the list goes on. Think about the negative feelings that arise when reading those words and the effect it would have on
one’s life doing these actions on a consistent basis.
When we come from a place of self love we become accepting wholeheartedly of who we are as human beings. We not
only allow ourselves to connect deeper within our own souls but with those around us. We cannot experience truly fulfilling
relationships with our loved ones if we do not love ourselves.
By Stephanie D'OvidioThe Holistic Health & Wellness Centre
W W W . Y O U R S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E . C O M . A U
Here are 3 steps to filling up your self love barometer:
1. Forgiveness
You were not put on this earth to get everything right, whatever
happened yesterday it cannot be changed however you can make
tomorrow an even brighter day. The more forgiveness you give to
yourself, the easier it becomes to let go of any resentment or anger
to another. Inviting peace into your life instead of constant guilt, is
how you give up living a slave to an average life.
2. Be Ok With Every Decision You Make
Do you second guess everything you do? Even when you know it is
good for you? Or do you continuously feel as if you need to justify
your actions all the time? If you make a decision and know
intuitively it is the best decision for you, then go with it. Give up the
second guessing, and be confident in your capabilities and
decisions.
3. Validate Yourself
Do you find yourself needing validation from others all the time?
This can be an exhausting process, imagine if the person you are
wanting validation from doesn’t give it to you? It can conjure some
pretty upsetting emotions including resentment. The truth is we all
need a little validation from our loved ones, but how often are you
externalising the approval of yourself?
Try this instead:
When the need for validation arises, stop what you are doing take
four really deep breaths in to centre your mind and body, grab a
notepad and pen or say out aloud what you acknowledge yourself
for. The more you language approval of yourself the quicker you
will build that muscle.
By Stephanie D’Ovidio
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Holistic Health & Wellness Centre
We believe in a holistic approach to wellness. In order to have a
healthy mind, body and soul, our physical body and etheric body
must both be balanced. We offer a range of services that
compliment one another including Holistic Coaching, Meditation,
Reiki, Angel Readings and more to obtain complete life balance and
healing. www.hhwc.com.au
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
BY KORRYN MALZARD
Used to describe natural resources where the aim is toensure that they are able to continue being usedindefinitely, Environmental Sustainability is a termthat we have seen floating around since the 1960’s. Atthis point, we finally realised that for all of our newtechnological and economical advances, there was acost to the environment.
Towards the end of the 20th Century, knowing that wenow had a dependency on non-renewable resources,awareness started to become public knowledge andefforts have been made to ensure that we don’tdestroy more than we have to and that we can beEnvironmentally Sustainable.
If you grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, then recycling is a way of life.We grew up with the old tv ads, and the school lessons ‘reduce,reuse, recycle’. Even the Book Muncher begged for you to recycleyour phone books in 1993. While the old Yellow Pages might begoing the way of the dodo, as a society there is still a big focus onrecycling to reduce landfill and promote sustainability.
But, is that enough?The answer here is no.According to Scientific American, most experts agree thatdeforestation around the world destroys around 80,000 acres dailyas well as impacting and degrading a further 80,000 acres eachday.These facts are taken from the United Nations reports and to giveyou an idea of size, 80,000 acres is approximately the size ofnearly 80,000 MCG’s daily.
ATTIC | JANUARY 201618
IS IT JUST THE FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH?
W W W . Y O U R S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E . C O M . A U
As if this isn’t already tragic, such
devastating deforestation is also
costing the earth some 135 flora
and fauna daily. This in itself
equates to around 50,000 different
species of plants, animals and
insects that are wiped off the face
of the planet to satiate our need for
nonrenewables.
The kicker?
Destroying these forests not only
makes certain things extinct and
boots others out of their natural
habitat, but it also directly impacts
our climate.
So by having no regard for
someone else’s home, we are
inadvertently kicking ourselves out
of a home too.
Experts say that by destroying
tropical rainforests, we are messing
with the basic programming of the
planet by reducing its capacity to
regulate atmospheric gases and
rainfall, amongst many other
benefits.
It is important to note that many of
our medicines are derived from
plants. If the plants are extinct, then
what?
Every day we are slashing and
burning what is designed to live
alongside us and help us live.
We drill oil from the ground and
refine it, sending noxious gas into
the air.
We use this oil to power our
vehicles and machines, sending
noxious gases into the air.
We use chemicals in our
appliances such as fridges and
airconditioners that deplete the
ozone layer.
We over farm and over fish, upsetting the oceanbalance.
We pollute our surroundings relentlessly and runour drains and waste pipes into the sea, killinganimal life and the aquatic plants and organismsresponsible for nearly 80% of our oxygen.
The result?
Our planet is telling us this she is suffering, butwe keep ignoring her.
Our Governments either flat out deny that there isa problem or they try to draw your attention awayfrom it. Only a handful of Governments across theglobe are actually doing something about theEnvironmental crisis.
But, there is plenty that we can do as individualsand groups.
While officials don’t want to admit and don’t wantyou to know the truth of the extent of what ishappening around us, if every individual adoptedat least one sustainability practice either at homeor in business, we could make an impact and asignificant one.
Those in charge don’t want to help you besustainable because it costs them money, butbeing sustainable can not only help ourEnvironment but help you save some serious cashtoo!
So, you’re just one person or family, what can youdo?
Grow your own vegetables and fruit; It’s better foryou and it’s one less family relying on geneticallymodified produce. If you’re like me and you can’tgrow anything despite your attempts, thenpurchase your fruit and veg from a farmer’smarket – it’s straight from the ground and mostfarmers will be honest and upfront about howthey grew it. With Australia in the middle of adrought, the farmers will thank you. If you’re inthe suburbs, there are even businesses whospecialise in bringing your produce from theground to your door. You can even visit or start acommunity garden and share what you grow withyou friends, neighbours and family!
Stop eating meat and dairy; by eating meat youare inadvertently participating in the misery ofthe meat trade. Animals are bred specifically foreating and disregarding the fact that many arepumped with all kinds of chemicals, consider thefact that the higher the demand then the higherthe supply needs to be. In Australia our exportsare huge and all those animals create a hugemethane cloud that does us no favours. Puttingaside the cruelty, which is a huge issue, themachines required to then produce the largequantities of meat and transport them add to ourEnvironmental woes. If you’re going to eat meatand dairy, then get it directly from a farmer, onewho has raised the animal since birth andslaughtered it themselves. This can betransported to a butcher who can cut it all up foryou, giving you months of meat in your freezer.
Stop purchases from unethical majorcorporations.
Learn the different recycling labels and make aneffort to really recycle as much as you can,keeping as much as possible from landfill.
Consider renewable energy sources to poweryour home.
Reduce your in-home consumption of water andpower.
Use only environmentally friendly house andbody products, so that when they are washedaway they aren’t killing marine life.
Install efficient appliances and accessories intoyour home and work space; not only will yousave money in the long run but you will bereducing your power usage and keeping globesout of landfill.
Give away or sell items that you no longer want.Don’t automatically throw them away. At thesame time, buy your own things second hand ormake them yourself If you can.
Ditch all your paper statements or letters andhave them sent to your inbox.
Dispose of printer cartridges and mobile phonescorrectly.
If you have children, consider Modern Cloth Nappies instead
of disposable nappies.
Walk or bike instead of driving or taking public transport
where possible. If this is not a possibility, then make smart
choices about the type and size of your vehicle. Always keep
it in good repair to minimise the emissions from your car.
Educate yourself and your family.
There are so many things that you as an individual or you as
a family can do to help in ensuring that our beautiful planet is
still safe and habitable for our future generations.
Teaching yourself and our next generations about the value
of the planet and how they can be a part of the change that
makes the future is key in ensuring our planet’s sustainability.
Environmental Sustainability is not a fad.
Climate change is real and we need to do something about it.
The media will tell you otherwise, but science does not lie.
Even as a business you can be involved and reduce your
own footprint. As a bookkeeper, I spend a lot of my time
dealing with paperwork and bills for my clients.
Since Environmental Sustainability is one of my core goals as
part of my business, we encourage our clients to be less
reliant on paper and stop printing invoices and bills and use
all the handy apps and programs the web has to offer.
In addition to that, we are a paperless office. Paper is a rarity
in my business. While we have a printer and some paper, the
layer of dust on it is quite thick and in 2 years we have used a
single ream of paper.
Since our premises is rented, we do not have access to
solar, but we do pay a larger premium on gas and
electricity for our power to be ‘green’ and we revisit our
sustainability policy regularly and invite our clients to add
ideas and be part of the change.
There is much to be said about the state of our
Environment and how we treat it.
For many, we have become a society who is so fixated
on money that we can’t see what is going on around us.
Money motivates us, and so too should the Environment.
Instead of watching our planet slowly die and our natural
resources deplete, we can start the process of
Sustainability by adopting good practices and being
educated and passing that education to others.
There are a lot of ideas not mentioned here, what can
you think of to promote Environmental Sustainability in
your home or workplace?
By Korryn Malzard Virtually Virtual
Committed to being as green as possible in both her
home and professional life, Korryn and her family are
committed to implementing as many sustainability
practices as possible and educate their children to carry
these practices on. While not perfect, it is something that
they are constantly revising. www.virtuallyvirtual.com.au
Korryn Malzard is a specialist Xero
Bookkeeper and virtual assistant for
Virtually Virtual and the lead on a
dedicated social media group,
Virtually Social.
PINTEREST PICKS
Click on the images to visit the attributed website.
Click >>HERE<< to follow Your Sustainable Life on Pinterest
#1) Not Wearing Sunscreen In Winter
Think you’re not exposed to the dangerous rays caused from UV
light because you’re not outdoors as much? Think again. There
are two types of rays: UVA and UVB. The UVB rays (the ones
that cause your skin to burn or tan) aren’t as strong in the winter
months; therefore your skin is at less risk for sunburn. However,
UVA rays (the ones that cause skin ageing and skin cancer) are
approximately the same strength year round and can penetrate
through clouds, even on a snowy, winter day.
Daily use of a good sunscreen (natural sunscreen if possible) is
an absolute must if you’re concerned about preventing wrinkles
and ageing skin. Every day of the year, rain or shine, inside or
out, harmful UV rays come through windows in your office, home
or car. Make sure your moisturiser contains a sunscreen, so you
only need to apply one product. Don’t forget, the best antiageing
product in the world is a good sunscreen. Period.
If your skin is oily and acne prone, I recommend Aroma Magic
Aloe Vera Sunscreen Gel SPF 20, if your skin is normal or dry; I
recommend Aroma Magic Carrot Sunscreen SPF 15 and for
normal to sensitive skin we recommend Aroma Magic Cucumber
Sunscreen SPF30. We also have Aroma Magic Sunblock lotion
that give SPF 30 PA ++ (equivalent to SPF50).
Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Sunscreens, protects you and
prevents premature ageing.
#2) Yawning
If you stay up past your usual bedtime, chances are you’ll be
yawning more. When you yawn, the act encourages your eyes to
water, which creates swelling and puffiness both at night and in
the morning when you wake up. This excess fluid around the
eyes weakens the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, causing an
acceleration of wrinkles. The loss of elasticity is like a rubber
band that’s been stretched repeatedly: at some point, it doesn’t
snap back anymore, and this is what happens to the eye area.
So before you stay up past your bedtime to watch that last show
or to read just one more chapter, consider the side effects. This
is just one more reason to get a good night’s rest. It’s called
‘beauty sleep’ for a reason.
I recommend our magical natural Aroma Magic Under Eye Gel
and Aroma Magic Under Eye Cream to treat puffy, tired looking
eyes and dark circles.
reasons why your skin is ageingfaster than it should...
5By Ginny Kohli
WWW.YOURSUSTAINABLELIFE.COM.AU
#3) Putting Off Getting Glasses
Speaking of the eye area, anytime you squint your eyes unnecessarily from bright lights or blurry vision, you’re also
weakening the elastin fibers around the eyes and this too will accelerate the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Schedule
an annual exam and get prescription glasses (if needed) to stay squintfree. Also, be sure to wear sunglasses whenever
outdoors.
#4) Drinking Out Of Straws
Just like squinting, repeated facial expressions and movements will break down collagen and elastin fibres. When drinking
out of a straw, you have to press your lips, causing unnecessary lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Drinking from a
narrow bottle may also cause this to happen. I recommend that you drink your beverage from a glass instead. Note: we
know that dentists suggest drinking out of straws to prevent liquids from staining your teeth, so this is a choice that you
have to make for yourself. I think it’s far easier to bleach your teeth with an athome whitening system than it is to slow
down wrinkles.
#5) Not Cleansing Your Skin In The Morning
Think it’s unnecessary to wash your face in the morning since your skin is clean from the night before? Wrong. The
reason it’s important to wash your skin in the morning is because while you sleep at night, your skin is in repair mode and
will secrete toxins and sebum, which can prevent your daytime products from working most effectively. When you wash
your skin in the morning, you’re removing those, as well as your nighttime products so your daytime products (particularly
SPF moisturiser) can get into the skin more effectively. Simply put, washing your skin in the morning gives it a clean slate.
Also, the nighttime products on your skin often contain ingredients that are suitable only for your evening regime. These
should be cleansed from the skin to avoid any reactions or potential irritation. Washing your face in the morning is a key
step in ensuring healthy, calm and youthfullooking skin.
For a good natural range of aromatherapy face wash to suit different skin type, please visit our online store
www.aromamagic.com.au
We offer you only the good stuff. If you are looking to lead a healthy life in the long run, choosing natural skincare
products for everyday use are important.
By choosing Aroma Magic, you are using ingredients that work with natural systems of your skin. Our products deliver
the promise of the best natural ingredients for specific care. With us, what you see is what you get.
Our products are free of Parabens, Alcohol, Mineral Oils, Harsh Chemicals, Synthetic Colours and Artificial
Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Phthalates and Animal Testing.
SEASONAL EATINGBenefits of Seasonal Eating
It’s no surprise that eating food that is in season in your local
area is both the healthiest and cost effective way to live. But
there are many other benefits that come along with it!
1. ECOFRIENDLY The obvious, right? When we eat from our
own gardens, or farmers markets, we are producing less waste
(no packaging or horrible plastic bags), we are supporting local
businesses and the economy (rather than putting our money into
the overseas market) and we are saving on fuel emissions that it
takes to actually get the food from either overseas or interstate
to the large supermarket chains.
2. TASTE Try the taste test challenge! It is a known fact that
fresh fruit and veg from a farmers market is fuller in flavour than
what you can get from a large chain supermarket. Head down to
a local farmers market and buy a piece of your favourite fruit,
then head on over to your general supermarket and purchase
that same piece of fruit compare the two and I have no doubt
which you will find to be much tastier and full of flavour!
3. VARIETY When you decide to eat seasonally (which we
know is not always 100% practical or possible by the way it’s
about doing your best with what you have), you will begin to
notice a jump in variety throughout your year of eating. This also
has huge nutritional benefits as the range of fresh fruit and veg
you will be eating may increase dramatically. If you think back to
the days before chain supermarkets and on demand availability
of pretty much whatever we please, people were eating in the
way mother nature intended from the earth. I’m sure it’s no
coincidence that certain foods are available naturally at different
times of the year our bodies need balance and the more we
can get back to eating from the earth, the better. Whilst there are
many more benefits to eating seasonally these alone should be
enough to inspire you to make the decision to use local farmers
market OR better still plant your own veggie garden!
See our PINTEREST PICKS for some funky ideas!
To find out what foods are in season and where to locate your
local farmers markets head to http://seasonalfoodguide.com/
By Kelly Petering
WWW.YOURSUSTAINABLELIFE.COM.AU
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
This week I have had the privilege of speaking with one of the
owners, Amanda Welschbillig, of Award winning Perth based
business Wasteless Pantry.
Wasteless Pantry has been in operation since June 2015 in
the suburb of Mundaring in Perth, and their business focuses
around “Adapting the way you shop to eliminate disposable
packaging, source food locally and sustainably, be more
community minded, and only buying what you need”.
Amanda and her business partner Jeannie have worked
extremely hard and are passionate about making a change
towards better sustainable living practices in their local area
and beyond. They also want to get the idea out there that it is
possible to run a profitable business with a focus on
sustainability, and encourage other business owners to follow
suit.
The inspiration behind Wasteless Pantry was Bea Johnson’s
book Zero Waste Home (which you can find right
>>HERE<<). Amanda says after reading this book, herself
and Jeannie were inspired to bring these ideals to the
awareness of their local community through a small business
venture that is now exceeding their expectations.
With their philosophy ‘Don’t buy Advertising, Buy Food’,
Wasteless Pantry allows customers to bring their own
containers, jars and reusable bags into the store to collect
their groceries
completely eliminating waste from packaging and unused
good. Instead of buying a whole packet of sugar from the
supermarket, at Wasteless Pantry, you can purchase just
what you really need how many times have you had to throw
away packets that are out of date or have the evil weevils
because they been sitting in your cupboard far too long?!
As well as running the store, these two ladies have been
promoting their sustainable living philosophy at local
community events, presentations and schools in the area.
There is a lot of information out there about why people
should start living more sustainably, but Wasteless Pantry is
focused on explaining the HOW… How you can make small
changes in your home that will save you both time and money
whilst making a big difference to the environment.
Wasteless Pantry is all about embracing a waste less future
and promoting the zero waste ideals of Refuse, Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle and Rot (and only in that order). If you want
to learn more about these ideals you can read about it in the
book mentioned above, or if you are a Perth local, simply
head into the Wasteless Pantry store in Mundaring and have
a chat with the friendly staff, who are more than willing to
explain how you can adopt more sustainable practices within
your own pantry.
Visit the Wasteless Pantry website to find out more!
http://www.wastelesspantry.com.au/
Interview by Kelly Petering Your Sustainable Life
WWW.YOURSUSTAINABLELIFE.COM.AU
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
Jianhui is best known for the sophistication of his Next Pashmina which
combines art, elegance and practical design.
Yet Jianhui’s creative journey began when he was a child growing up in
the countryside in a poor village in China. Hoping that one day her son
would achieve great things, his mother named him Jianhui which
means ‘building a splendid life’.
Until he was nine his parents could not afford the 20p a term needed to
send him to school, so Jianhui would spend his days up in the
mountains. It was there that his lifelong fascination with colour and
nature were born.
He loved to look at the wonderful array of flowers. With their bright
shades of pink, purple and orange they offered a total contrast to the
greyness of his family’s impoverished life.
Once his father opened a village shop and the family’s fortunes
improved, Jianhui was able to go to school. But each day before school
began he would run to the mountains to pick a flower to clip onto his pen
to remind him of the fragile natural beauty that existed close by.
At school Jianhui quickly began to excel both creatively and
academically. He studied ceramics in China and then came to the UK to
pursue his MBA.
On arriving in London, Jianhui became fascinated both by the city and
its people, with the combination of energetic urban life in sharp contrast
to the beauty of London’s many parks and green spaces.
Jianhui’s creative instinct was drawn to the jewellery women wore in
colours and vibrant designs that he had never seen before. So when
preparing for a return visit to China, Jianhui decided to make his mother
some jewellery, but with his own distinctive twist. Using secondhand
pieces he found in Portobello Road, he recreated the beautiful flowers
that had captured his childhood imagination.
It is from creating these original designs that Jianhui London was born.
Since the company was established in 2006, it has flourished. Jianhui’s
unique designs are not only loved by highend fashion boutiques and
jewellery shops around the world, but also acclaimed by V&A, MoMA,
Agnes b., Harvey Nicholes (Dubai), Metropolitan Museum of Art, &
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago..
Jianhui holds an ambition that is 'ethical by design and sustainable
by nature'.
Find Jianhui London designs at the Museum of Contemporary Art in
Sydney or at http://www.jianhui.co.uk/
About Jianhui London & Its Designer
WWW.YOURSUSTAINABLELIFE.COM.AU
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
Growing up in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Monty saw how the local farmers would struggle to make ends meet. At the age of 9,
a large scale cyclone over took the area and killed 140,000 people overnight, Monty and his family were amongst the lucky
ones to survive. After witnessing the devastation the cyclone had on the community and in particular the local farmers,
Monty was inspired to make a difference.
Upon moving to Australia in 2008 and noticing the sheer beauty we are blessed with here Monty was determined to help
maintain and keep Australia beautiful as well as contribute in a positive way to the place he grew up in. After volunteering for
two and a half years for a friend in Bangladesh, where the products are produced, Monty had found his vehicle to raise
awareness about his passion keeping the planet green & clean.
He believes that it is his responsibility to look after the environment, and works in his Good and Green business after hours
as a passion project, knowing that he is contributing to the community in a positive way and making a difference is profit
enough for him. His mission for the business is for every person worldwide to be carrying an ecofriendly bag with them
always. So what can you do?
Monty’s wish is for you to take on board his message that if we want this place to remain beautiful for our children and future
generations we must DO something now. He says ‘Change starts from one person…’ and you can make a difference by
always carrying an ecofriendly bag with you it’s a simple step to take.
If you own a business and currently use plastic or other non environmentally friendly bags, consider that the public is ready
to pay a little more now (in the form of an ecofriendly bag) than to risk having to pay a larger price by the way of damage to
our environment in the future.
To find out more, visit the Good and Green Australia website at http://www.goodandgreen.com.au.
Canberra based company Good and Green founder Monty Ahmed Feras was
kind enough to spend some time chatting with me about his new business
and passion for the environment.
Good and Green provide the opportunity for Australian businesses to
purchase environmentally friendly bags produced by Benglai artisans and
farmers, where they use the world’s best jute fabric (often referred to as the
‘Golden Fibre’). Being 100% biodegradable and water resistant, the fibres
that are used to create these bags are grown in the beautiful Himalayan
rivers which assists in making the jute material one of the strongest and most
environmentally sustainable fibres.
In the 21st century, it is impossible to avoid stress altogether...
These 3 Sustainable Tips on How to cope with stress will assist
you in navigating those moments of pure craziness, freak out
and total disaster.
You might think that hiding under the blankets and wishing it all
away is viable strategy for dealing with these situations...
I hate to break it to you, but unfortunately, that's just not going
to cut it, certainly not in the long run.
Here are my Top Tips on achieving a stress free, sustainable
environment for you and your family....
How to Cope with Stress Tip #1 MINDSET
Managing your Mindset around stress is the number one way in
which I believe can radically reduce the amount of stress you
experience day to day.
So how exactly do we manage our mindset?
Here are a few keys elements for you to consider...
What you focus on is what you get... to the exclusion of
everything else. When we focus on the cause of the stress, for
example; a deadline... That is all we see we block out
everything else. What else could we focus on? If we move our
focus to what is going to help us get there we are able to see a
clear path to achieving the deadline.
Your mind is programmed to believe everything you tell it...
What are you telling yourself in those moments of stress?
Is your mantra "It will be ok..." or "I've got this..." or "This too
shall pass..."?
Most people default to "HOLY CRAP I'M NEVER
GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS..." OR "WHY DOES
THIS SHIT ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME???"
Pretty easy to tell which is more resourceful, right?
Become a master of your mind in times of stress and
you will come to see just how quickly you are able to get
through it!
How to Cope with Stress Tip #2 MOVE
Movement creates energy and releases those feel good
hormones endorphins. I'm sure this is not news to you,
but it seems to be a strategy that many people overlook
when under pressure. Because let's face it, when you're
stuck in the 'holy crap' moment or simply fallen in a heap
after working your butt off on a majorly stressful project,
the last thing you feel like doing is exercise.
Instead of reaching for the bottle of wine or tantalising G
& T, put on your comfy pants and a tshirt and head
outdoors for walk. That's all it takes... a simple walk I'm
not telling you to run a marathon here although if you
are into running, be sure to pick up the pace!
If you don't want to leave the house, that's ok, there are
still options for you to get moving maybe it's having a
dance to your favourite song in the living room, or doing
a few yoga poses.
Even if it's for 15 mins, this break from whatever it is that
is causing you stress, this may be all you need to refresh
your mind and tackle the situation from a different
angle.
3 Sustainable Tips on How to Cope with StressBy Kelly Petering
How to Cope with Stress Tip #3 TEAM
Build a team of people who you trust that can be there for you in those times of need.
Asking for help is OK! We are not expected to do everything alone... Accept help
when you need it from those you trust. When you allow yourself to accept help, you
will let others know it's ok to ask YOU for help when they are in need. Sharing your
stresses can help to relieve the pressure... often hearing a new perspective of how a
situation could be dealt with can open up options for you.
So here is a checklist to make sure you chose the right people for your TEAM
remember, with any team, it's a two way street give as much (or more) as you
receive.
Here is my TRUST checklist
THRESHOLD someone who will understand how far you can go we’re all about
taking it to the limits, but when it comes to gaining and maintaining trust in a
relationship its imperative to ensure both parties know each others threshold…discuss you limitations (we all have them), what will tip you over the edge?
RESPONSIBILITY someone who will take responsibility for their actions if you
make a mistake, own it. This is also about doing what you say you are going to do
when you make a commitment stick to it… avoid overcommitting if you think you
may not be able to deliver, don’t promise that you can!
UNDERSTANDING someone who gives others the benefit of the doubt assume
that every person is doing the best the can with the information they have at the time
bring the element of nonjudgement in a trusting relationship, it’s innocent until
proven guilty always!
SILENCE when someone shares something with them, they respect privacy the
fastest way to break trust is by spreading gossip. Choose a trusting connection with
few people over a false connection with many.
TRUTH they have the courage to value truth even when it’s tough doing what’s
right will gain trust quickly with the right people.
Here's a BONUS Tip for you... Remember to BREATHE!!!
A great breathing technique that has been used by the military and emergency
management workers is to; breathe in for 4 counts, hold 4 counts, breathe out 4
counts, hold 4 counts, and repeat. This will lower your heart rate and immediately
decrease your stress levels.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Petering has a passion for
understanding human behaviour. As
a Professional Master Coach and
Stress Management Consultant,
Kelly works with individuals and
groups to overcome stress and
anxiety through her strategic
process. As the Editor In Chief of
Your Sustainable Life, she believes
in focusing on a sustainable
approach to all aspects of life and
that every person deserves to feel
fantastic about themselves and the
lives they lead. Her methods focus
on a holistic approach to health and
wellness through sustainable living.
You can book in for acomplimentary consultation withKelly by clicking >>HERE<<
YOUR BONUS GIFT
To claim your BONUS gift click >>HERE<<or the image above.
www.yoursustainablelife.com.au
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