The new year is around the corner and new year’s resolutions are on their way. Following through with your new year’s resolution of having a healthier lifestyle may seem like a daunting task – it doesn’t help that being healthy is associated with spending a ton of money. But what if we told you it doesn’t have to be that troublesome or expensive?
Try these 6 easy and small swaps to make big changes to your life!
- Swap carbonated drinks for coconut water from Movlah
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In need of a refreshing post-workout drink? Replace energy drinks with Movlah’s 100% natural coconut water made from freeze dried coconuts! It comes in travel-friendly sachets and you only need room temperature water to make them. Coconut water makes a great post-workout recovery drink as it reduces body heat and quenches your thirst.
- Try granola from Naked Super Food instead of packaged cereal
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Ditch the packaged, sugar-filled cereals and replace it with granola from Naked Super Food! Their granolas come in several mouth-watering flavours, contain low sugar and sodium, are a good source of fibre and protein, and have no artificial colouring or flavouring!
- Ditch antiperspirant for natural deodorant from Salt Of The Earth
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Natural deodorants are great for limiting skin issues – they won’t block your pores and promote less irritation! Salt Of The Earth’s natural deodorants come in a variety of refreshing scents, leave no white marks, are vegan society approved, and are not tested on animals. It’s also made free from alcohol, parabens, perfumes, and more so you can have peace of mind.
- Replace pads and tampons with menstrual cups
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Certain pad and tampon brands have harmful ingredients that we should never have near our bodies. Menstrual cups are a great alternative for that because it’s made of silicone or rubber that is safe for the body. It’s also better for the environment because not as much waste is created and some menstrual cups can be recycled!
- Opt for oat milk instead of dairy milk
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Looking for an alternative to dairy milk? Try oat milk! This plant-based milk has a mild and creamy flavour that pairs well with coffee, cereals, and more. It provides more vitamin B-2 than cow’s milk and contains beneficial nutrients, such as protein and fibre, to help keep you full for longer.
- Replace junk food with fruit & vegetable chips
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Say goodbye to junk food and hello to this delicious and healthy alternative – fruit and vegetable chips! You can find plenty of options at the grocery store, kiosks, online, and even make them yourself with an oven or air fryer. Now you don’t have to feel unhealthy when you have the munchies!
Have a healthier new year with these small, easy, and affordable lifestyle switches!
During a time of social distancing and restricted movement, we find ourselves physically isolated – but that doesn’t mean we can’t connect with each other. It’s actually essential that we do so during times like these because now, more than ever, we need each other the most!
The rise in coronavirus cases has evolved into another national crisis that’s called for us to support our own communities. If you’ve been struggling to deal with problems on your own – self-care isn’t enough to get you through this pandemic. With community care, you’ll be provided the support needed during these hard times, making collective care key to getting through this.
But what exactly is community care? It’s the compassion we show others, whether one or many, and the actions we take to do so – regardless of the size. Here are a few ways you can practice community care during the CMCO:
- Support small businesses
During the first lockdown, small businesses took a big hit – seeing the closure of many stores and restaurants across the nation. The other remaining enterprises have been struggling to stay afloat, which is why it would really help to order from home-based food businesses, buy groceries from local farmers, and shop local products from home-grown brands.
2. Check in on your family, friends and colleagues
The uncertainty has made it a stressful and anxiety-inducing time for us all, so if you have the mental capacity to do so – check in on others and let them know you’re there for them. Even if you’re unable to, show that you still care by sending them an emoji or even a song!
3. Help those in need
You don’t always have to donate money to help, you can also volunteer your time and skills. Start a fundraising campaign, help raise funds by sharing an existing campaign, or go through your belongings to find things you can donate.
4. Check for facts and fake news
This is important for everyone’s mental health and wellbeing as the spread of fake news and rumours have caused many to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Stay informed and double check any news you receive before sharing it – make sure it comes from a reputable source!
5. Be more eco-friendly
For hygiene reasons, the use of disposable plastic products has rapidly grown – causing the pandemic to have a negative effect on the environment as well. Make the effort to minimise your single-use plastic waste by switching to reusable bottles, cutlery and containers. Don’t forget to sanitize!
Community care isn’t here to replace self-care, it’s a necessary addition to it. Take care of yourself and others during this time – the only way we can curb COVID-19 again is by working together!
As consumers grow more aware of the harm caused by fast fashion, it’s been refreshing to see sustainability rise as a trend. But wait, what exactly is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion uses materials that are carefully sourced and produced with the environment in mind. It’s also known as ethical fashion as it ensures safe and fair working conditions for their employees. In some cases, sustainable fashion can also refer to thrifting and repurposing – this involves upcycling old clothes and turning them into completely new pieces of clothing!
We’ve been seeing more and more local brands commit to making a difference, and they look good while they’re at it. Here are 6 local sustainable fashion brands you can support:
Terrae, which means ‘Earth’ in Latin and Italian, is a sustainable activewear brand that focuses on being both durable and timeless.
Their clothes are made from a material called ECONYL, which is regenerated nylon derived from discarded fishing nets, and fabric scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills. This virgin nylon alternative has great recovery power, so you don’t need to sweat about its performance! Even their packaging is produced from recyclable and biodegradable materials.
Inspired by the Russian word ‘озеро’, which means ‘lake’ in English, Ozero stays true to its creative name with each swimwear design being named after lakes.
By using ECONYL, their fabulous pieces are made from rescued plastic waste, such as fishing nets and industrial plastic, and offer everything you look for in good swimwear – like great shape retention, chlorine and suntan cream resistance, and excellent UV protection!
Batik lovers, this one’s for you.
Dona Plant Base is a sustainable brand that strongly believes in ethical practices and giving back to the community. Their beautiful batik pieces are made by artisans in Bali and therefore, each piece is completely unique and made in limited quantities – like a work of art.
They use natural dyes from locally grown plants, upcycled textiles, organic sustainable materials, as well as plastic-free packaging. Dona Plant Base offers the most gorgeous tops, dresses, bags, face masks and more!
Fast fingers are needed to get a Ghostboy piece since their tops are always sold out within minutes!
Founded by David and Cyii Cheng, Ghostboy Club is known for its distinctive one-of-a-kind pieces that can be spotted from a mile away. Each item is uniquely designed and handmade with used clothing sourced from thrift stores and donations. The end product is an eccentric piece of art that’s attracted their cult following.
Lazii Vintage is a sustainable brand that turns the oversized ‘dad shirt’ into all-the-rage goodness!
They rework and upcycle vintage sweatshirts and other clothing to increase the lifespan of each item. Their pieces are carefully curated and uniquely reworked by hand with no two pieces alike. Lazii also extends its sustainability efforts to the packaging by using eco-friendly and recycled materials.
Lemon by ACK is a slow fashion label that uses ethically sourced fabrics and materials such as 100% organic cotton to create eye-catching apparel and accessories.
Their beautiful tops, bags and swimwear are manufactured at a local sewing facility run by the non-profit organization, Life 2 Life El Shaddai, which focuses on fostering life-long skills and knowledge to displaced individuals.
Feed two birds with one seed and shop from these sustainable brands – you’ll be saving the Earth, ensuring fair practices and supporting small businesses!
Do you remember how exciting it was to find a tin of Danish butter cookies at grandma’s house? Our little fingers would struggle to pry open the shiny blue Royal Dansk container, but once we finally managed to get the lid off – our hopes and dreams of stuffing our faces with crispy cookies were shattered by the presence of a sewing kit.
That’s probably where our trust issues stemmed from (along with the other unpleasant surprises we’d find in different food containers), but it was also, most likely, our first introduction to sustainability.
According to the United Nations Brundtland Commission (1987), sustainability is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. So when grandma needed a place to store her raw seasoned chicken – reusing a Neapolitan ice cream tub was her way of reducing waste and protecting the environment.
We might have laughed and even rolled our eyes as they hoarded plastic items, but now their methods of reusing and recycling are considered admirable and are highly encouraged. This makes them the true pioneers of the low waste movement. Here are a few familiar throwbacks to their sustainable living:
- Must. Reuse. Every. Container.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter might be the name of a margarine brand, but it’s exactly how we felt every time we opened a tub of butter to find last night’s leftovers instead of a spread for our toast. We did not enjoy that guessing game!
- Triangular Plastic Bags
These were more enjoyable to do – we’d help fold plastic bags into triangles after grocery shopping and then store them in another plastic bag for future use. Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable, so this helped prevent them from ending up in landfills, waterways or the ocean.
- The Plastic Drawer
There was always that one drawer filled with, what seemed to be, the most random things from McDonald’s sauces and Domino’s chili flakes to plastic cutlery, straws and bread ties that were ready to be reused. Maybe hoarding had some points.
It has become our responsibility to protect the planet from further harm. Take a page from grandma’s book and reduce your waste by reusing single-use items (if you can). Through waste prevention and simple waste management, you’ll be able to reduce your negative environmental impact and help conserve the earth’s resources!
We’ve done a great job of replacing plastic straws with reusable alternatives, but what about the multiple cotton pads we dispose of everyday? Whether used for removing makeup or applying toner, it produces a lot of unnecessary waste that, fortunately, we can now cut back on. Here are six sustainable beauty products to make our everyday habits less wasteful (and more economical):
These super soft alternatives from The Mine Raw come in a set of five – just toss them into the washing machine before reuse.
Made with bamboo sticks and natural cotton, these compost-friendly swabs from The Hive are 100% biodegradable.
The size might be intimidating at first, but menstrual cups aren’t just greener – they’re also easier and healthier, according to the award-winning, OrganiCup.
If you’re still not convinced by menstrual cups, The Hive has a few eco-friendly pad options which are washable.
Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, these bamboo cloth wipes are a brilliant alternative to makeup remover wipes, especially for sensitive skin.
- Silicone Masks
Swap out sheet masks for a single silicone mask cover from Daiso – place it over a hydrating mask or essence to lock in the moisture.
Not only are these options more sustainable, but they simplify your life too! You won’t have to make as many trips to the store as these products last-longer – that’s a win for your time, money and the earth! Reduce consumption, reduce waste.
