3 Green Living Tips To Take Your Wellness Routine Up A Notch

We live in a time when the word "sustainability" is thrown around quite a bit. While this awareness is a great thing, it means that the true message behind this word can get lost. I think most people think recycling, buying less plastic, and taking shorter showers are the building blocks of a sustainable lifestyle. Which is true! But in my opinion, it's so much more than that.

I had a huge "a-ha" moment while shopping at Whole Foods a few years ago. My eyes happened to land on the label of one of the organic avocados, which read, "New Zealand." My brain immediately went to, "Wow! The amount of energy it took to get this avocado from New Zealand all the way to New York City surely outweighs its health benefits." While it may seem like a simple thought, it was a big wakeup call that led me to expand my definition of sustainability and what it really means to consume in a way that is beneficial for your body and the planet.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but a super-simple way my partner and I have taken to a more sustainable way of living is by going totally paperless. We have made all of our household bills and bank statements electronic. We now read our favorite newspapers and publications in PDF or electronic form, and any newspapers or pamphlets that come into our home are used for wrapping gifts or cleaning glass.

Anything I'm no longer using, I donate: clothes, furniture, old movies, electronics, you name it. If everyone extended the life of things that are already in existence, we would slow down the overwhelming production of disposable, single-use products.

If everyone were to make a conscious effort DAILY to take seemingly small steps, it would make a huge difference. It’s so important to remember that no act is too small when you strive to live a cleaner and more sustainable day-to-day life.