Author: Marjorie McMillian

Photo by Pexels These days, the news may be full of doom and gloom, and it’s a challenge not to let it get you down. But there are many small ways that we all can make a positive impact through our individual choices. Our lifestyle choices can benefit not just ourselves, for instance, but also our neighborhoods, our communities, and even the world itself.  With clear intentions, active and informed choices, and a bit of upfront commitment to the cause, you can live a greener lifestyle and inspire those around you to do the same. Here are some tips from Cultural Society. The Smart Home  Installing a smart thermostat in your home is one of the biggest steps you can take toward reducing your overall carbon footprint. Digital Trends explains these devices can help you save big on energy costs, but their usefulness doesn’t end there. As they save you money, a smart thermostat will learn your unique household temperature preferences and patterns so you don’t have to constantly adjust the atmosphere in your home.  A device like a Nest Thermostat can pay for itself in two years or less, and you can control it from virtually anywhere. The Nest is compatible with most heating and cooling systems, has schedule-learning capability, and can also be controlled in conjunction with smart speakers. If you’re on a budget, the Honeywell Lyric T5 may be your best. And while it may not have as many features as its higher-priced brethren, it still sports enough functionality to stay competitive on the market. Go for the Green Light As part of your green home lifestyle, LED light bulbs can produce the same amount of light as conventional light bulbs, but as Viribright explains, it’s with a mere fraction of the power. This means a dramatically reduced reliance on fossil fuels, which translates to a much lower energy bill. Many LED lights come with smart home options as well, allowing you to customize the colors, program effects such as slow fades, and turn a light bulb on or off from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, even if you’re on the other side of the world. Solar Panels Most people know that solar panels draw energy from the sun without burning any fossil fuels. But some solar panels look just like a conventional roof and don’t cost any more than one. Though the initial investment may be steep, solar panels will help you save down the road as you won’t have to pay as much for your electric bill. Also, adding solar panels (and making other green-friendly changes) can increase your home’s appraised value as they will appeal to the ever-growing numbers of environmentally conscious home buyers. Smart Eating Your home’s energy isn’t the only source of concern; make sure you’re keeping your personal energy up by monitoring your vitamin intake, too. Certain vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B-12 and iron, can greatly influence your vitality. Stay on top of your physical game with anti-fatigue nutrition. You’ll be less apt to turn to artificial sources of energy like coffee or caffeinated colas, which means running your coffee maker less and cutting down on the consumption of those mass-manufactured drinks—a boost to your efforts in all respects.  Reduce Food Waste at Home If major home investments are not in your immediate financial future, consider making a smaller change that will also save you a lot of cash. As Cooking Light points out, using more of what you have and throwing away less food waste is another easy way to minimize your impact on the planet. You can decrease the risk of wasting food by planning your meals carefully ahead of time. There is a wealth of meal-planning apps like Emeals and Paprika that help with this often-overlooked step in meal preparation and storage.  Take Your Greener Lifestyle to Work There are as many ways to go green at work as there are at home. Some of the same practices apply, like keeping plants around to help purify the air, cold water pitchers in the fridge rather than plastic bottles, and using green products to clean. Another idea is to replace print and mailed invoices with digital invoices using an online invoice maker. Going digital and eliminating paper where possible saves a lot of waste. A bonus to cultivating a greener office is that it’s something you can brag about to customers and clients who will appreciate your environmentally sound business practices.  Making a serious effort to reduce your own carbon footprint is a noble endeavor. But what may go unnoticed is the effect that your choices have on others. A neighbor down the street seeing solar panels installed on your roof may be inspired to outfit her home the same way. The fact is, you never know how you may affect or even influence others. Real change in the world starts on an individual level, and your efforts to live a little greener will pay off. CSEBRI – Pioneer in Creativity and Exchange (Cultural Society) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those in our community. We envision a learning environment without borders. Our mission is to inspire curiosity for learning and to nurture the next generation of world citizens embracing diversity with health-conscious lifestyles. For more information, please visit our website or contact us today!

Image from Unsplash A recent APA poll reported that over 70% of Americans have reported feeling stressed out about the climate crisis. Many people have lost their homes and loved ones to climate disasters, while others are feeling the stress of the potential impact global warming is going to bring over the next few years. This eco-anxiety can really weigh you down, affecting all other aspects of your life. If you need coping tips to deal with the issue of climate change, Cultural Society shares valuable advice below. Ease Your Anxiety Stress can be an enormous burden on our minds, affecting our productivity at work and ability to be good friends, parents, or partners. Stress can also result in PTSD, OCD, depression, and chronic fatigue when developed to great heights. In addition, the experience of stress can transcend physical symptoms such as teeth grinding, insomnia, and physical ticks. Thus, try to prioritize relieving your anxiety as much as you can. Getting active and moving your body can increase your endorphins and serotonin levels, thus providing immediate relief. Mindfulness practices such as journaling, yoga, and meditation can also greatly aid. Don’t forget to take a break every so often and just switch off from the world by unplugging from the internet and daily news. Take Action Feeling hopeless (and helpless)? The best way to empower yourself in this situation is to take action. There are many ways you can get proactive about climate change – and this will help ease your anxiety as well. Let’s take a look at some steps you can take as an individual to live a more environmentally-friendly life: Watch your transport: Those airline miles may help you save money, but they’re terrible for the planet. When possible, cutting down on flying will make a difference in the battle against climate change, as will prioritizing public transit and carpooling over driving. Reduce your energy usage: If you can take the step, installing solar panels is environmentally viable and can also bring down your electricity bill. In addition, watch out for ‘energy vampires’, and switch off light fixtures when you’re not using them. Switching to LED lights can also decrease your consumption by over 70%. Cut down on waste: The U.S. is the leading country for food and material waste. You can do your part in fighting this by only buying what you need and finding creative ways to use excess materials. Examples include thrifting, buying reusable cups, and composting food waste. Starting your own eco-friendly business is also an option to get proactive. Start with the basics, such as coming up with a business plan and sorting out marketing strategies to achieve your environmental goals. You will also need admin materials, like a business card. Use a business card maker to simplify the creation process – as all you’ll need to do is customize images, text, and color schemes in a pre-made template. You can then set up your website, logo, and invoicing systems to ensure smooth operations.  Get Perspective Approaching your stress from a new perspective will also be helpful. When you’re feeling down, just remember all the good stories amongst the negative news. There are inspiring personal stories of individuals going the extra mile to help the cause, and lots of initiatives and programs governments across the world are taking to tackle this issue. Check out this article by The Conversation for six real-life examples of positive climate action.  Eco anxiety induced by climate change can run a whole gamut of emotions. From grieving and denial to fear, anger, and sadness, these emotions can significantly impact your physical and mental wellbeing. Be sure to manage your stress through the tips above, and don’t forget to do your part for the environment as well! Enjoyed this article? Check out the other informative guides on the Cultural Society site for more content today.

Image via Pexels Living a healthy lifestyle is easier than ever if you know where to start. Fortunately, in addition to the old tried and true advice of eating well and exercising, there are steps you can take each day to live your healthiest life. Here, Cultural Society offers a few tips to get you started. Define your lifestyle One of the first and simplest things you can do to live well is to define what a healthy life looks like to you. Do you want to gain muscle or lose weight? Do you want to have more energy to play with your children? Whatever your goal, write it down, and then determine what you need to do in order to achieve your goal.  Also take a look at what’s in your closet. Are you wearing comfortable clothes that are also flattering? Do yourself a favor and plan out your wardrobe to match your lifestyle, and be sure to factor in not just the right fit but what’s complimentary to your body shape. As they say, you are what you wear! Manage your stress Stress is a natural part of life, but too much stress can significantly affect our mental and physical health. We can’t get rid of all the stress in our lives, but we can look for ways to minimize stress and its impact. For example, if work leaves you feeling depleted and frazzled? Perhaps it’s time to get a handle on recognizing your stress trigger points. This is a perfect antidote to stress, especially for those in managerial roles.  Or perhaps you’ve started your own business and you’re realizing you can’t do everything yourself. This is a clear sign it’s time to hire help. If you can’t afford employees, freelancers can be an affordable alternative. Whatever the stressors are, identify them, and then determine a plan of action to reduce their effects. Take care of your teeth The body works in mysterious ways. This is true in many aspects but especially when it comes to the link between dental health and depression. Depression can leave you lethargic and less willing to take care of yourself, starting with your morning oral hygiene routine. Get yourself back on track by eating teeth-friendly foods and visiting your dentist, and you’ll see an improvement not only to your smile but also to your mental health. Smile all the time Speaking of your smile, flashing your pearly whites can improve your health in many ways. Smiling—something children do around 400 times each day, according to the Henry Ford Health System—has been linked to a better immune system, less stress, and lower blood pressure. This is because the simple act releases endorphins, which are hormones that act like tiny little party planners that come out of hiding and prepare your entire mind and body for happiness. Clean the house Having a clean house also has lots of benefits, and one of these is that having less clutter cuts down on dust and, potentially, pests. Being clean and organized also fosters a sense of calmness and, if that’s not enough, it means that you’re also always ready when the neighbors pop over for a surprise visit. Perhaps most importantly, simple actions, like opening the windows and decluttering, can instill a sense of positivity.  If your family is always on-edge, spend a long weekend purging, cleaning, and moving the furniture around. This can make even a cramped space feel bright and airy. An oil diffuser can also be a great addition, imbuing your home with calming scents. Consider essential oils like lavender, clary sage, rosemary or bergamot Ditch the bad habits Ideally, you don’t smoke cigarettes and only occasionally indulge in adult beverages, but these are not the only bad habits that can affect your health. Things like eating in the car, not sleeping enough, and skipping your regular healthcare screenings are all on Parrish Healthcare’s list of bad habits that can increase your chances of heart disease, cancer, and other health concerns. Diet and exercise are certainly paramount to your health. You can enhance their importance in your life by joining a wellness initiative. But there are other habits that you can start—or break—that will lead to a healthier you. Self-care strategies such as taking care of your teeth, keeping a clean house, and letting go of unhealthy behaviors will keep you moving and grooving for the long run. You’ll be happier, healthier, and ready to tackle each and every day with a smile on your face. This article is brought to you by Cultural Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those in our community. We envision a learning environment without borders. Our mission is to inspire curiosity for learning and to nurture the next generation of world citizens embracing diversity with health-conscious lifestyles. For more information, please contact us today!