Be your own “healthy”. It’s true that not all foods are made equal, health-wise, but there’s no need to label any of them as “good” or “bad” and cut out all the “bad” ones like sugar, coffee or processed snacks from your diet. Instead, try new recipe ideas and experiment with different products in order to come to grips with which of them are beneficial for your body and mind. If you’re thinking about shifting your eating habits and maybe limiting some foods and drinks, our advice is to start small and keep it fun. To get inspired, check out our poignant story about how we gave up coffee for a week.
Glass half-full! According to a recent research, optimistic people have a better chance at longevity – so why not try to look on the brighter side? From starting to keep a daily gratitude journal to focusing on self-care and practicing positive self-talk, there are many ways to reach towards this summit; here’s our guide. Whatever you do, though, beware of the so-called toxic positivity of imperative “just be happy!” and “you can do it!”: this is not only ineffective but can also cause harm, and we don’t want that.
Less waste, who dis? So far, the global trend has been that of over-consumption (and the encroachment of single-use everything, plastic included), but the recent, horrifying manifestations of climate crisis such as Australian wildfires and Indonesian floods serve as yet another eye-opener that the tide needs to shift, and urgently so. If this makes you feel disheartened and powerless, remember that every one of us can make a difference – and this doesn’t always necessitate radical, sweeping action: gradual but unrelenting, everyday change can be a better approach. It’s many small drops in the ocean that lead to eventual sea change, if we load up on water idioms. So if you’re interested in cutting down on the amount of waste you produce, and ergo your carbon footprint, here’s how we (stumblingly) started with zero waste to provide you with a little nudge towards this direction.
Give plant-based a go. Apart from being a major polluter, the ways that meat, eggs and dairy industry harms the environment are many and varied; it’s also extremely cruel to animals, who, quick biology recap, are sentient beings and can feel pain the way we humans do. A large study has found avoiding meat and dairy to be the single biggest way to reduce your environmental footprint, and the generality of the medical community offers reassurance that a balanced vegan diet can cover all the nutrients your body needs.
If you’re interested in combating cruelty towards animals or helping the humanity stick on the planet for longer, we suggest you start slow, incorporating more and more plant-based meals in your diet, keep informing yourself to stay on track, and have fun with it: with all kinds of finger-licking substitutes available, from burgers and salami to yoghurts and cakes, you won’t miss out on the taste (here are our two cents on leading a vegan lifestyle in St. Pete: general / restaurants / cafes & street food / shops). And there’s no better time to start with plant-based than January, thanks to the Veganuary initiative; make sure to subscribe to the newsletter on their website to get nifty tips and tricks every day of the month!
Get inspired. Going out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be difficult and even intimidating, and this is why sometimes we all need a kick in the butt to take the first step, or a helping hand, or just some motivation. For this reason, we’ve made a rundown of some of the most exciting Instagram accounts for vegan and green living inspiration to get you going!
Written by Anastasiia Labunskaia and Anastasia Krasilnikova
