{"id":133751,"date":"2022-01-04T11:26:59","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T16:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=133751"},"modified":"2022-01-04T11:26:59","modified_gmt":"2022-01-04T16:26:59","slug":"minimalism-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/minimalism-lifestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"Adopting the Minimalism Lifestyle as a Green Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Minimalism Lifestyle<\/span> movement has gained worldwide attention, not just as a way to declutter but as a way to live more mindfully. In the home, it\u2019s about addressing our tendencies to overconsume and to refocus ourselves toward more deliberate living. This doesn\u2019t mean that you have to live in a spartan home and never find joy in a purchase. Instead, it is about understanding how your choices as a consumer can create a more sustainable and balanced world. From the clothing you buy to the food you eat, we are offering suggestions on how adopting the <\/span>minimalism lifestyle <\/span>can help you go \u201cgreen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shop for Clothing with Intention<\/b><\/p>\n

Have you ever purchased clothing on impulse even though it didn\u2019t really fit or feel comfortable once you got it home or it arrived via FedEx? Do you have wardrobe pieces that are hiding in the back of your closet with the tags still on them? You aren\u2019t alone. Fast fashion grabs your attention. Marketing makes you feel as though you have to have it, and after a week of working hard, you may feel like you deserve the treat. The <\/span>Minimalism Lifestyle <\/span>movement isn\u2019t about never shopping again. It isn\u2019t even about pairing your clothing collection down to the classic ten pieces that rely heavily on neutrals and black. Instead, <\/span>Minimalism <\/span>is about intentionality and refocusing your shopping habits to lean more heavily on buying quality pieces that you will love and wear for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast fashion is notorious for its negative impact on the environment where the clothing is dyed and manufactured in mass quantities. The desire for cheap jeans and t-shirts drives a machine overseas that is often dependent on exploitative labor practices, dye processes that lead to toxic run-off into local streams and lakes, and manufacturing that relies on intense energy usage. Those clothes are then shipped to stores worldwide, where there is enormous pressure to stock with the latest, newest things. Where clothing used to be seasonal, fast fashion is creating 52 \u201cseasons\u201d a year. Of course, mass-produced clothing also falls apart faster, requiring you to buy more, while the used clothing is sent to landfills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are designers and retailers who are taking a new look at the \u201cwaste loop\u201d in the fashion industry. <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> was impressed by Eileen Fisher\u2019s efforts to combat it. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> explains the project: \u201cTheir Renew program has been helping to close the waste loop in the fashion industry by taking back any unwanted Eileen Fisher items in exchange for a shopping discount. Collected garments are then repaired and upcycled into new items or recycled into new raw materials.\u201d They\u2019ve also started focusing on water and energy usage in their dye-houses, and \u201cthe company is looking for even more ways to bring sustainable practices into the spotlight, like switching over to all-organic linens, humanely-harvested wool, and recycled polyester.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An intention-filled response to fast fashion means that you are dedicating yourself to a <\/span>lifestyle<\/span> of buying only things that you truly need and are quality products. When you do, you\u2019ll find that your closet is filled with things that you love, fit, and will stand the test of time. And you\u2019ll be doing the environment (and your wallet) a huge favor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Rethink Toys<\/b><\/p>\n

Children and their parents are exposed to a seemingly endless barrage of toy and game marketing. We often feel pressured to buy more because we want our children to be happy. Approaching toy shopping mindfully can be incredibly beneficial to your child and the environment. In fact, as <\/span>Parents<\/span><\/i><\/a> revealed, \u201cnumerous studies have shown that depending on toy type and quality, having fewer overall [toys] can lead to more creative, imaginative play.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you start on a <\/span>minimalist<\/span>, green path for toys? Begin by focusing on toys that spark the imagination and skip the ones made from plastic as a <\/span>lifestyle <\/span>choice for going forward. According to the experts at <\/span>Parents<\/span><\/i><\/a>: \u201c[Plastic toys] are shiny and inexpensive, nearly impossible to recycle, and get tossed away faster than items made out of, say, wood, which are more long-lasting and easier to pass on.\u201d\u00a0From there, try your local buy\/sell groups to re-use toys that older neighborhood children have grown out of rather than buying new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Repair Before You Buy<\/b><\/p>\n

Patagonia has long been known for focusing on sustainable, eco-friendly options when it comes to sourcing for its clothing brand. They utilize organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials, including wool and nylon. But did you know that your much-loved Patagonia wear can now be repaired for free? It\u2019s true! Rather than tossing your old Patagonia gear, <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> reports that \u201cthe brand \u2026 offers free repairs to further help fight the amount of textile waste heading to landfills.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At some point, it seemed cheaper or more convenient to throw away everything from electronic toys to iPhones as soon as a problem presented itself. However, all it takes is one quick YouTube search to discover detailed instructions about how to repair nearly everything in your home. So, before you toss out that vacuum cleaner, check to see if you need to buy a new belt or unclog the canister accessway. Admittedly, it\u2019s not quite that easy to resurrect a cracked iPhone. The good news is that businesses are popping up in cities across the country that can replace your screen in just a few hours. While there is some cost to that, it is a lot less expensive (and requires fewer resources) than buying a new phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you really can\u2019t repair something, there are \u201cgreen\u201d ways to dispose of them. <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> applauds Best Buy\u2019s highly successful e-waste initiative. According to the Magazine, \u201c[since] 2009, their unmatched recycling program has helped consumers responsibly dispose of more than 1.5 billion pounds of electronics and appliances (they\u2019ll take back all your tech gadgets regardless of brand or condition)\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Upcycle, Upcycle, Upcycle!<\/b><\/p>\n

If you have already gone through the <\/span>minimalism<\/span> process of gathering the household items, clothing, toys, and furniture that you don\u2019t use (or \u201cdoesn\u2019t spark joy,\u201d per the amazing Marie Kondo), take another look to see if any of it can be upcycled to meet your current needs. Now, be careful. Don\u2019t use this as an excuse not to rid your home of excess. However, if you love DIY, this could be a great way to turn something you aren\u2019t using into something that serves a much-needed purpose and reduce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a huge fan of upcycling as part of a <\/span>minimalism lifestyle<\/span>, and many of their projects take no more than a couple of hours to complete. For example, do you need a dry-erase board in the kitchen? Their editors love the idea of \u201c[framing] a pretty piece of fabric or paper, then [writing] temporary to-dos on the glass with a dry-erase marker.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have any earrings in your jewelry box that have lost their mate? <\/span>Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a> loves reader Bailey Mulholland\u2019s idea of using the single earring stud as pretty pushpins for your office bulletin board.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The editors at <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> are fans of upcycling worn rugs as tote bags, throw pillow covers, and even the cover for pet furniture.\u00a0\u00a0Empty candle jars can be vases, ladders can be <\/span>transformed into nightstands<\/span><\/a>, and even <\/span>old canoes can find new life<\/span><\/a> as a surprisingly festive buffet table for al fresco meals and celebrations, according to the Magazine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Reduce Food Waste<\/b><\/p>\n

Adopting a <\/span>minimalism lifestyle<\/span> can also mean reducing your food waste and buying locally. Instead of grabbing pre-cut, pre-washed greens and veggies from the supermarket, consider shopping at your local farmers\u2019 markets. Not only will your produce be delightfully fresh, but you\u2019ll lessen the amount of plastic packaging that has to be thrown into the garbage and reduce the fuel costs associated with shipping products to the grocery store. Also, when people buy locally, they tend to shop more mindfully and are more likely to cook with their market finds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rachael Ray In Season<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a big fan of doing your weekly shops at farmers\u2019 markets. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> offers tips on how to shop like a professional. In addition to ideas like \u201crather than nibbling mindlessly, use those giveaways to broaden your palate,\u201d the <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> recommends going in the morning for the freshest produce, but an hour before closing to get the best deals.\u00a0They also suggest talking to the farmers to find out more about how their crops are grown, including whether they practice sustainable farming, or \u201chow often their blackberries are sprayed.\u201d\u00a0Of course, the best tip of all from <\/span>Rachael Ray In Season<\/span><\/i><\/a> is that \u201c[buying] and cooking fresh fall produce when it\u2019s in season — like squash, peas, mushrooms, onions, grapes, potatoes and more — is good for the planet, saves you money, and is guaranteed to taste better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"