living mindfully

Over the course of the last few years, I've attempted to live more mindfully — through my eating habits, shopping practices and generally throughout my daily life.

Around two years ago, I started cutting meat out of my diet. I originally tried this because of pure curiosity, health concerns and ethical reasons. The result was better than I hoped for. I felt healthier and better about my lifestyle and my eyes were opened to a world of possibilities for ethical living. Over the last two years, I've tried to implement some of these practices in my daily life.

I'm in no position to tell you how to live your life. But there are many ways to make a difference in the world just in your day-to-day life. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it.

You might have seen some recent news about cutting down on straws. Companies and entire cities are taking note and introducing alternatives to reduce plastic. Any way you can manage it, reducing your plastic use is a simple and attainable way to help our planet. When I first realized how harmful plastic straws are to the environment and marine life, I did some research on affordable solutions. I love using straws, so I was delighted to find so many affordable alternatives. At my local co-op, I found a four pack of reusable straws that were reusable and dishwasher safe. I keep one at home and one in my purse at all times so I can always pass on the plastic.

Another super easy way I've been able to reduce plastic use is to carry reusable bags. I keep a handful of reusable grocery bags in my car at all times. That way, even if I wasn't originally planning to go to a store or get groceries, I can grab one if I spontaneously decide to hit a store. Personally, I've found a lot of fun in finding new reusable bags of different patterns and styles. I frequently carry one as a purse so I can throw things in there in lieu of using more plastic.

On the note of shopping — I'm still working on this myself, but shopping ethically can make a difference in countless lives. Before you buy, take a minute to do a quick search on the company. Do the company values align with your own? Personally, I care greatly about using products that haven't been tested on animals. Thankfully, most cruelty-free products have one of a few symbols right on the label for easy identification. But shopping ethically isn't always quite as easy. It can be difficult to remember to research before every purchase, but we all have things we need to work on. Finding companies that treat employees justly are worth the search.

Whether you make a goal to live as waste-free as possible or a practice to cut down on plastic use, your small acts of mindfulness add up. Take a minute and think if there are any mindful changes in your life you want to try — you just might love it.