In our increasingly time-starved lives, we tend to over-rely on goods and services that do things quickly for us. However, the effect on our health and the environment is proving damaging. When we eat pre-prepared supermarket meals and drive instead of walk, we are not only compromising our health but burning energy that is harmful to the environment too.
With a back to basics approach to a few every day tasks, we could start to soften our ecological footprint and importantly educate our children about healthy lifestyle choices. Instead of trying to find ways to constantly save time, consider making more of it and spending it mindfully. It might be the last chance we have to leading healthier lives and saving our planet.
With the alarming rise of childhood and adult obesity, we need to reconsider our food choices. Regular consumption of conveniently pre-cooked supermarket food is not good for us. Filled with non-foods such as additives and preservatives to increase their shelf life and packed with emulsifiers and thickeners for taste and consistency, consumers are eating food, which is harmfully far from its whole state and therefore nutritional value.
Environment and Bank balance
Spending time preparing freshly made wholesome meals will help demonstrate to our children the importance of not just feeding but nourishing our bodies when we eat. Avoiding pre-prepared meals will also have a more positive affect on the environment by reducing our use of industrial packaging, much of which still ends up as landfill. Preparing and cooking enough food for more than one meal means that it is not only economically efficient but environmentally viable too. It might take some forward planning to spend time cooking, but the benefits should have far reaching and long lasting positive effects on our health, environment and bank balance.
Taking the time to walk, cycle, run or roller blade instead of driving very short distances could have a huge impact on our health and environment. By walking to the playground or school to pick up children we are role-modelling not only the importance of exercise but how to effectively incorporate it into our lives. Use this time to talk about your children’s day and yours, discuss any concerns or simply enjoy spending time with them instead of making the school run just another stop in a chain of chores that need to be accomplished before dinner. Leaving the car at home means one less vehicle emitting greenhouse gases on our roads and choking traffic. Collectively, this would have a significant impact on our environment. Consider also, the cash saving benefits – less fuel consumption, less expenditure. It is a question of taking time to reprioritise in a world where we are often too busy and stressed to consider the consequences of our actions.
A back to basics approach in certain everyday tasks may take more time but it should provide opportunities to use this time wisely and effectively like exercising, communicating and in turn educating our future generations. It is worth giving it a go and who knows with enough practice, it might hopefully become a healthy, addictive habit.
Tips Summary
- Walk where possible.
- Cook where possible.
- Reduce screen time and make more family communication time.
- Say no to all plastic bags on all shopping trips – not just at the supermarket and don’t forget your eco-friendly bags.
- Put a bucket under the shower when you are in it. Fill up a bucket of water and pour it out in the garden when you are finished.
- Compost.
- Take public transport and ration your use of the car for when you really need it.
- Recycle one-sided letters and envelopes and use these to make shopping lists and if you have children, encourage them to use the blank sides of paper for craft activities.
- Turn off lights in living spaces that you are not using.
- Harness the sun by hanging wet washing outside to dry on sunny days and hang them near heaters in winter.
Written by Carolyn Cooper
