Turn the Tide on Plastic

MY MINDFUL YEAR - MARCH



Turn the Tide on Plastic is the name of one of the boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race - an around-the-world sailing race that takes place over the course of many months. Alex and I have been closely following the race (the boats are currently passing Cape Horn!). And while Alex roots for Dongfeng Race Team, I cheer on Turn the Tide on Plastic. They're my favorite because they're comprised mainly women and as they race they collect data to examine the rising plastic content in our oceans.

It got me thinking about how I can be more mindful of plastic waste.

After stealing using Alex's S'well bottle throughout the year last year, my mom got me one of my own over the holidays. These bottles truly are amazing - no leaks, always cold water, and super easy to clean.

So this month, I made it a point to never leave home without mine. It's saved me some dough. Now I just refill my bottle when I eat on the go and I don't buy bottles of water on the regular. It's made me healthier since I always have water on me in an environmentally safe container. I also think twice about buying a soft drink in a plastic bottle (haven't bought one in months!). Most important to my mindful decision: I'm no longer filling the landfill  and ocean with more plastic pollution.

Overall, this habit shift has been a successful and surprisingly easy one. And it's my own way of supporting my favorite boat. Go team!

But First, Let Me Take A Selfie

MY MINDFUL YEAR - FEBRUARY

I've never been a big poster of content on social media, but I do tend to be a big consumer of it. I fall for the click bait. I scroll through Newsfeeds. I "thumbs up" the vacation photo albums and "angry face" the enraging status updates. I click my way down the rabbit hole.

But one night, while aimlessly "social media-ing" for 45 minutes, I realized this habit was actually not good for my health. It kept me from getting to sleep at a normal hour. It made me feel sad, like I was missing out on so many fabulous things. #FOMO. It made me feel like I wasn't good enough.

While I do realize that the life people portray on social media is a curated one, it's hard for me not to compare my own real life to these seemingly perfect ones and not feel like I'm falling short. And next to the models making cakes they never eat and the Photoshop edited celebrities in exotic locations and the fancy shops advertising products outside of my budget, how could I possibly feel like I was living my best life?

So I decided to limit my consumption. I've un-followed accounts that make me cringe or feel bad about myself. I've taken the Snapchat and Facebook apps off of my iPhone and iPad. I leave my phone in my nightstand drawer when it's time for bed.

I still post on occasion via Instagram and I'll most likely continue to...unless I come to find that unfulfilling too. I check my Instagram account on my phone...but only after work. And I log into Facebook to get my fix of what's going on in that world...but never on the weekends.

A few simple rules have made a big difference. And I'm much happier as a result!