Thanks for the genuine interest in my blog! I am happy that people are reading it, and are hungry for more tips. I thought of a whole other list of simple things I do; ways to help you connect with nature, yourself, and free up some time to use on more important things.
- Reuse clothes and towels
I hate doing laundry. It is one of those time sucking chores that I really could do without, and I am always looking for ways to spend less time on. Firstly, I almost never throw a piece of clothing in the laundry hamper after 1 use, unless it has been a particularly messy or sweaty day (I do live with a toddler, after all). I wear my clothes until they truly do need to be washed (when wiping with a wet cloth just isn't cutting it anymore). I also reuse my bath towel quite a few times. A towel's purpose is to dry off the water from your clean body. I hang it to dry immediately after use (letting a wet towel sit in a crumpled pile is an open invitation for our friend "musty scent" to come hang). When it no longer passes the sniff test, I toss it in the wash.
- Reuse and share dishes.
I am not a fan of wasting time on dishes either. I generally use the same cup/plate/bowl/spoon/knife all day, and sometimes even the next day. I use a little water to rinse them off after each use so that it's (relatively) clean for my next use. I think we have become quite germ obsessed; all the sterilising, cleaning and stressing. I am certainly not going to get sick from my own germs. ;) We also use a communal plate at dinner time. ie. We all eat from the same plate. Both of these things drastically cut down on the dishes I have to do at the end of the day.
- Buy bulk soap and cleaner.
I used to buy a new disposable hand soap, dish soap and all-purpose cleaner once I ran out. Now I buy Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap and dilute it for hand soap (I didn't even buy a fancy dispenser; I am using the dispensers from the last "disposable" soap I bought), Terra 20's dish soap (we buy the 2L jug and fill up the counter top sized bottle, also leftover from the last "disposable" dish soap I bought) and Live for Tomorrow's all purpose cleaner for everything else (diluted in, yup, you guessed it, the last spray bottle from cleaner I bought years ago). The Terra 20 and Live for Tomorrow packaging can be returned to the store to be cleaned and used again.
- No battery operated toys.
Not only do I find them loud and annoying, but in my (educated) opinion, children don't develop any special skills from them. Whatever "education" a battery operated toy provides them can be better developed through other activities, contrary to what advertisements will have you believe. The added perk to this decision is that I am not adding to electronic and battery waste on our over-electrified planet.
- Turn off the oven 10 min early.
The oven takes quite some time to cool down, especially if you leave the door closed. Turn it off 10 min before your dish is supposed to come out of the oven; your food will keep cooking, and you'll save energy = money = time (more money in your pocket means less work. Obviously you will need more money saving tricks before you can cut back on your work hours/salary, but it is absolutely achievable).
- Rearrange your furniture/stuff.
This one probably seems confusing. I can practically hear your eyes rolling; That is MORE work! But I have been using this trick for quite a few years. Any time I would feel the lull of dull, I would run out and buy something new to paw over. Until I discovered that I can just rearrange my stuff (furniture, book shelf, or any other home organisation). The idea is that by rearranging the stuff you already have, you give the illusion of "new". It works every, single, time. That means I didn't have to waste my time shopping for something to buy (think of all the red lights and line ups I DIDN'T have to wait at), and I save money.
- Bring a snack and water when you go out.
This will help to avoid purchasing something while you are out. This saves you money and packaging.
- Spend time outside/in nature every day.
Even if it's only for 10 min, it's really important for humans to breathe fresh air and appreciate nature every day. It also allows you to be 'present'; the more you connect with nature, the more likely you are to be mindful in other areas of your life.
- Plant a garden.
I have only positive things to say about having a garden. There is nothing more satisfying and delicious then eating crops that you grew yourself. If you don't have a yard, or gardening skills, no problem! Check out these tools:
Garden sharing program in the west end of Ottawa
http://www.slowest.ca/projects/growslow-gardens
Community gardening and classes
http://justfood.ca/community-gardening-network/
- Only buy good quality items.
This is an addition to a point I made on the first list. By spending your money wisely, in this case on a good quality item that you absolutely love, you decrease the likeliness of needing to buy such an item again. Spending less money on a cheaply made item does not actually save you money; initially yes, the item costs less, but you will have to replace that item when the crummy quality unmasks itself.
- Put your unwanted items on the curb for someone to snatch up.
I often hear people say that they don't have the time to donate items, so they throw them in the trash or recycle bin instead. I almost never go farther than the end of my driveway when I want to get rid of an item. A few days before garbage day, I put my unwanted items at the edge of my yard. With the exception of one time, the items are always snatched up (I recycled the one item that was not taken; it would have been thrown in the trash had I donated it). It's actually a really fun game; people take the strangest things. haha
- Use a machine washable shower curtain, and no 'liner'.
We use one shower curtain. I can't understand the use of the plastic liner. Unless you are splashing buckets full of water at your shower curtain, it's safe to use the water resistant outer curtain on its own. Not to mention how annoying those plastic liners are. Despite manufacturing efforts, they always mange to stick to your body while taking a shower (I'm sure you're familiar with the shower curtain swoop away move). We use a machine washable curtain, and throw it in the wash every few months.
- Junk and unnecessary paper mail.
I make every possible effort to ensure that the mail placed in my mailbox is mail I want to receive. Call Canada Post to be put on their 'no junk mail' list, put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your mailbox and call to be removed from mailing lists that you aren't interested in, or can receive electronically. Reducing the mail in your box puts more time on your plate.
- Reuse clothes and towels
I hate doing laundry. It is one of those time sucking chores that I really could do without, and I am always looking for ways to spend less time on. Firstly, I almost never throw a piece of clothing in the laundry hamper after 1 use, unless it has been a particularly messy or sweaty day (I do live with a toddler, after all). I wear my clothes until they truly do need to be washed (when wiping with a wet cloth just isn't cutting it anymore). I also reuse my bath towel quite a few times. A towel's purpose is to dry off the water from your clean body. I hang it to dry immediately after use (letting a wet towel sit in a crumpled pile is an open invitation for our friend "musty scent" to come hang). When it no longer passes the sniff test, I toss it in the wash.
- Reuse and share dishes.
I am not a fan of wasting time on dishes either. I generally use the same cup/plate/bowl/spoon/knife all day, and sometimes even the next day. I use a little water to rinse them off after each use so that it's (relatively) clean for my next use. I think we have become quite germ obsessed; all the sterilising, cleaning and stressing. I am certainly not going to get sick from my own germs. ;) We also use a communal plate at dinner time. ie. We all eat from the same plate. Both of these things drastically cut down on the dishes I have to do at the end of the day.
- Buy bulk soap and cleaner.
I used to buy a new disposable hand soap, dish soap and all-purpose cleaner once I ran out. Now I buy Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap and dilute it for hand soap (I didn't even buy a fancy dispenser; I am using the dispensers from the last "disposable" soap I bought), Terra 20's dish soap (we buy the 2L jug and fill up the counter top sized bottle, also leftover from the last "disposable" dish soap I bought) and Live for Tomorrow's all purpose cleaner for everything else (diluted in, yup, you guessed it, the last spray bottle from cleaner I bought years ago). The Terra 20 and Live for Tomorrow packaging can be returned to the store to be cleaned and used again.
- No battery operated toys.
Not only do I find them loud and annoying, but in my (educated) opinion, children don't develop any special skills from them. Whatever "education" a battery operated toy provides them can be better developed through other activities, contrary to what advertisements will have you believe. The added perk to this decision is that I am not adding to electronic and battery waste on our over-electrified planet.
- Turn off the oven 10 min early.
The oven takes quite some time to cool down, especially if you leave the door closed. Turn it off 10 min before your dish is supposed to come out of the oven; your food will keep cooking, and you'll save energy = money = time (more money in your pocket means less work. Obviously you will need more money saving tricks before you can cut back on your work hours/salary, but it is absolutely achievable).
- Rearrange your furniture/stuff.
This one probably seems confusing. I can practically hear your eyes rolling; That is MORE work! But I have been using this trick for quite a few years. Any time I would feel the lull of dull, I would run out and buy something new to paw over. Until I discovered that I can just rearrange my stuff (furniture, book shelf, or any other home organisation). The idea is that by rearranging the stuff you already have, you give the illusion of "new". It works every, single, time. That means I didn't have to waste my time shopping for something to buy (think of all the red lights and line ups I DIDN'T have to wait at), and I save money.
- Bring a snack and water when you go out.
This will help to avoid purchasing something while you are out. This saves you money and packaging.
- Spend time outside/in nature every day.
Even if it's only for 10 min, it's really important for humans to breathe fresh air and appreciate nature every day. It also allows you to be 'present'; the more you connect with nature, the more likely you are to be mindful in other areas of your life.
- Plant a garden.
I have only positive things to say about having a garden. There is nothing more satisfying and delicious then eating crops that you grew yourself. If you don't have a yard, or gardening skills, no problem! Check out these tools:
Garden sharing program in the west end of Ottawa
http://www.slowest.ca/projects/growslow-gardens
Community gardening and classes
http://justfood.ca/community-gardening-network/
- Only buy good quality items.
This is an addition to a point I made on the first list. By spending your money wisely, in this case on a good quality item that you absolutely love, you decrease the likeliness of needing to buy such an item again. Spending less money on a cheaply made item does not actually save you money; initially yes, the item costs less, but you will have to replace that item when the crummy quality unmasks itself.
- Put your unwanted items on the curb for someone to snatch up.
I often hear people say that they don't have the time to donate items, so they throw them in the trash or recycle bin instead. I almost never go farther than the end of my driveway when I want to get rid of an item. A few days before garbage day, I put my unwanted items at the edge of my yard. With the exception of one time, the items are always snatched up (I recycled the one item that was not taken; it would have been thrown in the trash had I donated it). It's actually a really fun game; people take the strangest things. haha
- Use a machine washable shower curtain, and no 'liner'.
We use one shower curtain. I can't understand the use of the plastic liner. Unless you are splashing buckets full of water at your shower curtain, it's safe to use the water resistant outer curtain on its own. Not to mention how annoying those plastic liners are. Despite manufacturing efforts, they always mange to stick to your body while taking a shower (I'm sure you're familiar with the shower curtain swoop away move). We use a machine washable curtain, and throw it in the wash every few months.
- Junk and unnecessary paper mail.
I make every possible effort to ensure that the mail placed in my mailbox is mail I want to receive. Call Canada Post to be put on their 'no junk mail' list, put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your mailbox and call to be removed from mailing lists that you aren't interested in, or can receive electronically. Reducing the mail in your box puts more time on your plate.
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