Making the soul happy by giving back
This week was National Recycling Week, and we’ve spent some of it sharing a few facts about how Forever works to do our bit for the environment – from our shipping packaging being completely recyclable, right down to the water we use to wash our aloe being recycled back into the fields to help with water conservation. You can take a look at some of our other measures here.
But while we all know that reducing, reusing and recycling is important for the planet, have you ever considered the impact it can have on your own mental wellbeing? If you’re after an effective mood boost, look no further than contributing positively to your environment or local community. Doing good makes you feel good in turn, and here are just a few really great ways to give back and feel amazing about it.
Have a clear out
If we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably all have wardrobes full of clothes we never wear, shelves covered in trinkets we don’t enjoy anymore or drawers full of ‘stuff’ which is no longer useful to us, all which can overwhelm our home with clutter and negatively impact our mental wellbeing.
Having a clear out can not only help you to feel clearer and more in control, but as they say ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’, and sending all of that stuff you no longer have use for to others can really help to benefit others, and in turn make you feel even better! Why not try:
Donating toys your children have grown out of to a children’s hospital
Giving clothes you no longer wear to friends or colleagues who will love them
Donating your old trinkets, clothes or electronics to a charity shop, where somebody else may love it and buy it, and with the proceeds going to that charity
Donating unused and still-in-date makeup to women’s aid charities
Support local businesses
We all have to part with our money sometimes, but have you considered the effect of your pound or euro? When it comes to buying almost anything, you can help to support smaller, local businesses – at no or very little extra cost to yourself – getting the same item but feeling infinitely better knowing that you’ve helped to prop up a family run business. There’s almost no limit to what you can buy from small and local businesses, but some places to start making a difference could be:
Zero waste grocery shops – support a small business AND reduce your waste – win win!
Clothing shops – find ethically sourced, unique pieces to define your wardrobe
Bakeries – because homemade goodies are always better than what you can find in the supermarket
Gift shops – whether you’re buying art pieces, handmade jewellery or artisan candles, your friends and family will love the thoughtfulness behind these locally crafted gifts!
Volunteer
If you have some time to spare and want to feel great, why not try your hand at volunteering as a way to give back? You could help to serve meals at a local food kitchen, be a retail assistant in a charity shop, be a lifeline on the other end of the phone for those in need, join a park clean-up or walk dogs for a local dog’s home. In fact, there are countless ways to donate your time, give back to your community and feel amazing doing so!
Giving to charity
Just as you can volunteer for charities, you can also donate money to them. There are over 168,000 registered charities in the UK alone, so if you have a think about causes that really matter to you, you’re bound to find ways to be able to help. Whether you set up your own direct debit each month to give to your chosen charity, or do something (a run, a sky dive, a month of sobriety, shaving your hair, growing a beard, etc.) to help fundraise, you can feel amazing knowing that you’re doing something to give back to a cause you care about.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Of course, it wouldn’t be a National Recycle Week blog without a reminder that reducing your waste, reusing items and recycling packaging is a great way to feel incredible! Reducing your carbon footprint and being mindful about how you dispose of your rubbish may not come entirely naturally at first, but they are worth the effort in the long run.
Not only will doing so mean that you’re helping the planet, but you may find that the increased effort naturally brings you healthy benefits, like walking instead of driving increasing your daily exercise, or choosing whole foods with less packaging meaning that you consume less junk food.
Whether you’re already an avid recycler or know there’s more you could do, we have a myriad of other blog posts you could get more tips from!
Reduce your food waste with meal planning
Reduce your Christmas waste by choosing environmentally friendly gift wrapping options
Incorporate these seven simple habits to be more sustainable
Choose environmentally friendly products as part of your routine
What other tips do you have to give back to your community and feel amazing? Let us know in the comments!
