By: Ruthravathy Tenaigaran
It’s February. Our thoughts focus on love more than ever. Sometimes, it is not all about romantic dinners, Netflix night or matching t-shirts. We should also emphasize the importance of self love, and care for the environment. Essentially, giving attention to yourself and the environment is equally valued. As David Wilkerson rightly said, “Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do”.
So, let’s fall in love with ourselves and the planet!
Go camping
Disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle of city life, and go have some stress-free time at the campsite! It’s a great way to admire the beauty of nature, breath in fresh air, relax your mind and body. Plus, Malaysia is a tropical paradise with amazing scenery that we must explore!
(Photo by Dominik Jirovský on Unsplash)
Engage in physical activities such as going for a hike, swimming in the river or even gathering firewood. Burn more calories!
Moreover, be a green warrior by picking up trash you find at the campsite that isn’t yours. Similar to beach cleaning, You may feel a sense of responsibility to create a better environment for all of us to share. With great responsibility comes greater love affair!
DIY beauty products
Drugstore beauty products which contain chemical-heavy ingredients can have a negative environmental impact and cause harmful skin reactions. To make things worse, these beauty products are usually sold in unnecessary plastic packaging.
(Photo by Chelsea shapouri on Unsplash)
However, the best beauty products can be handmade at home. Just do some research on what you need, get the ingredients and start making your own magical beauty essentials. For example, you can make luxurious body cream from raw shea butter and essential oils. Or, you can make a brightening mask from papaya and honey!
It is such an easy way to pamper yourself, and be kind to the environment.
Cook your own meal
There is a joy in solo cooking. We are not referring to instant noodles, scrambled eggs or baked beans. Try to impress yourself by taking your own sweet time preparing and cooking your own meals.
(Photo by Kevin McCutcheon on Unsplash)
In fact, you can help the environment abundantly if you choose to cook your own meals. How? By controlling all the contributing factors!
Buy all the veggies from the local farmers market, avoid processed food which usually comes in plastic packaging, bring your own containers and bags. Besides, you can add healthier ingredients and even personalize the recipe.
According to Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), Malaysians generate about 38,000 metric tonnes of waste on a daily basis, of which 15,000 tonnes are food waste. The food waste that ends up in landfills produces a large amount of methane, a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide! Thus, it’s important to prevent food waste by controlling portion sizes.
Try our tips, and make the most out of it! We hope it will help to warm up your heart and nourish our planet, just a bit more this month of love.