Zero Waste 3 Ways: Dental Hygiene

Oh yay, we're on to the fourth instalment in this Zero Waste 3 Ways series! Woohoo! I'm always so excited to come up with something new to share with you in this regard. So far, you can already see 3 ways you can do straws, deodorant and menstrual products. Now, let's go ahead with dental hygiene! It is actually one of the earliest zero-waste item I've ever known—along with deodorant. At first, my concern was that I had to make my own toothpaste all the time. It is—as I'm sure you will also agree—can be quite tedious and, personally, I cannot see myself DIY-ing my toothpaste every few months. Also, you can always run the risk of making something that is either too strong or in any way unsuitable for your teeth and gums. Again, it's another one of those items where you need to have a bit of trial and error, but who's got time for that? Well, thankfully, with the rise of popularity in leading a more conscious lifestyle these days, we no longer need to make our own zero-waste dental hygiene products. In fact, the products I will touch on in this post are all available for purchase from a variety of brands and stores. On top of that, you can judge from my experience what will most likely suit you.

Zero Waste 3 Ways: Menstrual Products

 

When it comes to the zero waste lifestyle, I think a lot of people have their reservations, particularly women with their menstrual periods. If I have a nickel for every time someone asks me about the menstrual cup—which, by the way, I had actually gone into full detail here. The thing is, it's a deeply personal process, in which there shouldn't be any right or wrong, just personal preference. The good news is, however, there are a few other options to go for, when it comes to menstrual products. If one isn't to your liking, you can always pick a different method—anything that would keep as much trash out of the landfills would be nice. Unlike something extra like straws or deodorant, menstrual products are practically essential to women's lives—so trial and error may be more frustrating than you think. Lucky for you, I've got your back 😉 I've tried three zero-waste menstrual products, so you don't have to. Let me walk you through my review of them so far.

Zero Waste 3 Ways: Natural Deodorants

As you know, I have adapted a zero-waste/low-impact lifestyle for almost 3 years now and I'm very happy about it. However, I notice that a lot of people haven't done the same, despite wanting to start. A lot of people would come up to me and say that they are confused and unsure on how to make the same change. Personally, I think this lifestyle requires some trial-runs to find out what the best method and tools for you will be. I'd like to help you figure out exactly what you want, one step at a time. Last year I posted 3 types of reusable straws to choose from. It has been one of the most frequently asked question in regards to zero-waste living. Today I'd like to walk you through some natural deodorants you can try, as it is what I often find confusing during the transition.

Indonesian Ethical Fashion Brands Index

This post is written as part of the #MulaiDariLemari campaign from Tukar Baju

As you know, I am an advocate for slow fashion. On this blog and social media, I often share tips on how to support slow fashion, how to thrift more effectively, how to love your clothes more, my decluttering experience and several slow fashion brands. However, it has been an awfully long time since I last shared some local ethical fashion brands here on the blog, so I thought today I'd create a master guide of all the brands that I've known thus far. Before we go on, I believe it's important to set a definition for what constitutes as "ethical" here. These brands take environmental and social impact into consideration, especially with the manufacturing process, which means their products are made of eco-friendly materials and their workers are paid fair wages—often they, too, strive to preserve local culture. Without further ado, here are some Indonesian slow fashion brands you can support.

Zero-Waste 3 Ways: Reusable Straws

It has been 2 years since I decided to adapt the zero-waste lifestyle—or, as I prefer to call it, low impact. And I still remember how big the concept seemed. As I have mentioned in this post before, it is important to do our research beforehand. For me, it is essential to be equipped with the right tools—in this case: reusable items. However, there are so many to choose from and everyone seems to have an opinion about each one. What is the right move here? Personally, I think there is no right way to go zero waste (or low impact). All you need to do is find a way that suits you best. Which is why I thought I'd try a few zero-waste equipments and tell you what I think, so you wouldn't have to purchase them all. Let's start with something simple and easy, shall we: reusable straws.

The (Emotional) Art of Decluttering

This post is written as part of the #MulaiDariLemari campaign from Tukar Baju

Ah, decluttering—I'm sure you've heard of it. It's been all the rage these days, hasn't it? People are doing it left and right; some even call it Marie Kondo-ing their wardrobe. Whatever you call it, you know it: It is the act of going through your possessions—be it in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or garden—and deciding what stays and what goes, depending on whether or not you still need and/or want the items. Sounds like such a simple, yet laborious task, no? Which is why I also haven't done it in ages—the last time was around 2014/2015. But, now that I've finally got time to spare, I thought I should give it a go once again, as 5-6 years is a long time to go without curating your wardrobe, wouldn't you agree? So last Sunday I got some boxes ready, poured a glass of iced coffee, put on some appropriate music and opened my wardrobe—it was time for some decluttering.

How to Successfully Keep Yourself from Shopping

This post is written as part of the #MulaiDariLemari campaign from Tukar Baju

Back in April 2017, I suddenly realised that I had stopped buying clothes for a whole year—without meaning to. For a girl who spent the years previously purchasing an average of 2 items of clothing a month, it was quite a revelation and groundbreaking revolution. I was surprised to find how easy it was to stop buying clothes completely and how little need I had for new items of clothing—and I guarantee, you will also feel the same. For the most part, it felt really effortless, because I wasn't planning on going on a long streak without shopping at all, but it might not feel the same for you, if you're interested in deliberately trying to do so. I believe, however, that there are a few things you can try to make it easier on yourself and successfully keep yourself from shopping. Here are a few tips I thought would be helpful, if this is your first time—or if you haven't been able to stick with it this whole time.

5 Zero-Waste Essentials for the Office

As you might have read, my office recently moved to a new venue—which means it was time to start afresh. While I was sad to let go of our old space, I've come to love our current location so much. In this one, I finally received a designated desk and was encouraged to decorate the area. To put it simply, I should make myself feel more at home at the office. One of the biggest things for me—in doing so—is to have as many zero waste tools as possible here. It makes me feel really comfortable to know that, even away from home, I am able to keep up with my commitment. Before, I felt a bit too suffocated by the limited space to want to bring anything permanent to the office. Now, I feel much more like I belong. A little disclaimer, though: these aren't necessarily tools that will make your jobs easier, but they will hopefully bring much comfort to you on your daily grind.

Tumblers

Sometimes when we work, we need a little more boost than just a glass of water. For me, it's often a specific type of drinks that I have to purchase at a nearby café or so. Unfortunately, the takeaway container those places provide are often made out of plastic. Having tumblers ready at the office really gives me the freedom to buy whatever beverage I want, without having to resort to using plastic. I've got myself two types of tumblers at the office: a water bottle and a large cup with straw—both made out of stainless steel. The bottle was bought from Ekko Store, although Cleanomic also sells them. The cup was bought from Janji Jiwa—who will give you Rp 2.000,- off your order every time you use it.

Cloth Napkins

For a while, I've been meaning to cut back on tissue paper big time. Handkerchief seems like the best option I've got. However, I'm not entirely sure where to get one—do stores still sell them? Plus, if they do, chances are they will not be sold in sets. A while back, when I found this beautiful set by Sudi Organic, I was completely hooked. It wasn't until I set out on a company outing to Yogyakarta did I finally get my hands on this beauty. I love their concept of it being a reusable tissue—because I swear that's what it practically is! It was really helpful when I had a persistent cold and for wiping off my whiteboard.

Beeswax Wraps

There are a lot of reasons why beeswax wraps have been on my wishlist for such a long time; one of them is the fact that they're great for buying fried snacks. You know the kind—they're sold in stalls by the side of the streets, with no sophisticated packaging whatsoever. While bringing your lunchbox can be a great option, you know they can be a bit of a hassle to carry around sometimes. At times like that, a beeswax wrap can come in really handy. Not only that, they can also be used to substitute for cling wrap and aluminium foil—both of which are super helpful for everyday needs. This one I also got from Lasati in Yogyakarta, but the ones from Boenkus and Demi Bumi are also great.

Metal Tea Strainer

Okay, if you're a coffee person, I might never know how to relate—because I'm an avid tea person. One of the biggest hurdle for me as a tea drinker is having to resort to teabags, unless I have myself on of these beautiful strainers. We all know those teabags tend to also contain plastic, which is a huge bummer. Having my own tea strainer can give me the freedom to choose loose leaf to brew instead. Also, did you know? Tea leaves that make it to the teabag are of less quality than ones that are loose. Isn't that just a better option to choose? This one my sister bought from IKEA, but you can pretty much get one anywhere, really.

Tote Bags

I don't know about you, but I often like to roam about when I'm at the office. Going to the nearest mini market or stealing time to buy coffee are among some of my favourites activities at work. Whenever that happens, however, I will find my hands a bit full if I don't carry one of these babies about. Trust me, I've been there more times than I care to count. That's why, although tote bags are pretty much useful anywhere, I'm counting it as one of my office essentials. As it's become a trend to have one, you can find this pretty much anywhere—clothing stores, supermarkets, even universities.

When we work, often we would be so focused on the task at hand that we just want things to be so goddamn convenient. Don't get me wrong—convenience is great—but to have it at the cost of our planet is just a tad selfish, don't you think? For me, at least, I don't want to have to choose between the two—if I can have both, why should I? With a few extra steps and/or a few extra tools, we can have our cake and eat it too. Of course, these are just a few items that are specific to the office. You should also check out the items to have when you're out and about—you know, for those after-hours fun.

Let me know how you've been reducing plastic waste at the office!

5 Self-Care Zero Waste Essentials

How has your Plastic-Free July been so far? If this is your first try, it might not be so easy. But, as they tell us over and over again, there is no such thing as a failure in this movement. The goal isn't to do it perfectly, but to get as many people as possible to make an effort to cut down on plastic. In other words, if you're joining this challenge at all, you're already winning in life. Now, if you missed it, last week I shared some zero-waste essentials for when you're out and about. I believe it is when we're constantly on-the-go, that we use the most plastic. That being said, sometimes our enemy lurks within our home too. So, today let's talk about switching our self-care items for plastic-free, eco-friendlier options. Here are my personal essentials and where you, too, can find them.

Bamboo Toothbrush

This is probably the first zero waste item I've ever bought. The thing about toothbrushes is that you need to exchange it for a new one every few months or so. Unfortunately, if it's made out of plastic, all those old toothbrushes will either pile up in your house or wash up on a beach somewhere. I think switching to a compostable bamboo toothbrush is one of the biggest favours you could do for mother earth. The bristles can be made out of various materials too—I've tried the charcoal and wheat ones—although some cannot be composted. Because it's made out of natural material, it can change colour over time. You can buy one for yourself from Cleanomic, Zero Waste Indonesia, Warung 1000 Kebun, Green Mommy Shop and Ekko Store.

Bar Soap (+ Shampoo)

Even before I started switching to a zero waste lifestyle, I've switched to a bar soap for years. The initial reason, for me, was financial. You see, I believe bar soap is so much friendlier to my wallet, as it lasts longer than liquid ones. Environmentally speaking, it has a smaller carbon footprint as it usually comes with paper packaging—or none at all. It wasn't until I looked into the zero waste lifestyle did I realise that there's a bar that works as both soap and shampoo. Although I have bought one of those 2-in-1 bars before, I've never actually used them as shampoo. I've heard great reviews from those who have, though. You can get one of those from Cleanomic, Zero Waste Indonesia, Warung 1000 Kebun and Green Mommy Shop.

Bamboo Cotton Buds

One of the things I keep reading on zero waste support groups is that cotton buds are basically the devil's work. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people on earth who uses them frequently. Not to get too TMI, but my earwax is of the more liquid kind, which requires cotton buds. When my ears get itchy, I find comfort in sticking one of those buds in there. It's a controversial practice and I honestly don't give a damn. All I know is that I need cotton buds in my life. Luckily, I have found a compostable alternative made out of bamboo. One of my friends reckon I could even DIY them, but, personally, I just don't have the time. Feel free to get them for yourself from Ekko Store, Cleanomic, Warung 1000 Kebun and Green Mommy Shop.

Menstrual Cup

A controversial purchase, perhaps, but hear me out. Switching from disposable menstrual pads to one menstrual cup has been incredibly life-changing for me. Do you know that menstrual pads—as well as tampons—are almost impossible to recycle? They're made out of various synthetic materials and laden with numerous bacteria, that it's near impossible to recycle them. Menstrual cups, for me, are so practical and it helps me calm down about my period. You can read all about my experience and thoughts here. But, if you're still not convinced, there are also such things as reusable menstrual pads. You can get them both from Ekko Store and Zero Waste Indonesia, and menstrual pads from Green Mommy Shop.

Organic Deodorant

Okay, time for a confession: for years I've never used deodorant until December 2018. That was around the time I started my internship at my current office. It was pointed out to me, kindly, that I might have been emanating a less-than-pleasant odour. Just like that, I realised that I need to buy zero waste deodorant. I've seen a recipe on how to DIY my own deodorant, but since the materials felt either quite expensive or hard to place, I've never gotten around to actually making it. In need of a hasty solution, I decided to just buy one. Mine is more of a paste, but there are the solid and liquid variety too. You can buy one from Cleanomic, Green Mommy Shop and Dimanja Bumi.

Sometimes we are so fixated on taking care of ourselves that we would do so at a cost to the environment. But, you know what, you can do both at the same time too! These are, obviously, only a small portion to all the changes and alternatives you can use that are free of plastics. You can take a look at all the products and tools that you tend to use around the house, and perhaps come up with a plastic-free solution yourself. God knows I still need to work on that. Again, feel free to check out my Instagram story highlight to find out more stores where you can get zero waste products.

Let me know how you've been taking care of yourselves without plastics!

5 On-the-Go Zero Waste Essentials

It's Plastic-Free July, guys! If you're not familiar with what it is, Plastic-Free July is basically an international movement garnered by the consciousness of our ever-growing waste problem. In July every year people make it a mission to refuse single-use plastic and reduce their waste emission. This movement is what inspired me to start a zero-waste (or low-impact) lifestyle last year. Are you guys joining in on the movement? This month I thought I'd share some tips and tricks on how to cut down on plastic (or eliminate them completely from your life). If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my daily stories, in which I suggest switching out an otherwise-plastic object in your life for a reusable, eco-friendly alternative. Whenever I post this kind of post, I get asked where I get an item or two, so today I'll be sharing what my essentials are and where you, too, can get them.

Tiffin Box

Everyone at my office always notices this about me—if for nothing else: I'm the girl who brings her own lunch in a little tiffin box. I've always brought my own lunch since my school days. But, if before I would use a tupperware or essentially-plastic lunch boxes, these days I've switched for a tiffin box. The one I have is small enough to fit into my bag, pretty air-tight, so much easier to wash and doesn't really affect the taste of the food contained inside. To be honest, I'm not sure where this box came from—I found it somewhere at home and quickly claimed it. If you want a stainless steel lunch box, however, you can get one for yourself at Zero Waste Indonesia or Green Mommy Shop. 

Pouches

One of the things I always make sure to never go without when grocery shopping is pouches. They're really handy, easy-to-use and can be really cute. When it comes to buying fruit, vegetable and eggs, my sister and I use these babies to get them weighed and bring them home. Aside from produce bags, I also have pouches for my other zero-waste needs, i.e. straw pouch and cutlery pouch. There's also the menstrual cup pouch that comes with the cup. For all my pouch needs, I've always gone to Kaavya. They have the cutest and most unique selections of fabric, with a great quality of seams to boot. Otherwise, I also adore ssewn, Zero Waste Indonesia, Warung 1000 Kebun and Cleanomic.

Reusable Straws

Although not as often used, this is an item I tend to bring everywhere—you just never know! There are at least three kinds of reusable straws that I know of: stainless steel, bamboo and glass. While I'm sure they all have their own benefits and drawbacks, I've never had anything other than stainless steel straws, so I can't really tell you about the other ones. Technically, I only have one straw for boba, while borrowing my sister's rose-gold regular one all the time. I used to have a different regular straw, but left it at a restaurant and it was forever lost. My sister got these straws—and the brush—from No Space Canteen, but you can easily find other such straws at Kaavya, Warung 1000 Kebun, kembali.jkt and Ekko Store.

Cutlery

Yet another item that I didn't actually purchase myself. When I started switching to a low-impact lifestyle, I wanted to bring my own cutlery but didn't feel like I should buy new ones, because we have a house full of them. Fortunately, I managed to find a whole set of stainless steel cutlery—spoon, fork and chopsticks, complete with the pouch—at home. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where to buy them, because it seems to have been a wedding souvenir—and a splendid idea at that. You can, however, simply use your own cutlery at home or, if you don't already have one, purchase compact, reusable cutlery at Cleanomic, Zero Waste Indonesia,  Warung 1000 Kebun or Ekko Store.

Glass Jar

Last, but certainly not least—in fact, this is the most asked about item on this list—is my favourite go-to container for all sorts of beverages. I've always been into mason jars and wanted to own one for so long. I didn't know they were available for quite cheap—and in various sizes too!—here in Indonesia. When I first saw one on someone else's IG story, it was being used to contain boba drinks and I quickly asked where the person got it from. It turns out she got it from ACE Hardware—which is where I got mine too, fyi. Mine can contain up to 500ml of liquid—perhaps more, but the indicator only goes as far. I love using it to buy boba or any other cold beverages. Yum!

The truth is often the single-use plastic we resort to are easily substituted. It only takes very little preparation for us to actually avoid having to use plastic at all. These are are just a few of the things you can substitute plastic with, of course. I'm also not perfect—I haven't got all the kinks figured out. There are still some tools I could definitely start adding to my collection. If you're thinking of the same thing, feel free to check out my Instagram story highlight for a complete list of stores to buy them from.

I'd love to hear about the plastic alternatives you've been using in your life!

How to Fall Back in Love with Your Clothes

I know it's no longer Fashion Revolution Week, so it might not be on the ball for me to talk about this. However, I do believe that issues of fast fashion (and the environment) is one that we should always discuss. People always say that fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world—after oil—but, apparently, that is not entirely correct—it's the fifth. That being said, it's still one of the top five, meaning we are still in dire need to make some real changes on the industry. Luckily, more and more people have seemed to become aware of this issue and changed their ways. There have been various challenges popping up here and there, like the 10x10 challenge, project 333 and shopping bans, which, with the affinity the internet has for challenges, may actually intrigue more people to wear what they already own. I myself have had a no-shopping year in 2016—which has roughly continued to this day. It's been very fun and fulfilling to wear what I have, using each item to their maximum potential. And you know what? You could do it too!

Declutter Your Wardrobe

I think one of the first steps you could take is to really have a wardrobe full only of items you would actually wear. Take everything out of your wardrobe and really look at them. Ask yourself, "Am I going to wear this again ever?"—or, if you're into Marie Kondo, you could ask, "Does this item still spark joy?" If you haven't worn the item in over a year or it no longer fits you, have the courage to get rid of it. Get some trash bags, boxes or any storage item of your choice and divide them into different categories—things you will sell, things you will donate and things you will hand down to someone you love. You can try these methods of discarding your clothes—without sending them to landfills.

Give Yourself a Style Challenge

One of my biggest prides in being a blogger is the ability to style a piece of clothing in many different ways—would've put it in my CV, if I could. Blogging has helped me unlock so many untapped potentials of my clothes and wear them in several unique ways. You can do it too! Give yourself a challenge for a certain amount of time or a number of stylings. You can always give 10x10 challenge a try or make a capsule wardrobe with items you already own. Not only will this give you a fresh outlook on your clothes, but it'll give a unique twist to your personal style. You'll be surprised how abundant you have it already. Feel free to check out my mixology for inspirations.

Make Alterations

Often we don't feel excited about our clothes, because we only love a certain element about the items. For instance, we may like the fabric of a certain dress, but not the length or the sleeves. Or maybe our clothes don't allow us to flaunt our best features. Before you go ahead and throw that item out, perhaps you can make changes to it, so you'll love it better. Take in that waistline, perhaps, or shorten the hem. These changes can be relatively easy to make—and they don't necessarily have to permanent, if you're scared to take the leap—but if you're not confident about your skills or feel lazy, you can always go to a tailor with your ideas. Here are some easy DIYs you can do, by the way.

Learn How to Care

Okay, I've got to admit: I'm not very good at this one either. However, I do believe that caring for your clothes properly can be a game changer. It can be as easy as figuring out which of your attire is dry-clean only or not iron-safe, but you can also take it a step further and find out exactly how to care for leather or what is the safest way to launder your bra. If you know how to appropriately care for your clothes (and accessories), they tend to stay pristine and last longer. Of course, when something keeps looking pretty much like they're brand new, we would be more excited to wear them out and about—a much better option than things that are literally falling apart.

Show It Off

Probably not the best advice—I don't think it's healthy to live for other people's approval—but, to a degree, it has worked for me. Here's the thing: everyone likes different things. It's possible that an item you find hard to style turns out to look good on you in the eyes of others. Even though you might find a t-shirt or a pair of pants to be rather mundane, others might disagree. Different items can invoke different reactions in people—and that may spark an old love in you. Of course, what I mean by this is, when you have an item you're unsure about, try wearing it when you meet up with friends or  show it on social media. Who knows? You may come to love the item.

Well, I hope that has been helpful and eye-opening for you guys. I've been living with pretty much the same wardrobe for the past 3 years or so—and I still can't get enough of my own clothes. Everyday I find a new way to style my clothes and unlock more of their potentials. In fact, a lot of you guys have said to me that, despite the fact that I barely add anything new to my wardrobe, you don't feel bored seeing the same items over and over again. You can do that with your clothes too! Of course, if you ever feel the need to shake things up, here are some alternatives to shopping fast fashion that you can do.

Let me know some other ways you've been rekindling old flames with your wardrobe!

Waste-Sorting in Indonesia: What, Where and How?

Last year, specifically in August, as you may know I have started transitioning into a zero-waste/low-impact lifestyle. It has changed my life in such a profound way, particularly in four different aspects: purchasing, consumption, transport and waste. In terms of purchasing, I have become more selective about the products that I buy—especially influenced by its packaging. In terms of consumption, I become more aware of what I actually use and how I use them. Transport-wise, I try to choose my method wisely to truly cut down my carbon footprint and be more efficient. Lastly, with waste, aside from substituting a lot of materials, I also start to thoroughly sort my waste and deposit them at the waste bank. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me basic questions about it as it is a complete mystery to her—and probably to so many other Indonesia citizens too. It's inspired me to write down all I know about waste-sorting in this country into a blog post. Hope this helps!

Menstrual Cup: Six Months Later

Back in August 2018, I started to transition into the low-impact lifestyle. It's been quite a fast transition, what with substituting a lot of things with compostable or less-waste options. From straws and cutlery to toothbrushes and produce bags, my life has started to look so different from what it once was. However, it took me a month before I made the biggest change yet—switching to menstrual cups. You see, menstrual cups aren't a new concept for me. I've known about them for at least a whole year beforehand, but hadn't tried it for two reasons. One, I didn't know there were some ways of acquiring them cost-efficiently in Indonesia. Two, the concept of them frankly scared me a little bit. That being said, I was determined to reduce my waste production by at least 50%—and fuss-free, no less. So I got one—thanks to my sister—and six months later, here we are.

How to Start Changing Your Lifestyle

Since 2013, I've been trying to change my lifestyle in two aspects of my life—fashion and waste. In truth, I suppose, these aspects are closely linked, as they both appeal to the consumer side of me. I suppose, then, you can also say that I've only improved in the way that I organise and live my life, in regards to my principles. Many, many people have asked me numerous questions which boils down to the one ultimate puzzle in their minds: How do you adjust your lifestyle to fit your goal? In all honesty, it is simple: you need only to know where your priorities lie. However, of course, that is much easier said than done. That's why, today I thought I'd share some simple tips that have helped me get through my lifestyle changes, so that you may be able to make a change too.

Do Your Research

Before you can dive into anything, of course, you need to know exactly what you need to do to change your ways effectively. Find out as much as you can about the aspect of your life you'd like to change. If you want to be able to manage your money better, figure out where to start and how to go about it. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, find out what that entails. Learning exactly what you need to do helps you break down your task, understand it and stick to the changes that you're making. However, you don't need to have a "complete knowledge" on whatever aspect you're working on, before going forward with the change. You can and should keep educating yourself about the subject matter while living your new lifestyle—as this kind of information evolves all the time.

Allow Mistakes

The most important thing to remember about changing your lifestyle is that it's a process. You're not going to be able to give up anything cold turkey nor will you excel at something right off the bat. It's unrealistic and simply cruel to expect yourself to adapt to change instantly. It's okay to slip up once in a while, it's okay to have weak moments now and then. This concept—this lifestyle—is new for you, it's okay to make wrong decisions as you try to figure it out. It is only through mistakes that we learn about ourselves and how to best adjust our methods to make our lifestyle change, specific to us. It is how we find out what works and doesn't work for us, to reach our goals. So long as we use it as a learning experience and are determined to truly change, mistakes are good.

Get a Support System

Making such a major change in our lives is hard. Really hard. And sometimes we need someone—or a village—there to help us get through it. Ask your friend and/or family to join in your quest. Create a fitness group with your colleagues, cook weekly meals as a hangout plan with your buddies, get your family excited about waste sorting. Or, if there's no one in your life who seems interested in your goal, join a forum or a Facebook group—they have one for pretty much anything out there. Something as simple as a hashtag can open up your world to a whole other group of people. Getting support systems in your life—especially amongst your peers—can really help you feel motivated and may get you new information that'll help you keep with your resolutions. It's true what they say, there is strength in numbers.

Mind Your Own Business

One of the hardest parts about changing your lifestyle is how different it may still be with the people around you. You may have been accustomed to a certain way of life, before you decide to change it. However, when you change, your friends may not want to do the same. As a result, often there feels to be a certain friction among friends. You may feel forced to go back to your old ways or, at least, a tad uncomfortable with it. What you need to remember is that your life is none of their business, just as their lives are none of yours. If your friends try to coerce you into spending money, you've decided to send to savings, kindly ask them to respect your decision and decline the offer—or propose another option. Similarly, if your friends choose to buy from a store you don't approve of, don't give them a lecture about whatever reason you may have—and simply give out opinions when asked. Live and let live, you know.

Remember Why

When all of the above is said and done, there is only one thing left to do: stay committed. Whether it be to a spouse or to a principle, commitment is hella hard. Even if your lifestyle change is as simple as resolving to wake up early every morning, there may be days when you find that utterly impossible and even close to refusing to do it anymore. However, you must have a reason why you want to undergo such change. You must have a goal you want to achieve or an outcome you expect from going through with this change. What is it? Remember it and always keep it in your mind. Commit to it and know that you can reach it. Of course, if the reason is no longer applicable to you, you can discard the lifestyle, but make sure you won't regret it.

I hope this has been helpful for anyone thinking about changing their lifestyle. Also, check out my video down below to see how my relationship with others have changed along the way too!