Mindful Minds, Sustainable Lives — part 2
Exploring the Interaction Between Mental Health and Sustainability
Have you ever thought about the significance of sustainability in connection to our psychological well-being? In what ways they are relevant to each other and how can sustainability contribute to the healing of mental health?
As you might already know sustainability encompasses three pillars of social, environmental and economics. All these three pillars need to be considered in order to classify the activity as sustainable. Now let’s break this down in connection to mental health.
In part 1 of this post, we reviewed about the social aspect briefly.
This post considers Environmental aspect of sustainability.
Environmental
Modern lifestyles often come with high levels of stress and pressure, whether from work, relationships, financial concerns or societal expectations. The constant pressure to succeed and meet various demands can contribute to feeling of anxiety and depression. In addition, current global issues such as pollutions, climate change and urbanization can also play a role in mental health issues.
Nature therapy also known as ecotherapy, has been shown to have positive effects on mental health. Activities such as hiking, gardening or simply being outdoors can help reduce stress and anxiety. For example, outdoor mindfulness practices is the combination of mindfulness techniques with nature-based activities. Mindful walking in nature, meditation outdoors or practicing yoga in the natural environment can help us cultivate a deeper connections with the environment and promote mental clarity and relaxation. Forest bathing is another activity, a practice rooted in Japanese culture known as “shinrin-yoku”. It involves immersing oneself in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest to promote relation and enhance over well-being.
Sustainable lifestyle choices such as eco-friendly lifestyle including reducing waste, conserving energy, adapting plant-based diet and supporting sustainable practices can contribute to a greater sense of well-being and fulfillment. For instance, adaptation of plant-based diet or reducing meat consumption is one of the choices we can make. This diet is valuable due to its environmental benefits including lower carbon emissions and reduced water usage compared to animal agriculture. Incorporating more plant-based meals into our diet can not only support sustainability but also improve our health. Another choice that we can consider is the zero-waste movement. It is a lifestyle to minimize waste generations and promote sustainable living. It involves reducing single-use plastic, composting organic waste and choosing products with minimal packaging. Embracing the zero-waste lifestyle can provide us with a sense of purpose in which we feel empowered to make a positive impact on the environment that can boost self-esteem and overall well-being.
In conclusion embracing the sustainable lifestyle can provide us with a sense of purpose in which we feel empowered to make a positive impact on the environment that can boost self-esteem and overall well-being.
