Sustainable Minimalists

Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO) is about actively turning from the external stimuli that neither serves nor ignites. And whereas Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is rooted in external validation, obtaining JOMO is a giant leap toward serving your internal self.During the holidays and always, it pays to get intentional about All. The. Things: Our priorities, our precious free moments and, of course, our long-term goals. On today's show we first discuss our collective affinity as human beings for simplistic comparisons; we also break down 4 action steps toward a more intentional (and self-soothing!) way of being. Here's a preview:[2:30] The historical origins of social comparison[10:30] Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself: Here's how[12:00] The Number One question people pleasers should ask themselves before committing[21:00] 7 effects of cortisol on the body, plus practical thoughts on *actually* slowing down Resources mentioned: Episode #178: Digital Minimalism Sustainable Minimalists free Facebook group --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Helix Sleep: Get $400 off and 2 free pillows at https://birchliving.com/sustainable. --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Parenting the eco-minimalist way is, well, difficult. It's also an 18-ish year commitment that goes directly against societal norms.I'm no expert, but I do believe that impactful parenting starts by capitalizing on teachable moments. On today's show I speak with Elizabeth Ireland about *exactly how* she passes 3 central eco-minimalist lessons onto her children. Here's a preview of the 3 life lessons we discuss today:[9:30] Teaching children how to give[20:00] Preparing our progeny for life: The 'why' and 'how' behind decluttering[27:00] Imparting the elusive skill of not needing to get everything we want Resources mentioned: Alltruists Impact Kits The Kindness Elves The Tree Lady Ten Things I Can Do to Help My World We Are The Water Protectors --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Helix Sleep: Get $400 off and 2 free pillows at https://birchliving.com/sustainable. --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

The attitude-behavior gap is a fancy schmancy research term that describes the discrepancy between what we say and what we do. When it comes to eco-minimalist living, many of us quietly experience an oversized gap between our values (save the planet! live minimally!) and our actions (buy single use plastic! purchase on impulse!). On today's show we are diving into the recesses of this, well, gap. Why does it exist for the vast majority of us, and how can we close it?Here's a preview:[2:00] A breakdown of the 5 distinct consumer personas: Which one are you?[11:00] 5 reasons why the attitude-behavior gap exists[18:00] 5 steps to closing your own attitude-behavior gap Resources mentioned/Further reading: How To Bridge The Intention-Behavior Gap Closing the Attitude-Behavior Gap: The Case of Solidarity Purchase Groups When You Feel Blue About the Environment, Act Green (via Psychology Today) How Brands Can Embrace the Sustainable Fashion Opportunity (via Bain & Company) --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Many minimalists boast that living simply has improved their well-being in a myriad of ways. The problem, however, is that such statements are anecdotal. Does research back up these personal stories? What - if anything - does science say about minimalism's benefits?On today's show Shannon and Gerry Arner and I marry research findings re: simple living with day-to-day experience.  Here's a preview:[5:45] The link between materialism and loneliness[10:00] How living simply on purpose impacts well-being[14:30] Cortisol be gone: The negative correlation between clutter and mental health[20:00] How to use minimalism as a re-centering tool[22:00] Practical ways to infuse slightly more minimalism into your daily life Resources mentioned: Arner Adventures on Instagram What Can Minimalism Do For Mental Health? (via Psychology Today) --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

There's lots to consider when searching for an eco-friendly and non-toxic laundry detergent. Are those strips and pods actually environmentally conscious if they're wrapped in PVA? Why don't detergents offer a full list of ingredients on their packaging?As it turns out, laundry detergents have lots of misleading claims (ahem ... marketing gimmicks) designed to confuse consumers. On today's episode we're breaking down everything you need to know about detergent so you can make informed purchasing decisions moving forward.  Here's a preview:[2:00] Pricing discrepancies: Do eco-friendly laundry detergents always cost more?[6:15] Breaking down the 5 biggest environmental concerns associated with laundry detergent[9:15] Everything you need to know about Polyvinyl Alcohol (I'm looking at you, pods and sheets)[18:00] How to find a laundry detergent that's actually non-toxic[22:00] Stephanie's detergent-buying grading rubric for informed purchasing decisions Resources mentioned: Episode #277: All-Things Eggs Episode #294: A Better Trash Bag Tandi's Naturals Degradation of Polyvinyl Alcohol in US Wastewater Treatment Plants and Subsequent Nationwide Emission Estimate (via the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) MamaSuds dryer ball Fit Organic stain remover Kind Laundry Episode #279: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Let's face it: Impulse buys are fun in the moment. But what feels good in the short-term doesn't always jive with our long-term goals and quick decisions may not align with our core values.If you regularly buy on impulse, you're not alone. According to Shopify, over 87% of US shoppers make impulse buys and more than 50% of all grocery items are sold because of impulsiveness. Enter Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni, co-hosts of the Frugal Friends podcast. Jen and Jill argue that frugality at its roots means preserving all kinds of resources and they're on the show to help you uncover the emotion beneath impulse buys. Here's a preview:[6:30] The 'cheap' stigma: Reframing frugality from an undesirable trait to a positive one[11:00] What has to happen before you tackle your impulsive spending habit[18:00] When impulse spending is triggered by emotion[24:00] Buying and belonging: How to reign in comparison-related purchases[31:00] The 'both, and' approach: Holding the tension Resources mentioned: James Clear's Habit Loop Frugal Friends Podcast Want more episodes like this one? Check out # 258: Conscious Spending --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

There's such a thing as too much of a good thing. The key to a balanced life lies in moderation, as any of us who's ever overdone it knows that excess quickly becomes miserable.On today's show we first discuss the Swedish concept of lagom, a.k.a. 'good enough' living. Next, we apply age-old, temperate wisdom to spending habits, interpersonal communication, tidying, and emotions. Here's a preview:[3:30] The middle is where we want to be. (Don't believe me? I'll prove it)[6:30] 5 ways extreme thinking gets rewarded every darn day[9:30] The Swedish philosophy of lagom, a.k.a. living with just the right amount[17:00] How to apply the concepts of moderation and balance to our spending habits[22:00] The Traffic Light Rule of interpersonal communication[26:00] 3 real problems associated with emotion suppression[29:00] When it comes to your home's tidiness, what's good enough? Resources mentioned: Lagom: The Swedish Secret of Living Well Moderation Is the Key to Life (via Psychology Today) The Case for Moderation -* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

The World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report is a checkup on the health of Earth, and this year’s report is the most comprehensive yet. Spoiler alert: its findings aren't good.But all's not doom and gloom: Enter the Rescue Effect, a perspective that believes there’s a lot to be optimistic about. On this episode I’m excited to bring you two contrasting viewpoints to the biodiversity problem. First I speak with Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund; in the second part of today's show I speak with conservation expert Michael Mehta Webster about his new book, The Rescue Effect.  Here's a preview:[2:30] An overview of the major findings from WWF's 2022 Living Planet Index[6:00] What's going on in the tropics?[19:00] The rescue effect in practice[21:00] If nature has an inherent ability to persist, why do species go extinct?[27:00] Can the rescue effect ensure the survival of human beings amidst the next great mass extinction event?[33:00] How we can help give species a leg up, according to conservation experts  Resources mentioned: 2022 Living Planet Index (via the World Wildlife Fund) The Rescue Effect: The Key To Saving Life On Earth  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

'Rise and Grind' reveres working for work's sake, and it's immensely popular.But grind culture is capitalism's fuel; worse, it diminishes you and me to cogs in the capitalist wheel.Today we're discussing hustle culture: What it is, who benefits from the collective all-in, and how we can slowly unsubscribe from a life of overwork. Here's a preview:[5:00] Why do the (Western) masses follow grind culture's principles despite its best interest?[8:30] Who - or what - benefits from overwork? (Hint: It's not you and me.)[14:30] Rise and Shine over Rise and Grind: Here's how[22:30] How to practice letting of obligations go IRL, plus: what to do with your newfound free time Resources mentioned: Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work? (via NY Times) The 'Rise and Grind' of Hustle Culture (via Psychology Today) Tricia Hersey's interview on We Can Do Hard Things Episode #308: Prioritizing Your Priorities --* Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Your favorite smartphone apps, your preferred weather forecaster, your go-to photo sharing app, and other seemingly benign technologies likely reveal details about your life to companies looking to collect consumer data. They're eager to gather thousands of data points on each and every one of us every single day because more data means better accuracy for algorithms seeking to predict human behavior.Data gathering can affect our lives in ways we can’t currently anticipate. But what about conscious consumerism? If companies can accurately predict our purchasing behavior - and if they're putting *perfectly* curated advertisements in front of us over and over again - do we minimalists stand a fighting chance?October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (who knew?!). While keeping your personal information safe online can seem overwhelming there are simple ways to both protect your data and trick the algorithms. Amira Dhalla is on the show today to offer a blueprint about how you can be cyber smart-er. Here's a preview:[2:00] Beware of these 'deceptive patterns' that trick us into giving away extra personal information[10:00] The principles of threat monitoring applied to online privacy: Are quick-win benefits worth potential long-term risks?[12:30] Why you shouldn't automatically "Accept All Cookies" (online cookies aren't all that tasty!)[17:00] 5 privacy quick fixes you can enact in 5 minutes or less[28:00] Thoughts on practicing an ounce of prevention Resources mentioned: Firefox browser DuckDuck Go search engine securityplanner.org 30-Second Privacy Fixes: Simple Ways to Protect Your Data (via Consumer Reports)  -- * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. * Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for your $60 free gift. Nutrafol: get free shipping and $15 off with promo code SUSTAINABLE.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content