Sustainable Minimalists

More free time and less stress. Extra money in the bank. While minimalists often report such benefits of the lifestyle over and over, for many of us, it goes deeper. Indeed, a minimalist lifestyle may fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.As this podcast approaches its 500th episode I find myself curious about the ways in which adopting a minimalist or minimal-ish outlook has altered the ways in which we as community act and think.On today's show: A conversation with minimalist Elaina Jindra about just some of the ways her life is different these days. Here's a preview of the minimalism-inspired habit changes we are discussing today:[8:00] Watching less television and turning away from mass media[14:00] Buying in bulk, no more[19:00] Storing it at the store? Sure. Plus: Storing it at Goodwill![22:00] Eating healthier and drinking less alcohol[25:00] Stepping into the role of 'creator' while losing the identity of 'consumer' Resources mentioned: Sign up for the Sustainable Minimalists newsletter (it's free!) here Hobby Hour (via Substack)   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just because a product is marketed to babies or kids doesn't mean it's safe, and new research published just last week has alarming things to say about the presence of phthalates in personal care products for children. While minimalists know that excess stuff harms our emotional well-being and mental loads, *sustainable* minimalists understand that products can harm our physical health. On today's show: Applying the tenets of sustainable minimalism to the hair and skin products our children use each day. Here's a preview:[7:00] If phthalates make plastics flexible and bendy, what on earth are they doing in personal care products?[10:00] Don't see the term 'phthalate' on a product's ingredients list? That doesn't mean it's phthalate-free![13:00] Are phthalates the reason why our daughters are getting their periods younger and younger?[19:00] No 10-step skincare regimen to see here: Here's a 5-step cleanup regimen for your household[25:00] Musings on the tween and teen skincare beauty craze Resources mentioned: Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS Ultra-Processed Foods And Cardiovascular Disease: Analysis Of Three Large US Prospective Cohorts And A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Prospective Cohort Studies Episode #425: The Obesogens Yuka App  Products mentioned on today's show: Giovanni Eco Chic Golden Wheat Deep Cleanse Shampoo  Attitude Baby Leaves Hair And Body Wash Attitude Super Leaves Conditioner Kinship SPF 32 Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide David's Toothpaste Giovanni L.A. Hold Hair Spritz   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover how non-negotiable household chores can drain your time and energy. Learn to streamline meal planning into a one-time process, saving you from daily decision fatigue. Create a 28-day meal rotation in under an hour, while balancing easy recipes and themed weeks. Optimize your grocery shopping with efficient lists that ensure you have what you need. A little weekend prep can transform weeknight cooking into a breeze, allowing you to reclaim valuable time and reduce overwhelm!

American culture is heavily influenced by a “rise and grind” reverence for hustling, and many of us have adopted the belief that sleep is a waste of time. When we dismiss the importance of sleep, we have more time to work harder and longer. And when we have more money in our pockets, what we are really doing is keeping our capitalist engines turning.Contrary to what you've been told, sleep is not time wasted. On today's show: The Number One way to improve your health, wellness, and quality of life without spending any money at all (ahem ... prioritizing sleep). Here's a preview:[3:00] Rise and grind culture promotes sleep deprivation![9:00] What happens when we sleep? Hop on a metaphorical submarine and explore the Sleep Sea [15:00] A laundry list of bad sleep's deleterious health and wellness effects[21:00] In your 40s or 50s? You especially need to prioritize sleep, and here's why[29:00] 6 research-backed ways to prioritize sleep every darn night Resources mentioned: Episode #472: Breath Awareness Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks Outlive: The Science And Art Of Longevity (by Dr. Peter Attia) Why We Sleep: Unlocking The Power Of Sleep And Dreams (by Dr. Matthew Walker) The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We humans are evolutionarily primed to live in concert with the natural world, but these days Americans spend over 92% of time either indoors or inside a vehicle. The result? Stress, inflammation and — for some of us — a pervasive sense of malaise. American culture is designed to keep us indoors because capitalist engines make money when we are distracted, and yet cutting-edge science supports the reality that life on this planet is radically interconnected. On today's show author Lyanda Lynn Haupt introduces the concept of rooted living to benefit of both humans and nature. Here's a preview:[11:00] Nature provides connection, and yet 21st century life vilifies the outdoors[16:00] Exactly why our capitalist engines benefit when we live indoors lives [22:00] Musings on our collected extractive mindset, plus: how roots are the antidote[28:00] Lyanda's Number One tip for re-rooting yourself and your children (It's a good one!) Resources mentioned: Rooted: Life At The Crossroads Of Science, Nature, and Spirit Lyanda on Instagram Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101 This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A product needs to fit into someone’s life seamlessly in order for it to be bought, and it’s the job of the advertiser to show exactly how the item in question will fit into a life. On today's show: 5 crucial insights advertisers know about us (that we perhaps don't know about ourselves). Here's a preview:[1:00] Examining our clutter problem through metaphor (bathtub, baby!)[9:00] Selling isn't about emotion; it's about seduction[13:00] We humans are animals, and animals are evolutionarily primed to heed warnings[15:00] Curiosity versus urgency: Both emotional states convert![21:00] How companies slowly but surely increase market share, plus: here's what happens when a product differentiates itself on eco-friendliness[26:00] Insider advertising works! Resources mentioned:The Hidden Clutter Creator Right Under Your Nose (via Your House Machine on Substack)  This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One football field's-worth of forest is lost every single second of every single day. Loss of forests means loss of species and loss of stored carbon; it also means an increased risk of pandemics.On today's show: Explaining the ways in which deforestation is linked to the pandemic prevalence, with tangible action steps for conscious consumers.Here's a preview:[5:00] It's not *just* about timber; it's about livestock, soy, and palm oil too[12:30] Exactly what happens when we raze forests and the generalists (ahem ... the rats, the mosquitos) march in[26:00] Breaking down the differences between the 3 Forest Stewardship Council certifications[29:00] Revisiting the palm oil problem [32:00] The industrialized food system is broken, and it pays to shorten your personal food chain Resources mentioned: Episode #447: No Topsoils, No Food Episode #187: Why Is Palm Oil Bad?   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parenthood is awash with immense pressure to do right by our kids. We are told that children need certain (expensive) experiences to 'get ahead', and many of us observe our parenting peers investing in countless extracurriculars. But children need downtime, and recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured enrichment.On today's show podcaster Kathryn Garland and I discuss how to find the structured, extracurricular sweet spot for your family.  Here's a preview:[4:30] Scheduling rule #1: Family First (not Kid First!)[15:00] When dabblers don't fit into a world of specializers[22:00] Musings on extracurriculars, the 'rat race' and getting ahead[26:00] Start with the end in mind (and other tips for finding the extracurriculars sweet spot)[31:00] Words of encouragement for leaning into the quiet and into the slow Resources mentioned: Don't Sign Your Child Up For That (Extra)Curricular Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life Homespun: Create The Life You Crave Podcast Kathryn on Instagram   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

‘Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today’s re-air: How to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention. Here's a preview:[6:00] Let’s pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we?[11:00] Here’s what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home[18:30] Revisiting the kids’ capsule conversation[26:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (from a former teacher) Resources mentioned: Episode #391: Predictors Of Back To School Success Episode #006: The Ultimate Kids' Capsule Blueprint   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Back To School Week 2024!In many homes, back to school season means back to packing lunchboxes. It's a stress-inducing chore, sure, as many parents find it difficult to think up new, creative lunch ideas that are actually healthy (and will actually get eaten!).On today's show registered dietician nutritionist Megan McNamee offers up her tried and true lunchbox formula; she also suggests simple lunch ideas that will make prepping lunches a breeze.Stay tuned for Thursday's Back To School episode about acquiring school supplies, clothes, and gear like a sustainable minimalist.  Here's a preview:[4:00] Is there anything "wrong" with school lunches?[8:00] Pack when your kitchen is open! (And other practical ways to make lunchbox packing easier)[13:00] Add balance and variety by following Megan's Lunch Formula[20:00] Lunchbox ideas you've never heard of before[26:00] Must lunchboxes have a dessert?[33:00] How to best use after school snack time as a sneaky way to supplement your child's diet Resources mentioned: Feeding Littles Lunches: 75+ No-Stress Lunches Everyone Will Love Episode #391: Predictors Of Back To School Success   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.