Frantic over Finances? A daily dose of doldrums is being dished out over our falling dollar and the result on our quality of life and productivity is devastating. Depression over a Recession is fast becoming the number one health crisis and driving down the economy even further as we struggle to find reasons to innovate or activate our potential to generate jobs or do our work! But there is a solution and all it requires is for us to to take ACTION!
Lighten your Lifestyle Load with the following actions:
1. Action is the best distraction for depression- when you catch yourself thinking about the bills or worrying about work shift gears and do something that costs nothing but completes something.
Take 5 minutes right now to list activities that offer immediate benefits, these can include:
Exercise (as little as 5 minutes of movement can free up your joints, reinvigorate and remind you of the amazing gift that is your body).
Clearing clutter (this will bring clarity and peace of mind to your living space and make it easy to be creative).
Learning something new (if you have the internet, why not visit one of many educational sites, that offer ‘how to’ tutorials on everything from cooking to martial arts, try www.about.com or www.videojug.com and if you don’t have access to a computer pick-up a book or take a trip to the local library!)
Celebrating by creating (the mind is most happiness in a state of progression and creative expression, give yourself something to celebrate and focus on a project that you enjoy. Make a card for someone special reminding them how much they are valued. Write your own novel or movie script, creating a world that inspires and relieves you of your daily stresses. Cook something comforting, everyone deserves a treat once in a while and nothing smells sweeter than the aroma of freshly baked cookies.
Exploring beyond your front door (do as Attenborough would and grab a pair of binoculars, a magnifying glass, a field guide if you have one and a sketchbook then hit the backyard or nearby park and the wonders of nature delight your curiosity).
Getting stuck into your Garden (toiling away in the soil not only connects you with nature but exposes you to fresh air and sunlight whilst offering you physical benefits also).
2. Save more than you Spend- Just like exercise and food we must balance the energy coming in with the energy going out to see results. Here are a few suggestions and resources to tip the scales back in your favor!
Take 10-20 minutes to conduct an inventory analysis and prepare a plan for prosperity:
Kitchen- Scan your cupboards and fridge to see what items are costing your wallet and our earth unnecessarily.
Foods that are contained in excess packaging such as individually portioned snacks or pre-packed salads should be removed from your grocery list and replaced with bulk buy items that can be served up in glass bowels or divided into a family set of tupperware.
Next check labels to identify foods sourced locally from those imported from overseas. Supporting the local economy and reducing the pollution and cost of buying transported items.
Consider your menu, meat is a costly buy and choosing cheaper cuts should be avoided as they are a potential health risk that will cost you more than money. From an environmental perspective, the meat industry places a heavy demand on resources including land, soy, corn and antibiotics. Meats also offer an unhealthy dose of antibiotics, growth hormones, heavy metals, and possible exposure to cannibalistic diseases (such as Mad Cow Disease).
Decipher how much of your money is dolled out on drinks. Buying bottled water is not only pointless but painful to our planet, if you don’t already have one add a water filter to your shopping list. Alcohol in moderation can be a good thing that is if you are into wine and anything with antioxidant benefits but beer equals an unwanted belly bulge, bottles for the bin and you guessed it a busted up budget!
Laundry/Bathroom- What you use to clean your home and yourself maybe washing money down the drain.
A one fix solution, instead of buying several different cleaning products to wash the dishes, scrub the floor and wipe down the bench-tops try a mild dish soap instead. Dish soap can be used as a laundry stain remover, a window cleaner, a surface spray, a carpet stain remover, fruit and veggie wash, and to clean most surfaces in your home.
Switch to Fluorescent, save money on the household budget by replacing the bulbs in your home with fluorescent ones. They do cost more initially but save in the long run as they last longer and use 2/3 less energy to provide the same light.
Restock with Reusable Mops and cloths to stop the on-going expense of replacing disposable cleaning products choose microfibre cloths and an old fashioned mop that doesn’t use disposable heads.
Make your own cleaning products using inexpensive household staples. Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaners. Baking soda is gentle enough to use as a mild abrasive in many areas of your home. Lemons have a natural bleaching ability. Here are few links to get you started:
3. Abundance is a state of mind - Happiness is within our power to create and it depends on our outlook. By choosing an attitude of gratitude the wealth of the world is yours and generating momentum for a positive and happy life comes naturally.
Take 5-10 minutes everyday to focus on what you have instead of what you don’t:
Can’t think of things to be grateful for? This slideshow will help!
Other motivating resources:
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