new year, new topics!
I present you my own guide to sustainability and how it will hopefully change your way of living and consuming.
I’ve wanted to start this self test before I talk about it, and after just a month I have so much to tell, that I decided to write a series with all the infos you need – but there’s always more!
If you think my guide to sustainability will make you a rescuer of the world – you are wrong. If you think that change in your life will be an immediate thing, which will start the moment you finished reading this – you are also wrong. (and if you think I’ll stop recommending you all the best books and only talk about rescuing the earth now – guess what? – YOU ARE WRONG <3 )
I am still in the circle of change and always on the search for more. More information. More happiness. Just more of everything. And I want you all to discover that together with me. (so this is more of an introductional post for the trip that awaits us 🙂 )
It all started with the tryout of a “no plastic” challenge
I wanted to reduce my foot print on the earth a little bit and decided to go a whole month without plastic (I will write a full blogpost about that one) – and I can tell you I failed spectacularly 😂 that’s why I decided to split this blogpost into a series and introduce you more to the topic before talking about the changes and hurrying you all to do the same – because living sustainable isn’t something you just do. It’s a huge and long process with try and error like a queens fool.
I think for most people minimalism and sustainability are different things and I often see people who live “sustainable” having a lot of toxic plastic articles in their lives. For me all of this is a style of living that changes every day to the better – and that’s how I want to represent it to you all!
So we shall start our little journey with a general introduction into minimalistic living and how to sort out the things in life we really don’t need – and also a list of the topics we will soon talk about more 🙂
Sustainability is such a huge topic that one blogpost wouldn’t lead as anywhere – there are full BLOGS out there only talking about it 🌙⭐️
I’ve collected some of them for you here:
international ones
german ones
But what does sustainability mean?
(A quick wikipedia click later this came up:)
Sustainability is the process of maintaining change in a balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.[1] For many in the field, sustainability is defined through the following interconnected domains or pillars: environment, economic and social.[2] Sub-domains of sustainable development have been considered also: cultural, technological and political.[3] While sustainable development may be the organizing principle for sustainability for some, for others, the two terms are paradoxical (i.e. development is inherently unsustainable).[4][5]Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.[1]
So now that we know what the “definition” of this topic is, let’s start where my own journey has started a few month ago.
Why minimalism has lead me to sustainability
It all started with Pinterest (isn’t it always that little bugger?) 😂
I’ve searched for more minimal interior and living ideas because of moving into a new flat. I’ve always felt restless with all the things around me and wanted to reduce my belongings. I was always unhappy with how my rooms looked like and where to put ALL the things I own.
if you ever need inspiration or ideas how to realize an aesthetic sustainable and minimal lifestyle just head over to this Pinterest Board I’ve collected for you (and will update all the time!) – just click on the picture to get on the board 🙂
And sooner than later I found the minimal lifestyle. To reduce your belongings to only the things you really need in your life – and only own your “favorite” things. That kept me thinking and I’ve got myself some books about this topic. “Simplify your home” and “Einfach Leben” were great books for starters and there were a lot of selfmade and diy recipes for cleaning the bathroom, making your own scrubs and creams and an introduction to sustainable fashion.
And that was it.
It seems whoever begins this journey will meet the idea of living more sustainable, more responsible and thoughtful about how we consume and what we consume. Is the lifestyle magazines, tv and internet are suggesting because they want to sell really the style we should go for?
In my opinion it’s not ( that doesn’t mean you shall throw away all your stuff now and move to the country site living with only bread and cold water)
BUT there is so much wrong in the world that we can’t change – but how we live and how big our imprint into the world is, is our decision. And I’ve decided its time for a change. So prepare for a huge series talking about all the things you haven’t known before!
I want to separate this topic into chapters, so we can all make this journey together and learn from each other 🙂
the topics
- cleaning the flat – tidying up the earth
- why minimalism has led to sustainability
- the bookish guide to minimalism and sustainability
- the plastic free challenge – how toxic it really is for us and the world
- sustainable and cruelty free brands and beauty routines
- stop throwing away your groceries
- how to decide what you really need in your life
- sustainable reading – and why it is so hard
so these are just a few things I want to talk about. So if you have any questions or suggestions for me regarding this huge topic just leave a comment and let us help each other! – I’ll take all of your comments and make them into blogposts – I promise 🙂
Minimalism on Netflix
I’ve just watched the documentary “Minimalism” on Netflix and it also changed some of my ways of thinking.
For example:
I always feel super guilty when people ask me about my job and I can’t tell them that I am beyond happy, or that it is my dream job. It’s my job and I do a good one. But that’s it. I feel like I am disappointing all the people around me when telling them I’d rather be traveling around and visiting the world. Or sit at home writing or reading books. Or learning to do ceramics – or just LIVE. I get answers like: “You can’t do that, You have a home and a job.” or “Everyone is hard working and you want to chill out the whole time?” – and the best one, because I am huge feminist is “Why would you put all your hope and pressure on your mans job and stop working. That’s insane.” Maybe because being a feminist or a designer or a woman does not define me as a happy person at all odds. I hope you get what I mean here.
Tidying up with Marie Kondo on Netflix – The Konmari Method
I’ve just found that one recently and it’s absolutely great. First because Marie has the most positive Aura I’ve ever met and second because it was really useful for the changes in my daily life, without putting too much pressure on me!
Marie divides the process of tidying up into 5 steps. (For sure I am planning a blogpost for that one too 😂) – or you can just check it yourself and text me back when you are as addicted to the show as I am 😊
I will soon show you more books and blogs about this topic because there is a huge and great range and I will be working together with some publishers to give you all the books!
Also have a look on these blogposts if you want to learn more about that topic:
Einfach Leben – Neue Wege zum Minimalismus
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