Self care has become a trending topic lately. It makes sense – as the world seems to speed up and so much of our focus turns outward, we all need reminders to slow down to pay attention to our own needs.
Conversations about self care range from permission to pamper ourselves with bubble baths and chocolate to the need to remember to meet our own basic needs every day through things like exercise and adequate sleep.
I personally bring self care into my daily life, continuously calibrating my routine depending on the level of stress in my current season of life. Self care, at its best, is preventative, not reactive. Unfortunately, many of us reach burnout before we remember to look after ourselves.
Long baths and chocolate certainly punctuate my self care activities (who doesn’t enjoy some pampering?), but they aren’t part of my daily self care rituals. My essentials are adequate sleep, hydration, movement, nature, and the right balance of alone time and social connection.
Self care is not selfish
What does self care have to do with living a zero waste lifestyle? Shouldn’t we put our own needs aside and focus on the health of the planet? We’re in the middle of a climate emergency! Who has time for long baths??
Well, I firmly believe that the seeds of change are first planted within ourselves.
As a parent, community member, friend, wife, etc, I can’t give to and support others without first cultivating energy and wellness through my own self care.
You can’t pour from an empty cup
Put your own oxygen mask on first
Etc.
Caring for yourself is directly linked to caring for the planet. Reducing our eco footprint, and taking climate action requires effort and energy. If we’re in a constant state of stress and don’t take the time to support and replenish our physical, mental, and emotional wellness, we run out of energy.
Fortunately, some really important health promoting behaviours are directly connected to lowering our eco-footprint – things like biking or walking instead of driving, making food from scratch, and purchasing whole fresh ingredients in bulk instead of packaged processed food.
And self care can be as simple as fresh air, sleep, and exercise. I think we sometimes forget that it doesn’t have to be elaborate.
Why make your own body care products
While self care should not require consumerism, it can be nice sometimes to pamper yourself. For me, self care also means not spending beyond necessities, being in alignment with my values, and creating over consuming. Making my own body care products checks all the boxes.
Many body care products – even “natural” ones – contain harmful chemicals, fragrance, or even microplastics (though thankfully microbeads were banned in Canada in 2018). Many of these ingredients are harmful not only to the environment but to your own health. And shouldn’t self care promote good health?
We’re so used to buying body care products, but many of them are actually easier to make than a one-bowl chocolate cake! They cost very little to DIY and there are endless recipes out there. (Here are a 12 zero waste toiletries to make yourself.)
(For more tips on zero waste bathroom swaps, check out this post.)
A simple scrub that is naturally sweet, low waste, and low cost
I chose to share a recipe for sugar scrub because the ingredients are all natural, simple (there are only three!), and available to purchase locally in bulk.
I’ve been using this sugar scrub once or twice a week for about a month and my skin is noticeably softer. It turns out that, sugar is actually really good for your skin! It draws moisture from the environment and hydrates your skin; it’s a natural source of glycolic acid, which helps generate new skin cells; and it gently exfoliates dead skin
I love that I don’t worry about accidentally tasting it – in fact, its sweet and delicious so it’s kind of a bonus. 😉
You may have these ingredients already in your kitchen cupboard. You can use any essential oil you like (or omit altogether) – I like grapefruit because it’s uplifting and energizing.
Uplifting Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
- 1 cup granulated sugar (I use organic, fair trade cane sugar)
- ½ cup olive oil
- Grapefruit essential oil
- Gather your ingredients and add the oils to the sugar. Mix and store in a small mason jar, or whatever container you like.
- Use 1 tablespoon as needed in the shower or bath. Scrub skin with the mixture and rinse well. Your skin will feel immediately softer!
- Store at room temperature for up to two months.
With a nice label, this would make a lovely gift for a new mom or anyone really (maybe along with some chocolate?). For more zero waste gift ideas, check out my Zero Waste Summer Gift Guide.
Margaret Hoegg is a Simple Local Life Contributor. She is also a writer, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Margaret writes about local food, gardening, sustainability, and wellness at Living Locavore and can be found on Instagram @living.locavore.
