5 Steps to Becoming A Mindful Consumer

December 3, 2015 Biome

“The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Biome Blogger, Julie Orr shares her secret to being a mindful consumer and finds a whole bunch of benefits for us all. If you have sustainable secrets to share with the Biome community, we invite to you to join us. Go to the Green Living Guide and contact Tracey for more information

Five easy steps to mindful consumption

Are we consuming daily only the things we require to survive, or are we consuming well and truly above our needs? Is our desire to have it all ruining our lives, our planet and our future? How do we become more of a mindful consumer and start living more sustainably? Here are five steps to get you started.

1. Believe that you deserve better.

If you believe you deserve better you are less likely to purchase the cheaper alternative (the buy now and throw away later alternative). You will pay a higher price for the better option and will appreciate it more. The more you appreciate an item, the better care you will take of it and the longer that item will last. Ultimately consuming less.

2. Aim to be healthier.

When you aim to be healthier, you usually start with food. You'll start to reduce the junk in your diet and choose the healthier option. The healthier option usually costs more and takes more time/effort, therefore you will eat less of it. Also if you spend more money on your food, you will be less likely to waste it. Sarah Wilson, who wrote I Quit Sugar, has now got a fabulous new cookbook about using food in a more sustainable manner with minimal waste.

3. Get more organised.

Obviously being organised is easier with less stuff right? Organised people do not have clutter or excess if their lives. Keep things simple, neat and tidy. The next time you want to buy an item for your home, ask yourself if you really need it? Where are you going to put it? Want and need are two very different things. Being organised means knowing what you actually need before you go shopping, not buying on impulse and ending up with excess or unnecessary items.

4. Love your kids enough to say no.

"Parents these days"...(especially me), find it difficult to say no to our kids. We want to make them happy and think that spoiling them will achieve this. We need to realize that by buying our kids less stuff we can teach them appreciation, patience, sustainability and happiness. The kind of happiness that doesn't require material things. Giving them less will help them become better consumers when they grow up.

5. Be grateful for what you have.

We need to lead by example, and appreciate what we already have. Before you purchase something new determine if you will actually use it and once you have bought it make sure you do actually use it. Be grateful for all the great 'toys' that are available these days to make life easier, but also realise that sometimes it's okay to do things the old fashion way. Also be grateful for the wonderful fresh food we have available to us, use it well and appreciate every bite.

The secret to being a mindful consumer is really a blessing: be grateful, be healthy, love your kids and want more than just a material existence; live sustainably and remember the best things in life are free. Let me know how it works for you.

Julie