Sustainable Ways to Remove Stress from Your Life

Julie Starr • July 7, 2024

Stress management has become an ever more vital aspect of modern life, yet traditional quick fixes often involve wasteful or unhealthy practices. Aren't we overdue for finding ways to alleviate our daily tension that better align with our commitment to sustainability? In this blog are a few effective and eco-friendly strategies designed to help unwind, relax and regain peace.


Go Green with Exercise 

Nature Walks and Hikes 

Nothing beats taking a stroll through nature to relieve your stress. Not only can walking provide physical exercise, but it can also allow the mind to unwind. Regular strolls through parks, beaches or wooded trails can do wonders for both mental wellbeing and the environment alike. Plus it's an eco-friendly way of staying in shape.


Yoga in Your Yard

Why bother joining a gym membership when your backyard can provide all of the same stress relief benefits of practicing yoga outdoors? Doing yoga outdoors adds another level of tranquility while saving on carbon emissions associated with driving to one. And all without leaving home.


Financial Wellness: Living Debt-Free

Debt is one of the primary sources of anxiety, but striving to live debt-free can significantly ease this strain. Start by developing a budget that covers important expenses while still leaving room for savings. Prioritize paying off high-interest debts first and consider adopting a minimalist lifestyle to reduce unnecessary spending. Living within your means not only eliminates financial worry but also promotes a sustainable way of life. Look into other approaches, like Alex Kleyner National Debt Relief or credit counseling services for help getting back on track. Then focus on enjoying life and cultivating relationships without constantly worrying about money.


Mindfulness for Digital Media 

Digital Detox

Technology can be both an enabler and source of stress. Set aside specific times each day for a digital detox to break free from notifications pinging in from social media. You'll be amazed how refreshing and grounding this tech-free day can be.


Mindful Meditation

Did you know meditation can reduce stress and leave no ecological footprint? Ten minutes of mindful meditation focusing on deep breathing and staying present in the moment can reduce anxiety and improve focus. No gadgets, no waste, just pure, sustainable relaxation.


Sustainable Eating Habits

Cook Your Comfort

Preparing meals at home allows you to control what goes into your food while helping minimize waste. Choose organic, locally sourced ingredients without excessive packaging as much as possible for best results. Cooking can also provide therapeutic activity while providing both nourishment and a sense of accomplishment.


Herbal Teas

Instead of reaching for sugary snacks or caffeinated drinks when feeling stressed, try sipping on herbal teas made from ingredients such as chamomile, lavender, and peppermint that contain natural soothing properties. Plus points if you grow the herbs yourself, mint and lemongrass thrive easily.


Conclusion

Sustainable stress management goes beyond simply reducing stress, it involves cultivating an eco-friendly lifestyle that benefits both you and Mother Earth. By choosing eco-friendly activities such as nature walks, gardening and meditation you contribute to creating a healthier planet while simultaneously improving your well-being. By adopting sustainable ways to manage your stress it's a win-win scenario.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.