16 Delightful Self-Care Practices That Are Also Kind to the Planet

These days many of us are overworked and sleep-deprived, our bodies devoid of vital nutrients. And the planet is going through much of the same because of our carbon footprint. That’s the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by our actions — what we consume, what we buy, how we travel — which leads to global warming. In addition, so much of modern life drains and pollutes the natural resources that bless our lives. Take time to enjoy these nurturing steps for bath-time pampering, radiant and natural beauty, nourishing nibbles, healthy homemaking and rest and relaxation. They are all ways you can practice sustainable self-care and care for the planet.

Need serious bath-time pampering? Indulge in a deep, warm water soak as a special treat to ease sore muscles or decompress. Add a few drops of fragrant clary sage oil to relax. (On other days you’ll save 10 gallons of water by showering.)

Keep a decorative canister filled with baking soda in the bathroom. A cupful added to the bath naturally cleanses and deodorizes, and it may help soothe external irritation from eczema, vaginal yeast infections, hemorrhoids and other conditions. You can also use it as an exfoliant for softer skin and as a non-toxic cleanser to wash the tub as the water drains.

Opt for a beautiful, natural sea sponge instead of a synthetic sponge or scrubber. You’ll get that luxurious lather you love without exposure to the antimicrobial agent triclosan, thought to interrupt hormone function. Sustainable sea sponges last up to two years and can be composted.

To warm up a cold shower, let it run into a container, then use the water for cleaning or to water plants.

Spray a mist of mood-lifting sweet orange essential oil into the warm water sprinkling from a low flow shower head for an invigorating five-to-seven-minute wake-me-up.