Your Sustainable Life - Issue #1

YOUR SUSTAINABLE LIFE WWW.YOURSUSTAINABLELIFE.COM.AU THE ECO FRIENDLY MAGAZINE ONLINE ONLY

JAN 16 ISSUE #1

BONUS

FREE MINI COURSE Seven Secrets to Sustainable Stress Free Living CLICK HERE

Environmental Sustainability Is it just the flavour of the month?

Korryn Malzard explains how YOUR small lifestyle changes can make a big difference...

PLUS Exclusive interviews of Award winning eco-friendly businesses

Issue 1

Featured Article

YOUR SUSTAINABLE LIFE

Environmental Sustainability - Is it just the flavour of the month? pg 7-10

Love 3 Steps to filling up your self love barometer pg 4

Beauty 5 Reasons why your skin is ageing faster than it should... pg 13-14

Wellness 3 Sustainable tips to cope with stress. pg 22 BONUS FREE mini course - Seven Secrets to Sustainable Stress Free Living

Interviews - Wasteless Pantry pg 18 - Good & Green pg 20

STAPLES 03 Editor's Note 11 Pinterest Picks 16 Seasonal Eating 18 Sustainable Brands

EDITOR'S NOTE

Kelly Petering EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hi there and welcome to the first edition of Your Sustainable Life Magazine.

We want to thank you for subscribing and taking the time to read our thought provoking articles and checking out how you can make a difference!

Your Sustainable Life is about inspiring everyday people to step up as Leaders in their community, organisation and in their own lives in general to work towards a sustainable future.

Our Mission is to make sustainable living a common practice in all homes across Australia and globally to make our world a healthier and better place for generations to come.

What is Sustainability?

I love this definition from NSW Business Chamber; “Sustainability is a form of progress or development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” (Source: http://www.businesschamber.com.au/) We are here to inspire health and happiness through sustainable living.

And we want you to join the movement…

Over the past 8 years, I have had the absolute privilege of travelling extensively throughout our exquisite country, Australia. As well as many places overseas, including China, the UK, part of Europe, South Africa and the USA. And I have been blown away at the sheer beauty of this planet. We are so lucky to be able to have access to all these incredible places…

But the reality is… we are doing so much damage to the environment and ourselves through our fast paced, consumer focused society and it’s time to make some changes.

These changes don’t need to be massive gestures – it’s often the smallest things that make the biggest difference.

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ISSUE 1 |

JANUARY 2016

3 Steps to filling up your Self Love Barometer

By Stephanie D'Ovidio The Holistic Health & Wellness Centre Close your eyes, take a deep breath and for a moment imagine living a life where you are constantly in a place of self love.

How do you think you would experience your world differently from what it is now? What would you be seeing, feeling, hearing and telling yourself?

Self love is imperative to one’s survival in life, there is no negotiations on this topic. We survive life because of the love we experience with ourselves and others. Without self love we would live a life full of anxiety, self hatred, anger, blame, guilt and the list goes on. Think about the negative feelings that arise when reading those words and the effect it would have on one’s life doing these actions on a consistent basis.

When we come from a place of self love we become accepting whole­heartedly of who we are as human beings. We not only allow ourselves to connect deeper within our own souls but with those around us. We cannot experience truly fulfilling relationships with our loved ones if we do not love ourselves.

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Here are 3 steps to filling up your self love barometer: 1. Forgiveness You were not put on this earth to get everything right, whatever happened yesterday it cannot be changed however you can make tomorrow an even brighter day. The more forgiveness you give to yourself, the easier it becomes to let go of any resentment or anger to another. Inviting peace into your life instead of constant guilt, is how you give up living a slave to an average life.

2. Be Ok With Every Decision You Make Do you second guess everything you do? Even when you know it is good for you? Or do you continuously feel as if you need to justify your actions all the time? If you make a decision and know intuitively it is the best decision for you, then go with it. Give up the second guessing, and be confident in your capabilities and decisions.

3. Validate Yourself Do you find yourself needing validation from others all the time?

This can be an exhausting process, imagine if the person you are wanting validation from doesn’t give it to you? It can conjure some pretty upsetting emotions including resentment. The truth is we all need a little validation from our loved ones, but how often are you externalising the approval of yourself?

Try this instead: When the need for validation arises, stop what you are doing take four really deep breaths in to centre your mind and body, grab a notepad and pen or say out aloud what you acknowledge yourself for. The more you language approval of yourself the quicker you will build that muscle.

By Stephanie D’Ovidio

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR The Holistic Health & Wellness Centre We believe in a holistic approach to wellness. In order to have a healthy mind, body and soul, our physical body and etheric body must both be balanced. We offer a range of services that compliment one another including Holistic Coaching, Meditation, Reiki, Angel Readings and more to obtain complete life balance and healing. www.hhwc.com.au

18

ATTIC

ENVIRONMENTAL IS

IT

JUST

THE

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JANUARY 2016

SUSTAINABILITY

FLAVOUR

OF

THE

MONTH?

BY KORRYN MALZARD

Used to describe natural resources where the aim is to ensure that they are able to continue being used indefinitely, Environmental Sustainability is a term that we have seen floating around since the 1960’s. At this point, we finally realised that for all of our new technological and economical advances, there was a cost to the environment.

Towards the end of the 20th Century, knowing that we now had a dependency on non-renewable resources, awareness started to become public knowledge and efforts have been made to ensure that we don’t destroy more than we have to and that we can be Environmentally Sustainable.

If you grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, then recycling is a way of life.

We grew up with the old tv ads, and the school lessons ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. Even the Book Muncher begged for you to recycle your phone books in 1993. While the old Yellow Pages might be going the way of the dodo, as a society there is still a big focus on recycling to reduce landfill and promote sustainability.

But, is that enough?

The answer here is no.

According to Scientific American, most experts agree that deforestation around the world destroys around 80,000 acres daily as well as impacting and degrading a further 80,000 acres each day.

These facts are taken from the United Nations reports and to give you an idea of size, 80,000 acres is approximately the size of nearly 80,000 MCG’s daily.

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As if this isn’t already tragic, such devastating deforestation is also costing the earth some 135 flora and fauna daily. This in itself equates to around 50,000 different species of plants, animals and insects that are wiped off the face of the planet to satiate our need for non­renewables.

The kicker?

Destroying these forests not only makes certain things extinct and boots others out of their natural habitat, but it also directly impacts our climate.

So by having no regard for someone else’s home, we are inadvertently kicking ourselves out of a home too.

Experts say that by destroying tropical rainforests, we are messing with the basic programming of the planet by reducing its capacity to regulate atmospheric gases and rainfall, amongst many other benefits.

It is important to note that many of our medicines are derived from plants. If the plants are extinct, then what?

Every day we are slashing and burning what is designed to live alongside us and help us live.

We drill oil from the ground and refine it, sending noxious gas into the air.

We use this oil to power our vehicles and machines, sending noxious gases into the air.

We use chemicals in our appliances such as fridges and airconditioners that deplete the ozone layer.

We over farm and over fish, upsetting the ocean balance.

Our Governments either flat out deny that there is a problem or they try to draw your attention away from it. Only a handful of Governments across the globe are actually doing something about the Environmental crisis.

Stop eating meat and dairy; by eating meat you are inadvertently participating in the misery of the meat trade. Animals are bred specifically for eating and disregarding the fact that many are pumped with all kinds of chemicals, consider the fact that the higher the demand then the higher the supply needs to be. In Australia our exports are huge and all those animals create a huge methane cloud that does us no favours. Putting aside the cruelty, which is a huge issue, the machines required to then produce the large quantities of meat and transport them add to our Environmental woes. If you’re going to eat meat and dairy, then get it directly from a farmer, one who has raised the animal since birth and slaughtered it themselves. This can be transported to a butcher who can cut it all up for you, giving you months of meat in your freezer.

But, there is plenty that we can do as individuals and groups.

Stop purchases from unethical major corporations.

While officials don’t want to admit and don’t want you to know the truth of the extent of what is happening around us, if every individual adopted at least one sustainability practice either at home or in business, we could make an impact and a significant one.

Learn the different recycling labels and make an effort to really recycle as much as you can, keeping as much as possible from landfill.

Those in charge don’t want to help you be sustainable because it costs them money, but being sustainable can not only help our Environment but help you save some serious cash too!

Reduce your in-home consumption of water and power.

We pollute our surroundings relentlessly and run our drains and waste pipes into the sea, killing animal life and the aquatic plants and organisms responsible for nearly 80% of our oxygen.

The result?

Our planet is telling us this she is suffering, but we keep ignoring her.

So, you’re just one person or family, what can you do?

Grow your own vegetables and fruit; It’s better for you and it’s one less family relying on genetically modified produce. If you’re like me and you can’t grow anything despite your attempts, then purchase your fruit and veg from a farmer’s market – it’s straight from the ground and most farmers will be honest and upfront about how they grew it. With Australia in the middle of a drought, the farmers will thank you. If you’re in the suburbs, there are even businesses who specialise in bringing your produce from the ground to your door. You can even visit or start a community garden and share what you grow with you friends, neighbours and family!

Consider renewable energy sources to power your home.

Use only environmentally friendly house and body products, so that when they are washed away they aren’t killing marine life.

Install efficient appliances and accessories into your home and work space; not only will you save money in the long run but you will be reducing your power usage and keeping globes out of landfill.

Give away or sell items that you no longer want.

Don’t automatically throw them away. At the same time, buy your own things second hand or make them yourself If you can.

Ditch all your paper statements or letters and have them sent to your inbox.

Dispose of printer cartridges and mobile phones correctly.

If you have children, consider Modern Cloth Nappies instead of disposable nappies.

Walk or bike instead of driving or taking public transport where possible. If this is not a possibility, then make smart choices about the type and size of your vehicle. Always keep it in good repair to minimise the emissions from your car.

Educate yourself and your family.

There are so many things that you as an individual or you as a family can do to help in ensuring that our beautiful planet is still safe and habitable for our future generations.

Teaching yourself and our next generations about the value of the planet and how they can be a part of the change that makes the future is key in ensuring our planet’s sustainability.

Environmental Sustainability is not a fad.

Climate change is real and we need to do something about it.

The media will tell you otherwise, but science does not lie.

Even as a business you can be involved and reduce your own footprint. As a bookkeeper, I spend a lot of my time dealing with paperwork and bills for my clients.

Since Environmental Sustainability is one of my core goals as part of my business, we encourage our clients to be less reliant on paper and stop printing invoices and bills and use all the handy apps and programs the web has to offer.

In addition to that, we are a paperless office. Paper is a rarity in my business. While we have a printer and some paper, the layer of dust on it is quite thick and in 2 years we have used a single ream of paper.

Since our premises is rented, we do not have access to solar, but we do pay a larger premium on gas and electricity for our power to be ‘green’ and we revisit our sustainability policy regularly and invite our clients to add ideas and be part of the change.

There is much to be said about the state of our Environment and how we treat it.

For many, we have become a society who is so fixated on money that we can’t see what is going on around us.

Money motivates us, and so too should the Environment.

Instead of watching our planet slowly die and our natural resources deplete, we can start the process of Sustainability by adopting good practices and being educated and passing that education to others.

There are a lot of ideas not mentioned here, what can you think of to promote Environmental Sustainability in your home or workplace?

By Korryn Malzard ­ Virtually Virtual

Korryn Malzard is a specialist Xero Bookkeeper and virtual assistant for Virtually Virtual and the lead on a dedicated social media group, Virtually Social.

Committed to being as green as possible in both her home and professional life, Korryn and her family are committed to implementing as many sustainability practices as possible and educate their children to carry these practices on. While not perfect, it is something that they are constantly revising. www.virtuallyvirtual.com.au

PINTEREST PICKS Click >>HERE<< to follow Your Sustainable Life on Pinterest

Click on the images to visit the attributed website.

5 reasons why your skin is ageing faster than it should...

By Ginny Kohli #1) Not Wearing Sunscreen In Winter Think you’re not exposed to the dangerous rays caused from UV light because you’re not outdoors as much? Think again. There are two types of rays: UVA and UVB. The UVB rays (the ones that cause your skin to burn or tan) aren’t as strong in the winter months; therefore your skin is at less risk for sunburn. However, UVA rays (the ones that cause skin ageing and skin cancer) are approximately the same strength year round and can penetrate through clouds, even on a snowy, winter day.

Daily use of a good sunscreen (natural sunscreen if possible) is an absolute must if you’re concerned about preventing wrinkles and ageing skin. Every day of the year, rain or shine, inside or out, harmful UV rays come through windows in your office, home or car. Make sure your moisturiser contains a sunscreen, so you only need to apply one product. Don’t forget, the best anti­ageing product in the world is a good sunscreen. Period.

If your skin is oily and acne prone, I recommend Aroma Magic Aloe Vera Sunscreen Gel SPF 20, if your skin is normal or dry; I recommend Aroma Magic Carrot Sunscreen SPF 15 and for normal to sensitive skin we recommend Aroma Magic Cucumber Sunscreen SPF30. We also have Aroma Magic Sunblock lotion that give SPF 30 PA ++ (equivalent to SPF50).

Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Sunscreens, protects you and prevents premature ageing. #2) Yawning If you stay up past your usual bedtime, chances are you’ll be yawning more. When you yawn, the act encourages your eyes to water, which creates swelling and puffiness both at night and in the morning when you wake up. This excess fluid around the eyes weakens the elasticity of the surrounding tissue, causing an acceleration of wrinkles. The loss of elasticity is like a rubber band that’s been stretched repeatedly: at some point, it doesn’t snap back anymore, and this is what happens to the eye area.

So before you stay up past your bedtime to watch that last show or to read just one more chapter, consider the side effects. This is just one more reason to get a good night’s rest. It’s called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason.

I recommend our magical natural Aroma Magic Under Eye Gel and Aroma Magic Under Eye Cream to treat puffy, tired looking eyes and dark circles.

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#3) Putting Off Getting Glasses Speaking of the eye area, anytime you squint your eyes unnecessarily from bright lights or blurry vision, you’re also weakening the elastin fibers around the eyes and this too will accelerate the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Schedule an annual exam and get prescription glasses (if needed) to stay squint­free. Also, be sure to wear sunglasses whenever outdoors. #4) Drinking Out Of Straws Just like squinting, repeated facial expressions and movements will break down collagen and elastin fibres. When drinking out of a straw, you have to press your lips, causing unnecessary lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Drinking from a narrow bottle may also cause this to happen. I recommend that you drink your beverage from a glass instead. Note: we know that dentists suggest drinking out of straws to prevent liquids from staining your teeth, so this is a choice that you have to make for yourself. I think it’s far easier to bleach your teeth with an at­home whitening system than it is to slow down wrinkles. #5) Not Cleansing Your Skin In The Morning Think it’s unnecessary to wash your face in the morning since your skin is clean from the night before? Wrong. The reason it’s important to wash your skin in the morning is because while you sleep at night, your skin is in repair mode and will secrete toxins and sebum, which can prevent your daytime products from working most effectively. When you wash your skin in the morning, you’re removing those, as well as your nighttime products so your daytime products (particularly SPF moisturiser) can get into the skin more effectively. Simply put, washing your skin in the morning gives it a clean slate.

Also, the nighttime products on your skin often contain ingredients that are suitable only for your evening regime. These should be cleansed from the skin to avoid any reactions or potential irritation. Washing your face in the morning is a key step in ensuring healthy, calm and youthful­looking skin.

For a good natural range of aromatherapy face wash to suit different skin type, please visit our online store www.aromamagic.com.au

We offer you only the good stuff. If you are looking to lead a healthy life in the long run, choosing natural skincare products for everyday use are important.

By choosing Aroma Magic, you are using ingredients that work with natural systems of your skin. Our products deliver the promise of the best natural ingredients for specific care. With us, what you see is what you get.

Our products are free of Parabens, Alcohol, Mineral Oils, Harsh Chemicals, Synthetic Colours and Artificial Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Phthalates and Animal Testing.

SEASONAL EATING Benefits of Seasonal Eating It’s no surprise that eating food that is in season in your local area is both the healthiest and cost effective way to live. But there are many other benefits that come along with it!

1. ECO­FRIENDLY ­ The obvious, right? When we eat from our own gardens, or farmers markets, we are producing less waste (no packaging or horrible plastic bags), we are supporting local businesses and the economy (rather than putting our money into the overseas market) and we are saving on fuel emissions that it takes to actually get the food from either overseas or interstate to the large supermarket chains.

2. TASTE ­ Try the taste test challenge! It is a known fact that fresh fruit and veg from a farmers market is fuller in flavour than what you can get from a large chain supermarket. Head down to a local farmers market and buy a piece of your favourite fruit, then head on over to your general supermarket and purchase that same piece of fruit ­ compare the two and I have no doubt which you will find to be much tastier and full of flavour!

3. VARIETY ­ When you decide to eat seasonally (which we know is not always 100% practical or possible by the way ­ it’s about doing your best with what you have), you will begin to notice a jump in variety throughout your year of eating. This also has huge nutritional benefits as the range of fresh fruit and veg you will be eating may increase dramatically. If you think back to the days before chain supermarkets and on demand availability of pretty much whatever we please, people were eating in the way mother nature intended ­ from the earth. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that certain foods are available naturally at different times of the year ­ our bodies need balance ­ and the more we can get back to eating from the earth, the better. Whilst there are many more benefits to eating seasonally ­ these alone should be enough to inspire you to make the decision to use local farmers market OR better still plant your own veggie garden!

See our PINTEREST PICKS for some funky ideas!

To find out what foods are in season and where to locate your local farmers markets head to http://seasonalfoodguide.com/

By Kelly Petering

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SUSTAINABLE BRANDS

This week I have had the privilege of speaking with one of the owners, Amanda Welschbillig, of Award winning Perth based business Wasteless Pantry.

Wasteless Pantry has been in operation since June 2015 in the suburb of Mundaring in Perth, and their business focuses around “Adapting the way you shop to eliminate disposable packaging, source food locally and sustainably, be more community minded, and only buying what you need”.

Amanda and her business partner Jeannie have worked extremely hard and are passionate about making a change towards better sustainable living practices in their local area and beyond. They also want to get the idea out there that it is possible to run a profitable business with a focus on sustainability, and encourage other business owners to follow suit.

The inspiration behind Wasteless Pantry was Bea Johnson’s book Zero Waste Home (which you can find right >>HERE<<). Amanda says after reading this book, herself and Jeannie were inspired to bring these ideals to the awareness of their local community through a small business venture that is now exceeding their expectations.

With their philosophy ‘Don’t buy Advertising, Buy Food’, Wasteless Pantry allows customers to bring their own containers, jars and re­usable bags into the store to collect their groceries ­

completely eliminating waste from packaging and unused good. Instead of buying a whole packet of sugar from the supermarket, at Wasteless Pantry, you can purchase just what you really need ­ how many times have you had to throw away packets that are out of date or have the evil weevils because they been sitting in your cupboard far too long?!

As well as running the store, these two ladies have been promoting their sustainable living philosophy at local community events, presentations and schools in the area.

There is a lot of information out there about why people should start living more sustainably, but Wasteless Pantry is focused on explaining the HOW… How you can make small changes in your home that will save you both time and money whilst making a big difference to the environment.

Wasteless Pantry is all about embracing a waste less future and promoting the zero waste ideals of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (and only in that order). If you want to learn more about these ideals you can read about it in the book mentioned above, or if you are a Perth local, simply head into the Wasteless Pantry store in Mundaring and have a chat with the friendly staff, who are more than willing to explain how you can adopt more sustainable practices within your own pantry.

Visit the Wasteless Pantry website to find out more! http://www.wastelesspantry.com.au/ Interview by Kelly Petering ­ Your Sustainable Life

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SUSTAINABLE BRANDS About Jianhui London & Its Designer Jianhui is best known for the sophistication of his Next Pashmina which combines art, elegance and practical design.

Yet Jianhui’s creative journey began when he was a child growing up in the countryside in a poor village in China. Hoping that one day her son would achieve great things, his mother named him Jianhui ­ which means ‘building a splendid life’.

Until he was nine his parents could not afford the 20p a term needed to send him to school, so Jianhui would spend his days up in the mountains. It was there that his lifelong fascination with colour and nature were born.

He loved to look at the wonderful array of flowers. With their bright shades of pink, purple and orange they offered a total contrast to the greyness of his family’s impoverished life.

Once his father opened a village shop and the family’s fortunes improved, Jianhui was able to go to school. But each day before school began he would run to the mountains to pick a flower to clip onto his pen to remind him of the fragile natural beauty that existed close by.

At school Jianhui quickly began to excel both creatively and academically. He studied ceramics in China and then came to the UK to pursue his MBA. On arriving in London, Jianhui became fascinated both by the city and its people, with the combination of energetic urban life in sharp contrast to the beauty of London’s many parks and green spaces.

Jianhui’s creative instinct was drawn to the jewellery women wore in colours and vibrant designs that he had never seen before. So when preparing for a return visit to China, Jianhui decided to make his mother some jewellery, but with his own distinctive twist. Using second­hand pieces he found in Portobello Road, he recreated the beautiful flowers that had captured his childhood imagination.

It is from creating these original designs that Jianhui London was born.

Since the company was established in 2006, it has flourished. Jianhui’s unique designs are not only loved by high­end fashion boutiques and jewellery shops around the world, but also acclaimed by V&A, MoMA, Agnes b., Harvey Nicholes (Dubai), Metropolitan Museum of Art, & Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago..

Jianhui holds an ambition that is 'ethical by design and sustainable by nature'.

Find Jianhui London designs at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney or at http://www.jianhui.co.uk/

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SUSTAINABLE BRANDS Canberra based company Good and Green founder Monty Ahmed Feras was kind enough to spend some time chatting with me about his new business and passion for the environment.

Good and Green provide the opportunity for Australian businesses to purchase environmentally friendly bags produced by Benglai artisans and farmers, where they use the world’s best jute fabric (often referred to as the ‘Golden Fibre’). Being 100% biodegradable and water resistant, the fibres that are used to create these bags are grown in the beautiful Himalayan rivers which assists in making the jute material one of the strongest and most environmentally sustainable fibres.

Growing up in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Monty saw how the local farmers would struggle to make ends meet. At the age of 9, a large scale cyclone over took the area and killed 140,000 people overnight, Monty and his family were amongst the lucky ones to survive. After witnessing the devastation the cyclone had on the community and in particular the local farmers, Monty was inspired to make a difference.

Upon moving to Australia in 2008 and noticing the sheer beauty we are blessed with here ­ Monty was determined to help maintain and keep Australia beautiful as well as contribute in a positive way to the place he grew up in. After volunteering for two and a half years for a friend in Bangladesh, where the products are produced, Monty had found his vehicle to raise awareness about his passion ­ keeping the planet green & clean.

He believes that it is his responsibility to look after the environment, and works in his Good and Green business after hours as a passion project, knowing that he is contributing to the community in a positive way and making a difference is profit enough for him. His mission for the business is for every person worldwide to be carrying an eco­friendly bag with them ­ always. So what can you do?

Monty’s wish is for you to take on board his message that if we want this place to remain beautiful for our children and future generations ­ we must DO something now. He says ‘Change starts from one person…’ and you can make a difference by always carrying an eco­friendly bag with you ­ it’s a simple step to take.

If you own a business and currently use plastic or other non environmentally friendly bags, consider that the public is ready to pay a little more now (in the form of an eco­friendly bag) than to risk having to pay a larger price by the way of damage to our environment in the future.

To find out more, visit the Good and Green Australia website at http://www.goodandgreen.com.au.

3 Sustainable Tips on How to Cope with Stress

By Kelly Petering In the 21st century, it is impossible to avoid stress altogether...

These 3 Sustainable Tips on How to cope with stress will assist you in navigating those moments of pure craziness, freak out and total disaster.

Most people default to "HOLY CRAP I'M NEVER GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS..." OR "WHY DOES THIS SHIT ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME???"

Pretty easy to tell which is more resourceful, right?

You might think that hiding under the blankets and wishing it all away is viable strategy for dealing with these situations...

I hate to break it to you, but unfortunately, that's just not going to cut it, certainly not in the long run.

Become a master of your mind in times of stress and you will come to see just how quickly you are able to get through it!

How to Cope with Stress Tip #2 ­ MOVE

Here are my Top Tips on achieving a stress free, sustainable environment for you and your family....

How to Cope with Stress Tip #1 ­ MINDSET Managing your Mindset around stress is the number one way in which I believe can radically reduce the amount of stress you experience day to day.

So how exactly do we manage our mindset?

Here are a few keys elements for you to consider...

What you focus on is what you get... to the exclusion of everything else. When we focus on the cause of the stress, for example; a deadline... That is all we see ­ we block out everything else. What else could we focus on? If we move our focus to what is going to help us get there we are able to see a clear path to achieving the deadline.

Your mind is programmed to believe everything you tell it...

What are you telling yourself in those moments of stress?

Is your mantra "It will be ok..." or "I've got this..." or "This too shall pass..."?

Movement creates energy and releases those feel good hormones ­ endorphins. I'm sure this is not news to you, but it seems to be a strategy that many people overlook when under pressure. Because let's face it, when you're stuck in the 'holy crap' moment or simply fallen in a heap after working your butt off on a majorly stressful project, the last thing you feel like doing is exercise.

Instead of reaching for the bottle of wine or tantalising G & T, put on your comfy pants and a t­shirt and head outdoors for walk. That's all it takes... a simple walk ­ I'm not telling you to run a marathon here ­ although if you are into running, be sure to pick up the pace!

If you don't want to leave the house, that's ok, there are still options for you to get moving ­ maybe it's having a dance to your favourite song in the living room, or doing a few yoga poses.

Even if it's for 15 mins, this break from whatever it is that is causing you stress, this may be all you need to refresh your mind and tackle the situation from a different angle.

How to Cope with Stress Tip #3 ­ TEAM Build a team of people who you trust that can be there for you in those times of need.

Asking for help is OK! We are not expected to do everything alone... Accept help when you need it from those you trust. When you allow yourself to accept help, you will let others know it's ok to ask YOU for help when they are in need. Sharing your stresses can help to relieve the pressure... often hearing a new perspective of how a situation could be dealt with can open up options for you.

So here is a checklist to make sure you chose the right people for your TEAM ­ remember, with any team, it's a two way street ­ give as much (or more) as you receive.

Here is my TRUST checklist ­ THRESHOLD ­ someone who will understand how far you can go ­ we’re all about taking it to the limits, but when it comes to gaining and maintaining trust in a relationship its imperative to ensure both parties know each others threshold… discuss you limitations (we all have them), what will tip you over the edge?

RESPONSIBILITY ­ someone who will take responsibility for their actions ­ if you make a mistake, own it. This is also about doing what you say you are going to do ­ when you make a commitment ­ stick to it… avoid over­committing ­ if you think you may not be able to deliver, don’t promise that you can!

UNDERSTANDING ­ someone who gives others the benefit of the doubt ­ assume that every person is doing the best the can with the information they have at the time ­ bring the element of non­judgement ­ in a trusting relationship, it’s innocent until proven guilty ­ always!

SILENCE ­ when someone shares something with them, they respect privacy ­ the fastest way to break trust is by spreading gossip. Choose a trusting connection with few people over a false connection with many.

TRUTH ­ they have the courage to value truth ­ even when it’s tough ­ doing what’s right will gain trust quickly with the right people.

Here's a BONUS Tip for you... Remember to BREATHE!!!

A great breathing technique that has been used by the military and emergency management workers is to; breathe in for 4 counts, hold 4 counts, breathe out 4 counts, hold 4 counts, and repeat. This will lower your heart rate and immediately decrease your stress levels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelly Petering has a passion for understanding human behaviour. As a Professional Master Coach and Stress Management Consultant, Kelly works with individuals and groups to overcome stress and anxiety through her strategic process. As the Editor In Chief of Your Sustainable Life, she believes in focusing on a sustainable approach to all aspects of life and that every person deserves to feel fantastic about themselves and the lives they lead. Her methods focus on a holistic approach to health and wellness through sustainable living.

You can book in for a complimentary consultation with Kelly by clicking >>HERE<<

YOUR BONUS GIFT To claim your BONUS gift click >>HERE<< or the image above. www.yoursustainablelife.com.au

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