Embracing Mindful Consumption: My Journey So Far
Hi everyone,
I thought the best way to start was to share with you a bit of where I am currently at on my mindful consumption journey. Here's a snapshot of my efforts and experiences:
E-Bike Rides: I ride my e-bike as much as I can (and try not to use the electric assist). It's a great way to reduce my carbon footprint and stay active.
Public Transport: I take the bus sometimes, which helps cut down on my reliance on personal vehicles.
Gut-Health Café: I buy my lunch and dinner through a gut-health café, providing all my own containers and riding my bike to pick it up. I would guess I'm about 60% vegan at this point, mainly because I love food (and wine) but also need to eat healthy; it is a balance.
Wardrobe Decluttering: I've decluttered my wardrobe to know what I have, so I wear the stuff I love and like, and don't feel the need to buy new things.
House Decluttering: I've decluttered the house again and again, so I know what I have and will use. I prefer simple tools, though I recognise that tech can aid mindful consumption, so I'm working on getting my head around this.
Recycling: I recycle using my knowledge, googling, and the Recycle Mate app. This has been an interesting journey.
Container Deposits: I take all my containers for change to the depot.
Power Management: Most of the power points in my house are turned off when not in use.
It's also important that I share with you my Personal Freedom (and inner peace) journey to this point. I have evolved in my life spiritually, emotionally, and physically. My one physical challenge is weight loss, and I am hopeful that this journey, which includes mindful eating, will help me here. I know that consuming wisely will be instrumental in progressing my inner peace.
Currently, I try to stick to a bit of a routine:
Meditation: Meditate most days, usually as soon as I wake up in the morning.
Daily Exercise: I try to exercise every day, usually in the morning, before or after breakfast, depending on what exercise I will be doing and how I am feeling. Sitting in the sun eating my fruit for breakfast with a coffee, chilled out, is one of the nicest times of day for me. This is usually when I catch up on the news.
Exercise Routine: Exercise usually consists of a 5km walk on the beach, Pilates, or stretching. I have just started Qi Gong. If biking, I count that. I climb Mt Coolum once a week for some aerobic exercise and love it. My husband Sean and I hike a bit, but unfortunately, we've both had injuries recently.
Commitments: Once I have meditated and exercised, I feel I have the freedom to spend the day how I choose (excluding commitments, obviously - not a fan of commitments, but they are a necessary evil if you want to get something done 😊).
Nature: I get out into nature every day if possible. It provides me with joy. There is rarely a time in nature where I haven’t had joy bubbling away in my heart. You will see from my posts the nature that provides this joy. I can’t help but take a photo of it.
Nature provides me with joy constantly. I cannot think of a world without it. Hence, Prolific was begun (after my dream). I know that mindful consumption is the most powerful way for all of us as individuals to, not only realise personal freedom, but to protect nature and allow it to flourish. Simply by consuming wisely, we are winding back the constant pressure on Planet Earth to provide for all our unnecessary wants. She can then regenerate and provide more and more joy.
I am just starting my journey. I intend to blog consistently and share my journey with you, with the view that, through my learnings, you will be able to navigate your own journey of mindful consumption.
Fiona Berkin, Founder
Prolific – Consume Wisely, Live Abundantly
