Our story It began in a foreign country in Western Europe. It was the summer of 2018. We made a move and later, another decision that would change our lives f o r e v e r. The city was Berlin. The year was 2017, in the … Read more...
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Vegan Very Much is having its 5th year Veganniversary!
Do you celebrate your vegan anniversary? Is this even a thing? Yes, it is! And it even does have its special name – veganniversary!
Interestingly enough the 5 years of being vegan kind of crept up to me last Sunday. I was just doing my usual evening computer work when I realized that the 6th of June marks the day when I/we became vegan. I let Eve know about this special discovery. Then I started looking for more information on how people celebrate it if at all. Apparently, this is a real thing and it has its own name: veganniversary! I found this beautiful website called Live Kindly and they had listed 11 Vegan Activities to Celebrate Your Veganniversary. I browsed the list and chose some activities we would like to participate in.
Just to give you few ideas you could easily enjoy on your veganniversary wherever you happen to be:
1. Make a Vegan Cake
2. Support a Vegan Business
3. Master Vegan Cuisine
4. Watch a Vegan Documentary
5. Treat Yo’ Self
+ as a bonus you can also throw a potluck party!
How we are going to celebrate our 5th year as vegans?
Since we are currently on our 10-day green smoothie cleanse (more about this in later posts), then we had to postpone the celebrations. Until the end of this week. LOL. Making a cake is a must, as we both love vegan sweets, but we are not going overboard consuming them. Some time ago we decided that we would only be supporting vegan businesses. Eating out is so overrated, especially if you are used to cooking food at home. Prices have gone really up and there is no need to support a business that is still participating in cruelty. We are definitely going to treat ourselves – chill at home, go for a walk and nibble something good. If we find a vegan documentary we already haven’t seen (except Earthling, which we can’t watch) then we will enjoy that activity as well.
Why you should celebrate veganniversary?
As with all things which are so-called out of the norm, need time and space. New information or practices are pushed aside, as they may be too extreme for people to understand. The same applies to people who do not eat meat. This is new and strange. I would love to think perhaps not so much on these days. But it is still not so widely accepted by omnivores who feel threatened by vegans.
So what we as vegans can do is to celebrate our special date when we become vegans. If you are just starting, then you can celebrate your first, second, and third, etc month of being vegan. Take pictures, share them on social media and try to normalize this ever so normal thing – not eating animals! Tell proud and loud that this is your veganniversary! The more exposure all kinds of vegan initiatives get, the more people accept, understand, and perhaps even want to go vegan themselves. We should not try to turn people vegan, but we can share the information and make them think about how much animals sacrifice to serve humans.
We hope that more people wake up and realize soon that animals are not our food. They are free beings who have a right to life, freedom, and care by their mothers. We are here to support them and help when they are in need. Other than that we do not need to eat stake, go to zoos, circus, buy leather items, spread honey on our bread and be almost vegans. Just find the compassion in your heart and put your taste buds aside.
This is what we are wishing on our special day – change of habits to many kind people!
*Pictured above is a cake we made using Loving it Vegans wonderful funfetti cake recipe. This is a very easy cake and ever so delicious. Can be made easily using oat flour, if you do not want to eat gluten. So perhaps this can be your veganniversary cake!
Going vegan – easy tips to help you get started
You have made a wonderful decision of going vegan. Good for you, we applaud your decision. But what’s next? Let us share some simple tips to help you!
Pat yourself on the shoulder for making that amazing decision. Summer is the easiest time to start your vegan journey. The new beginnings are sometimes hard and full of challenges. Let us direct you through the obstacles, which may arise. Please take a look at our short to-do list after making a decision when transitioning to a plant-based life. Please know that this list is in random order. You will find what is more important to you, so you can tackle that first. If you have anything else to add, please let us know, we would love to update this list.
Simple tips to follow to help your transition easier to vegan
*Start clearing your pantry, fridge, and freezer – read the labels and take all out which is not made of plants. But please do not trash the food. Look for donation options via community fridges, food banks, especially if you have lots of unopened products. If you have opened items and feel comfortable giving them away, please put everything in a box. Put it on the curb, or by recycling collection areas and your food will find a new home fast.
*Plan your meals – in the beginning, it may hard to find what to eat. That’s why you should have ideas for the first weeks. Find inspiration from Elephantastic Vegan.
*Tell your friends and family about your decision on going vegan – tell them your story. Add whatever you want to share with them, now when you are on your plant-based journey. Perhaps sharing this link from The Spruce Eats helps them to understand you better from the eating perspective.
*Educate yourself constantly – read more. Follow vegan news, check new recipes, visit vegan forums – the vegan community is there to help you.
*Meet other vegans – post on Instagram, follow fellow vegan websites, reach out in your neighbourhood groups – the people you meet there will always offer you support and help to answer your questions.
*Ask help from us – we are always here to help people transitioning to vegan and share personal tips on their righteous path.
More to come, so keep your head up!
We will break these points to separate articles and help you find more information behind all these suggestions. So, please check back weekly to find more information.
It may not be easy in the beginning, but which beginning is easy ever? So stay true to yourself. Remind yourself of the reason for you going vegan. Think of the values, the lives of the animals in whose death you are not participating, and of what it means to you. We are creatures of habits, we can change if we want to, it takes time, but it can be done!
Welcome to the wonderful vegan family!
30-day minimalism challenge: 210 + 105 fewer items
20 days later after participating in a 30-day minimalism challenge to have fewer items – what was the outcome?
This is the follow-up of our previous article 30-day minimalism challenge posted some weeks ago.
We introduced that we will participate in this fun challenge and will get rid of things we do not need. Basically, the challenge works like this: find a friend, family member, or co-worker who’s willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. The idea is very easy: each person gets rid of one thing on the first day of the month. Two things on the second. Three things on the third. So forth and so on.
As it was said that giving away few things in the first week was not so complicated at all, but it got harder after day 10. As in each day, you have fewer items to depart with. We were very persistent and went through ALL drawers, pantries, and closets. I didn’t forget clothes, but I didn’t include them in this challenge. I need a bit more time to go through these and let items go. My main wish was to declutter and get rid of meaningless things, which we found quite a lot.
210+105 items, off you go!
Amazingly, in 20 days I was able to gather 210 items and Eve participated for 14 days letting go of 105 items. So 315 fewer items in our home! We did this just to challenge ourselves and to get rid of things in a fun way. While we had trouble getting rid of things before, we were quite okay to let things go while participating in the challenge.
We gathered the things for some time in two cardboard boxes, and then at one point, we started taking things out. It was starting to be a bit too much, you know. Luckily we had mostly smaller items to give away. We were taking the little boxes out one by one out and guess what? They found new homes very fast!
Most of the things we were getting rid of we have been trying to sell or trade for months, so we knew that selling or trading didn’t work. Since we do not throw things in the garbage, but share instead with friends or strangers, putting out a cardboard box with a sign free – worked the best for us.
Changes we noticed after the 30-day minimalism challenge:
- things we own now all have a purpose
- our counters and top of the furniture is clutter-free
- bookshelves look presentable
- the lunch containers drawer is closing with ease and looks organized
- we don’t have food at home anymore we do not consume
- overall pushed us to be tidier and keep it that way
- it is easier to keep things tidy and have more space to move things around in closets
- fewer items around you just feel better
Conclusion
If you want to have fewer items in your home, please take the 30-day challenge. It is a fun way and doesn’t take long. And, remember you just have to engage with it until you have the needed amount for a particular day together. You can continue the next day where you stopped. Or gather more and have the items ready for the next day. Remember you can always repeat this challenge if you feel like you need fewer items at your home.
P.s. Don’t forget to check #minsgame to see what others have been doing 🙂
Have you seen the ad of Tru Earth Laundry Eco-Strips?
After watching this video – you will know more than enough about Tru Earth laundry eco-strips and you will be sold. We definitely are!
Doing laundry is almost as essential, as using a comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, and toilet paper. I mean in some way or other, we all wash our clothing. But what is at the moment perhaps more essential than the laundry detergent, is the advertisement they are using to advertise their eco-strips!
When we lived in Germany we started exploring and experimenting more with natural household cleaners. Most exciting was when I realized that the horse chestnuts can be used for laundry! Lucky us they were in abundance in the area, where we lived.
I feel like I am falling off the subject here.
What I was going to say…
is that Tru Earth laundry eco-strips are revolutionary!
Though we are into zero waste, using less, buying less, and having fewer things, we haven’t yet tried the strips ourselves. Because when we moved to Toronto, we have received many laundry detergents for free. But this all happened after we purchased a locally-made natural laundry powder. So we have a lot to go through yet, as we do not do laundry so often anyway.
The good things about Tru Earth Laundry Eco-Strips:
- New zero-waste compostable packaging
- No measuring & no mess
- Dissolves completely in hot or cold water.
- Works in all washing machines, including HE. Front loads or top loads.
- Helps keep 700,000,000 plastic jugs out of landfills per year
But I do not have to like Tru Earth laundry eco-strips to know that they are doing so much good. If you see their video, then you know what I am talking about. It is so smart, so fresh, so funny, a bit sexist, but again you could overlook that because what matters the most is the message. And the message is strong. Strong and bold. The video has nearly a million views in a month. A laundry detergent! Wow!
We haven’t received such attention to plastic waste, recycling myths, and plastics longevity ever before in any advertisement. This is an eye-opener hopefully to many people. It is a good advertising trick as well, as people like me become easily their fans, without even trying their product.
Message of Tru Earth laundry eco-strips
The short video portrays a very manly man who starts doing laundry. He doesn’t like it, but soon starts to love it because of Tru Earth laundry eco-strips! He calls out men to be more manly, explains that these eco-strips replace garbage, are eco-friendly, good to your skin, etc:
These funny looking strips I just use instead of my old laundry detergent. Why? Because this replaces this garbage. And who has time to wait 450 years for this junk to decompose? No, I’d rather be doing something manly, like pre-sorting the whites, darks, and oh, so delicates.
Maybe you’re saying, “Oh no, no, no. I put all my recyclables in the recycling bin.” I hate to ruin the mood, but 75% of the content in your recycling bin is rejected at the recycling plant, which heads straight to the landfill.
There’s just not enough need for all the junk we throw away. No! And real men say, “No,” to heavy, wasteful bottles, burning fossil fuel as they ship them all over the country. I pity the fossil fool. That’s why real men use, Tru Earth Eco-Strips. No wasteful packaging, no harmful chemicals. As sensitive to your skin as it is to our planet.
Tru Earth Eco-Strips are designed to be tough on dirt, tough on sweat, and even tougher on the hardest of stains. Simply tear off a pre-measured strip, throw it into your washing machine, and watch that little beauty dissolve completely into that, oh, so fresh smelling goodness. Now that’s hot.
Drumroll, please! Watch the TruEarth laundry eco-strips advertisement here
What are your thoughts? Would love to hear your ideas about it!
If you like to find out more about different zero waste laundry detergents, including the Tru Earth laundry eco-strips, then please tune in here:
Conclusion
Some day we will try out Tru Earth ourselves and see if we are fully sold, or we will be just huge fans of creative and environmentally friendly advertising. Whatever it is, it was a nice experience to consume an ad, which initiates men to do more at home, inspire people to think about plastic and the future of wildlife. On a day like today, we need more attention on heating subjects which appreciate nature and animals.
P.s. Though the strips are a bit pricey buying them would be the most reasonable for Canadians as it is made here, to keep down the emissions.
Internet addiction is real: the journey to recovery
When your real-life has been taken over by your online life, you have an internet addiction! Is everything lost?
Do you have any idea of a certain drug, so normalized in your life that you may not even be aware of its consequences? No, I’m not referring to sugar. Although sugar falls under this type of drug that is advertised to and given even freely to children. I am talking about internet addiction. It is easily accessed through your computer, laptop, phone, and other devices.
A new group of psychiatric disorders exists called, ‘Behaviour disorders’. ”Theses are compulsions to engage in pleasure-give, ‘non-drug-related’ behaviour” such as surfing the web, video games, pornography as well as gambling. This article states that, according to current studies, ”these addictions act on the human brain circuits the same way as an addictive drug affects the brain. Patients experience symptoms of ‘withdrawal’ when gaming ceases.”
Children & internet overuse
Growing up, what did you do without the internet and technology? For a late 80s baby like myself, I spent most of my time outside, it was how I wanted to spend my time; playing with my friends.
Nowadays, there are children who fart around at home all day, playing video games, surfing the web, and thereby, missing their childhoods. Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Philip John, in an article entitled, How the internet acts like drug states:
’’With connectivity becoming integral to our lives, children and youngsters are spending abnormal amounts of time online, studying, communicating, and entertaining themselves. For some of them, it can turn into `behaviour addiction’, like a drug addiction.’’
Children who are at most risk
- This article states the following risk factors: children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are ”restless and multi-task impatiently” (I would imagine they would include Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD) are at great risk of being addicted to the internet. However, in our fast-paced society, technology over-reliance whats causes more and more children to be diagnosed with these ‘disorders’? Is it nature or nurture? Genes or environment?
- Youngsters with learning disabilities and oppositional defiant disorder.
- Children who are obsessive and have a hard time controlling their impulses.
- Shy (not the same as introversion) and introverted youngsters (who get their energy and recharge when they are alone
- People with mobile phone addiction, as most are connected to the internet through data packages and WIFI, therefore fall under internet addiction.
- Parents and caregivers who coddle or give into children’s whims and are overly lenient is also a risk factor
- Low self-esteem in youngsters
How do you know if a child has internet addiction?
”An eight-year-old boy was referred to me before his exams. His family physician could not identify as to why he was agitated and sleepless at night, running deliriously from room to room. At first, it was suspected that he had exam phobia. It turned out that his tab broke a couple of days ago, his addictive gaming ceased abruptly and he was experiencing `withdrawal’ symptoms.
Source: How Internet Acts Like a Drug
According to Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip, parents should not dismiss net binging as a phase. If a child has violent outbursts when the internet, a video game, mobile phone, or other technology is taken away, parents should help the child or get help for them. He recommends the following: ‘‘New schedules of time management, abstinence from a particular app, timing internet use, use of internet in open space are methods that need to be tried with professional assistance to resolve this problem.”
It is unfortunate for children to suffer and the truth is, they are not alone. Many adults, including myself, also fall into the trap of internet and technology abuse and misuse. WiFi is ubiquitous. Being online constantly has become a social norm. For example, a client may opt for someone else if you don’t reply to their constant emails within minutes. A friend of ours told me recently that her landlady became very angry with her when she did not respond to her text messages, instead of just knocking on her door. A long-term injury forces her to limit technology use, and she has a loved-one who the landlady should have called instead.
How internet addiction affects your brain
It can shrink your brain; the gray and white matter. This means that you will have to limit your brain’s ability to process to function as well as process emotions. ’’The brain changes are similar to those produced by alcohol and cocaine addiction.’’ (Source)
According to a 2014 study explains that Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) occurs when a person is unable to control their use of the internet regardless of negative consequences. The findings show that participants who all had IGA showed ”significant gray matter density in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, insula, right precuneus, and right hippocampus, as well as significant lower white matter in the inferior frontal gyrus, insula, amygdala, and anterior cingulate than healthy controls” The study states that previous ones link these brain regions to ‘‘decision-making, behavioral inhibition, and emotional regulation. Current findings might provide insight in understanding the biological underpinnings of IGA.”
Past studies link these brain regions to the following brain functions:
- Decision-making
- Behavioral inhibition
- Emotional regulation
The above findings provide insight as to how IGA affects on a biological level. Current findings might provide insight in understanding the biological underpinnings of IGA.”
How many people have internet addiction?
”Depending on whom you ask”, 1% to 9% of people worldwide are affected by internet addiction, based on a 2012 study published in Current Review of Psychiatry.
Signs of internet addiction
How do you know you’ve moved from overuse to addiction?
Here are ways to unofficially diagnose internet addiction, courtesy of this article.
- Attempts to limit internet use have been futile
- Feeling guilty or defensive about the amount of time spent online and what you do online
- Physical symptoms like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, dry eyes, headaches, neck or back pain, sleep disturbances or insomnia, strained images, unexplained weight gain or loss
- Isolating or distancing from friends and family in favour of the web
- Losing track of time when you’re online
- Neglecting your responsibilities and staying online
- Relying on the internet to improve, bring pleasure, relief, or sexual satisfaction
Source: How do I know If I am addicted to the internet
Who is at risk for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)?
- Feeling lonely
- Lack of social interaction or support
- Currently suffering from other addictions (gambling, alcohol, drug, sex)
- A life-change that limits social activity or mobility such as loss of a loved one, moving, unemployment, disability, or having a baby
- Excessive stress
- People suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health or mood disorders
Source: How do I know If I am addicted to the internet
Sadly, people seeking to improve their mood via the internet are likely to feel worse! Existing anxiety and depression will skyrocket!
” A study of 60 adults in the United Kingdom shows that those in the high-Internet-use group had a much greater drop in their mood after logging off their computers than the those in the low-use group.”
Source: Internet addiction may be as hard to kick as drugs
Treatment for internet addiction
Inpatient Treatment at a Facility
Inpatient treatment requires that you check into a treatment centre for a period of time, 30 days to 18 months of internet-use monitoring. This is an option for those who have the time to devote to their recovery free from distractions and interference.
Withdrawal symptoms of internet restriction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Fear
- Irritability
- Loneliness
- Mood swings
For those of us who do not have access to a recovery facility, doing so at home is the only option. It requires unplugging your modem and even having a loved one hide it. You may use it for work-related tasks, such as your job, keeping your life in order by paying your bills, online banking, etc.
Internet addiction recovery tips:
- For the first 3 days to 1 week of your recovery, do a technology detox- no screens or devices, this will give you a good start to being incorporating to use in productive ways, as a tool used moderately.
- Unplug the modem and hide It from sight.
- Start off your day by doing something that energizes you:
- Go for a jog, walk, yoga, or another workout
- Meditate (You can prepare your body first with yoga if you want)
- Keep a recovery journey and write down how you feel every day
- Tell people you are close to or live with that you are doing an internet detox. They can be of support and won’t worry about you. It’s up to you how much you share with them about what you are going through.
- ”Online is overwhelming for me and I notice that it drains and makes me unhappy. Remember that most people get that social media is toxic.”
- If you share the internet bill and will definitely be staying off for 30 days, ask if they can exclude you from the bill, only if they are close to you can afford it. Perhaps, you can surprise them with a pizza delivery to celebrate after 30 days!
- Write a list of activities you can do to occupy your mind or just have in mind what you can do whenever you feel triggered to go online
- Use this recovery to get to know yourself, practice self-love and understanding
Encouragement for internet addiction recovery
Quitting the Internet has Changed my Life.*
”First off, forgive the grammar. I’m typing this through a laptop with a covered screen.
That’s how hardcore I am. In fact, I don’t even look at computer screens anymore as it induces “third reality” syndrome. Something I made up, basically it sucks you into third reality/cyberspace.
This has been the best week and a half I’ve had in a long long long time. It’s been hard but I have to tell you the benefits are coming in slowly.
I am 30 years old and I have quit the internet, media, television, and radio for 9 days now. I am more productive, alert, and my anxiety has diminished.
‘In fact, I have decided, and have linked my anxiety issues to internet use. I have been using the internet since I was 15 year.. no.. 11 years old. Since 1996. So roughly, I have been online for about 20 years. I have also had lifelong anxiety and depression. It hit hardest late 20’s. I have linked this all to internet use.
Posted byu/[deleted]5 years ago
*Spell checked for easy reading.
Conclusion
Internet addiction is like any other health problem and should as treated right away. Parents must monitor children’s use of the internet and seek professional help when outbursts constantly occur when access is denied. Studies show that structural changes to the brain happen and can only be reversed once addiction seizes. At our peril, we need to take this seriously and monitor usage, as internet overuse can lead to internet addiction, with numerous adverse consequences like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and many more.
The 30-day minimalism challenge to get rid of stuff!
If you haven’t heard about minimalism, then it is your time to jump on and find out what a fun thing is a 30-day minimalism challenge!
We chose a word to describe this new year. It is action. In addition to that, we will challenge ourselves. Just trying to enjoy every day as much as we can – share, love, laugh. We are volunteering, saving, and sharing food, not spending any money, and trying every day to get something out of the freezer. Plus we are not eating animals. A huge help while saving lives and mother Earth.
Get rid of stuff!
We live in a cute, but not so spacious apartment. Ever since we moved in – things just appeared. We are trying to get rid of them, as we do not want to clean, arrange, move them or just be afraid that something is going to fall on us. In other words – we want to get rid of stuff. Hence, the 30-day minimalism challenge is exactly for us.
This game or challenge is created by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus, who we know mostly as the Minimalists. They are challenging people to get rid of stuff, which clutters their homes in a fun way.
How to start with the 30-day minimalism challenge?
The minimalists recommend finding a friend, family member, or co-worker who’s willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. The idea is very easy: each person gets rid of one thing on the first day. Two things on the second. Three things on the third. So forth and so on.
We started our minimalism challenge on the 20th of January and have been on it for two weeks, including today.
While thinking of getting rid of stuff, we may think on small items in our drawers and toiletry cabinets, but The Minimalists share their tips, so basically, anything goes:
Collectables.
Decorations.
Kitchenware.
Electronics.
Furniture.
Bedding.
Clothes.
Towels.
Tools.
But just be warned that one person’s 30-days minimalism challenge includes getting rid of 465 items! If you have too many things, then you can take the challenge again next month 😉
It is getting harder!
Giving away few things in the first week may be not so complicated, but it will get harder each day. I started with a little basket that was just sitting there on the counter and doing nothing. Gone!
Be persistent and go through ALL drawers, closets, pantries. Do not forget anything. Look around you and ask if this is what you really need? When was the last time you used this item?
We are doing this just to challenge ourselves and to get rid of things, so winning is not our goal here. But originally the idea is that whoever keeps it going the longest wins. If both of you make it to the end, then you are both winners.
Share your success on The Minimalist’s social media using #minsgame hashtag.
What to do with the stuff?
We have been gathering the things at the moment to a cardboard box and since today we are starting to actually take the things out. Our plan is to put together a box of small things, which may be of interest to passersby’s in a busy street. Then we will share the photo with our nearby friends and see if they want anything.
Some of the bigger things we are getting rid of we have been trying to sell or trade for months, so we know that selling or trading doesn’t work. Since we do not throw things in the garbage, but share instead with friends or strangers, putting out a cardboard box with a sign free – works the best for us.
So, donate, sell, share or put out, it is up to you. We didn’t do that what the Minimalists recommended – every material possession must be out of your house—and out of your life—by midnight each day. But we are confident that we do not want any of those things, and they will leave our household sometime soon. I wouldn’t have been able to take these photos to show our success so far.
Find out more how to “play” the 30-day minimalism challenge from The Minimalist’s YouTube channel:
Also we recommend this very inspirational video, which definitely gives you good tips on what to get rid of:
Conclusion
The 30-day minimalism challenge is not over for us. Though we didn’t take photos of everything we are getting rid of you can still get a little overview of what we have been giving away. We will share more photos in our follow-up post. Not sure if we can take it until the end, but we will try our best.
Jump on board! Let’s do it!
Let’s make this year about challenges!
We have been throwing some challenges at you this year: Veganuary and volunteering. Perhaps you are ready for more? Choose few below!
Here are the challenges we have added to our lives before, and will challenge ourselves more in the future. Added is also an extended list of our recommendations! We hope you’ll choose a challenge, excel and add more as you can.
Minimalism
Minimalism is the lifestyle of having only things that bring value to your life: a focus on less is more, so you can focus on what matters in life. The things we have, have taken up a lot of room in our lives – not only in our physical space, but also our mental, and spiritual.
Why try minimalism?
You want more time to do things you love
Having more things is distracting. It takes time to take care of your things, put them away. Many people can agree that managing things is never-ending. It takes away valuable time that you’ll never get back. Would you rather spend your time on the activities you love or on managing your overflowing things?
You want to focus on relationships rather than things
It is an understatement to say that Western society values things over, people. What else can we expect when the corporations that sell us things value profit over people?
Your mind is cluttered
Out mind is easily cluttered when we are surrounded by things. This causes low-level stress that we can’t escape. Try studying for a test, or writing a book while in a cluttered, untidy space. Our mind creates our reality and vice versa. The more things you have around you, the more distracted you are.
You want to work less
Most people exchange money for things, and since money doesn’t grow on trees (as many of our hardworking parents have overused and annoyed us with), we trade our time for money. We then use our priceless time for things. The problem is things don’t make us happy, nor will we leave this Earth with but a few (unless cremated).
You want an organized space
It is harder to keep your space organized if you have a lot of things. Just notice any hoarder’s home. The things take over and have a life of their own. Hoarding can be linked to loneliness, although things can’t keep you company or give you a social-emotional connection. It can also be linked to old age, as many hang on to things for the memories they hold.
Buying organizing boxes to organize things is another trap we fall into. The more we have, the more we need to get to keep our things organized.
There are countless benefits of minimalism. Are you ready to take the minimalism challenge?
Pantry challenge
Have you ever looked into your pantry and closed it immediately exclaiming that there’s nothing to eat? Try again! Open it again and really let your creativity flow – ”hmm, what can I make with these peas and onions? Instead of going out and buying more, take the pledge to use what you have. it will feel satisfying to clear your pantry as much as you can before running to the store to buy more. It will not only make you more creative but also more grateful for what you have. As a bonus, gratitude will bring you more of what you want! Win, win!
Are you ready to take the pantry (and fridge) challenge?
No artificial sugar
Sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Can you believe this? Companies are forever advertising sweet treats to children, and yet, sugar is as addictive as other drugs. We vote with our purchases, so if we keep buying sugary things, we are saying that it’s okay to support this billion-dollar industry.
No buy challenge
No-buy November which is a challenge that takes place in the month of November is not the only time to challenge yourself not to buy anything. What if your budget included just your fixed basic expenses? Housing, transportation, and food?
Before this challenge, make sure you have weather-appropriate clothes abs shoes for the season, then get on this! In the case of a real emergency, you may break this challenge and return to it. Even if you fall prey to your impulse buying, hop back on the challenge.
No gluten
Gluten affects your stomach and digestion. Many agree that the wheat today isn’t like before, that many are sensitive to gluten. Whether this is you or not, cutting gluten has other benefits:
- Cutting bread out of your diet can help weight weight-loss
- Avoid bloating from glutinous food that expands in your stomach
- Feel lighter and healthier
- Reduce belly fat
- Improve your digestion
- Focus on consuming vegetables and low-sugar fruits (limit high sugar fruits)
- Prevent foggy brain
Conclusion
We are super excited to get some of this challenges on again this year. They prove to be a nice change in your everyday lives. These challenges come especially handy during these times, when all your favourite restaurants, movie theatres and concert venues are closed. That doesn’t mean that we have to stop enjoying our lives. Please share your experiences on any other challenge you have taken in your life. Looking forward hearing from you!
Want more information? Read these resources to find out more about your challenges!
Ask and you’re given – mutual aid at its best
Do you need anything? Just ask. Mutual aid is based on asking and helping each other’s goals come true! Get to know more about it below.
As you know, for the past four months, we have been making vegan sandwiches for those in need. We reached out to Food Not Bombs Toronto to offer some saved food items. Then we got to talking with a volunteer from there and he introduced us to mutual aid. A term we knew about but didn’t think of it so much before. Mutual aid is perhaps new to many therefore needs a wider introduction.
In organization theory, mutual aid is a voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit. Mutual aid projects are a form of political participation in which people take responsibility for caring for one another and changing political conditions.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Anyway, besides that, he told that FNB is looking for people who would love to take over the sandwich making. As the other team was just ending their work. We were like, okay, but 100 sandwiches sound like a big deal. Making food for so many people wasn’t definitely a skill in our CV’s. But we thought that perhaps this is how we can introduce veganism to a wider audience. To show that vegan food is beautiful and nutritious.
Aiming for the best
Ever since we started with our task of making sandwiches we strived for the best. As vegans, we love and appreciate food. For a couple of years, we have also been fighting for food waste. What a great moment for us – save food and feed people! Also since we are not into consumerism and are frugal, we wanted since the beginning to keep the costs for Food Not Bombs as low as possible.
So far we have offered sandwiches made of different kinds of beans, such as black, white and kidney beans and our favourites, chickpeas. Few times we have been experimenting with wonderful results with vegan eggplant bacon. With mayo, tomato, and fresh lettuce leaf, this has proved to be a hit. At least amongst us two 🙂 One time we were lucky to score 10 packages of Ives gluten-free burgers. We smeared them in barbecue sauce and grilled them in the oven, these burgers were a hit among the receiving end.
Mutual aid started to work little by little, as we received food from different people. Many times people just gave away what they didn’t need, and we were able to put this to work while making sandwich fillings. Awesome! We didn’t think that there is so much free food to save if you just happen to be at the right place at the right time.
Though we like what we are doing, we also like to excite ourselves during this process. So we are trying to come up with new ideas and offer a more varied sandwich selection. But fabricated vegan products are quite expensive, so we have been mostly using vegetables and beans for delivering healthy sandwiches.
Would you be able to donate?
At the end of the last year, I really started to think about what I could do to make these sandwiches better. I knew that there had to be a way. Perhaps reaching out to vegan companies would bring some results. Though I wasn’t really sold on that idea, I decided to give mutual aid a chance and see what it may bring.
I contacted more than twenty companies. Some small local companies and some huge brands from the United States. When writing to them I didn’t think that they will take a step. As the companies have branches in Canada as well and perhaps even in Toronto, so it would be easier to communicate and deliver.
Anyway, we got back, I think around 6 replies. Guess what, responses came mostly from larger companies. This was really surprising, as I have been doing cold e-mailing before and they usually never get back. Wow, so I actually had some leads I could tie down to deals. My heart was full of joy and happiness. Mostly I was glad that people cared and gave mutual aid a chance. Even if it was just a promise to donate something in the future.
Yes, please! I want to Follow Your Heart!
One responder really stood out from the rest, as they were ready for action. The person was representing the company Follow Your Heart. If you are a vegan you are most likely familiar with their famous vegenaise. And perhaps you know their variety of vegan cheeses.
The representative of FYH was really supportive of what we are doing and offered their contribution to make better vegan sandwiches. They were all business when they asked for our mailing address. On Friday UPS delivered a 45 lbs box for our sandwich making. Just on time for our Saturday preparations.
When we opened the box, we were blown away – so many slices of cheese and vegan mayo! Yay, looks like we are on for grilled cheese sandwiches. And for many more ihttps://followyourheart.com/products/avocado-oil/n the future!
Thank you, mutual aid!
On Thursday I reached out to community members near us and a couple of friends. I contacted people from whom I have received free items or delivered similar things to them. Or people who have shared their surplus food with us. We have to talk later about the idea of the Buy Nothing Project, which practicing mutual aid actively.
Anyway, many didn’t have an electric griddle to lend, but our two friends, Ian and Maimu had. We were really happy and were hoping to make these sandwiches with two machines. Ian was even so kind to drop his griddle off. And I bought Maimu’s from her nearby porch.
We had an electric griddle for 8 sandwiches and an electric pan for 4. We were on!
Conclusion
The idea of this article was to give you a little idea of what mutual aid is. Encourage you to ask for what you need and be grateful for what you have.
From this article, many other subjects were hatches, which we will introduce to you in the near future. Such as the idea of the Buy Nothing Project, how to make perfect grilled sandwiches, and introduce mostly on photos how a large company can be environmentally friendly and make a change in people’s lives.
I want to be vegan for a month!
As luck has it January is known as Veganuary. Therefore it is very easy to try to be vegan for a month! Our three tips will help you!
So you have made a wonderful decision of wanting to try being vegan for a month. No matter how long you can hold on to it, your choice is very much worthy of applause. Even if you manage to be vegan just for one day, you will save 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq ft of forest, 20 lbs CO2 equivalent, and one animal’s life. Isn’t that great?
But month being vegan does sound much nicer, eh? With the help of a wonderful vegan calculator at Vegancalculator.com, you can do some easy math. So during one month of being vegan, you would save the following:
There is more than one reason to try going vegan for a month at least. Below are some things to keep in mind though when going vegan. These few tips will help you out during the most difficult few days and weeks.
What matters you the most?
Now think about why you want to be vegan for a month? Is it for the health, the animals or environment or some other reason? Though the most popular reasons are health and compassion for the animals, the others around you, especially meat-eaters can be threatened by that. As they think you are trying to be better than them. Or they will just do not get your sudden wish of loving animals of all kinds. The third reason why people go vegan is for the environment. This is half less popular than the previous answer. But this is actually the most acceptable cause for those who are not vegans. Environment affects us all, and making conscious choices about your eating habits, may actually make others also want to question theirs.
Being vegan is connected to saving CO2, forests, and water. In a year a person who only eats plants will save:
- 3,373 kilograms of CO2
- 3,340 square meters of forest
- 1,520,851 liters of water
Striking numbers, right?
Eat more
When you do not consume animal products you leave out of your plate, you’re not eating so much. it is really important to replace the missing food items with others. Think of tofu, tempeh, beans, mushrooms, etc. Vegans tend to eat more, as the meals made of plants are less calorically intense. So you need to compensate for what you are missing. If you really love cheese, deli slices, and some other animal products, do not worry. There are a wonderful variety of all kinds of spreads, cheeses, and mock meat. Another good way how to eat properly is to google for vegan meal recipes. You will find a galore of breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas. Whole grains, legumes, and starches are your friends now. You need to consume more of these food items to obtain more energy!
Plan ahead!
It is very important to stay on track when just started with a vegan lifestyle. Our lives are oftentimes so busy that we do not have time enough to prepare our meals and snacks. That’s how we may grab a muesli-bar which has some milk powder in it or a pastry made of eggs and butter. Believe us, we know that there are not many vegan-friendly snack options always nearby. Be one step ahead and prepare a little snack bag. It may consist of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and dark chocolate bits. Most of the potato chips are vegan and so are Oreo cookies. Let us recommend once again our favourite snack – peanut butter or peanuts and banana. Oh, they go together so well, giving you a sweet and salty, soft and crunchy experience. And this combo is oh so filling.
Conclusion
Starting with something or changing habits may not come overnight. If you started this journey because of health issues, you may see some changes overnight or you may have to wait for the results. Do not give up, just enjoy your path. The easiest is to cook food yourself and make your favourite homemade meals vegan. If you need help vegan websites and communities are there for you. Remember, plan a bit ahead, as every beginning is a bit bumpy. As an article we read about becoming vegan – it is a journey, not a race.
Perhaps now you want to be vegan longer than just a month.
Read more about our other article on Veganury here.
Helpful links:
Get help from this vegan starter kit at Veganuary.com
If you’re still not sure what to expect, read more by Maggie Kelly about her experience of going vegan for a month at Bodyandsoul.com
Statistics of the vegancalculator.com are listed here.
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