By skyforbes Environmental Wellness and Personal Well-being
By addressing both aspects of environmental wellness, your approach to well-being considers the health of the planet (natural environment) and also the spaces where you spend a significant portion of your time (personal environment).
The natural environment refers to outdoor spaces such as parks, forests, and bodies of water. It includes the natural world at large. Caring for the natural environment requires actions linked to conservation efforts, biodiversity protection, and sustainable resource management. Connecting with nature through outdoor activities is also a vital aspect of promoting environmental wellness.
Your personal environment encompasses the spaces where you live, work, and spend most of your time – your home, office, or community. It involves creating healthy and conducive surroundings that support your well-being. This can include maintaining cleanliness and organisation, minimising clutter, embracing biophilic design, and reducing exposure to toxins or pollutants. Your immediate surroundings have a direct impact on your well-being.
Striking a balance between caring for the natural environment and optimising your personal surroundings contributes to a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle overall.
Why is Environmental Wellness Important?
Environmental wellness is important for several reasons:
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Physical Health: Your environment directly impacts your physical health. Clean air, safe drinking water, and access to green spaces are essential for your well-being. By prioritising environmental wellness, you can work towards living in environments that promote health rather than pose risks.
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Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Being in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving mood and cognitive function. By concentrating on environmental wellness, you create spaces that support your mental and emotional well-being.
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Social Connections: Environmental wellness also fosters a sense of community and connection. Initiatives like community gardens, clean-up events, or conservation projects bring people together, strengthen social bonds and collective responsibility towards the environment.
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Sustainability: As stewards of the Earth, it is our responsibility to ensure the sustainability of resources for future generations. By practicing sustainable habits such as recycling, reducing waste, and conserving energy, we contribute to the long-term health of the planet.
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Ethical Considerations: Environmental wellness involves ethical considerations regarding your impact on other living beings and ecosystems. It encourages you to reflect on your consumption patterns, support ethical practices, and advocate for environmental justice.
Environmental wellness is interconnected with the other facets of personal wellness, like physical wellness (providing opportunities for outdoor activities), social wellness (encouraging community involvement in environmental conservation efforts), intellectual wellness (stimulating curiosity and learning about the natural world), financial wellness (being intentional with purchases) and spiritual wellness (connecting with nature). In essence, environmental wellness is a key component of leading a balanced and fulfilling life.
Related read: Practical Gentle Housekeeping for Better Peace in Your Space