Life Fit with Laura Lewis: 8 Tips for a Fit World

by Laura Lewis (Subscribe to Laura Lewis's posts)
Apr 22nd 2008 6:00AM

Being Life Fit is about your total health, including the health of all of your relationships. Life Fit is a journey, not a destination. It is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Check in each Tuesday to Life Fit with Laura Lewis, author of "52 Ways To A Healthy You," as we explore our total life fitness. Then, weigh in with your own thoughts over at Laura's "Life Fit Chat" each Wednesday and Thursday for further discussion on the week's topic. For more information visit Laura at www.LauraLewis.com.

Earth Day ... kinda like New Year's Day for Planet Earth. The goal of Earth Day is to bring awareness to the state of the planet and honor the sacredness of our role in this big Project Earth. Today, spend some time reflecting on the lifestyle changes you can make, both large and small, that will reduce your environmental footprint. We can all make changes that collectively will make a dramatic shift in the wellness of our planet.

I recently attended an intensive lecture at my daughter's school, Besant Hill of Happy Valley in Ojai, CA. Besant Hill is converting from a conventional organization into a green school. One initiative is their "Solar Roller" that generates electricity and can be transported manually around the property to power up various smaller areas such as the PA system in their outdoor gazebo. They also have a YURT on the property, used to gather daily for assembly, play music, etc. The school has an organic garden program that includes a composting system. They would like to move into the direction of buying local of what they are not able to grow themselves in order to help decrease the impact of vehicle emissions. They are a model for all businesses and organizations who are looking for ways to take better care of our environment. Check out the following tips for easy ways we can all become better stewards of our planet.

8 Tips for a Fit World

Join an online group that has a green purpose. For those of us with limited time, you can even join an online group or support an important eco-cause financially. Checkout Green Peace, one of the nations oldest and most respected eco-conscious organization.
Stay educated on important issues facing our planet. GreenDaily is a great place to get up-to-date info on products, trends and politics impacting our planet.
Eco-commuting is all about fitness for both you and the planet. Trade your conventional vehicle in for a hybrid. With gas prices at an all-time high, this is smart thing to do for both your budget and the planet. You might also want to consider walking or biking when commuting locally. Check out Electra bikes ... these babies are so cute you will look for any excuse to cycle rather than drive.
If you are secretly in the closet as a non-recycler, it is time to join the green crowd. People have all sorts of excuses for not recycling, one being they simply do not know what their community provides in terms of services. Earth 911 makes it easy to learn what your city has to offer. Just go to the Web site and type in your zip code and Voila ... all the info you need to know. No more excuses.

Be a scuppy. The scuppies of today are the yuppies of yesteryear: socially conscious upwardly mobile people who walk their talk. If you see trash on the sidewalk, by all means ... bend over and pick it up! Scuppies look after the planet the way they look after their own backyard. Let's face it, everywhere is someone's backyard. Lead by example.

Be a conscious consumer. There is no more power than the power of the almighty dollar. Put your buck to work supporting companies who are making a difference. Buy local whenever possible. Buy organic whenever possible. Educate yourself about the companies in which you choose to do business. If they are not good stewards, you are not a good steward for supporting them.

Go for the paper and the paperless. Still getting your bills snail mail? Just about every company offers online billing. Switchover to paperless invoicing. Opt for paper bags at the grocery store or bring your own reusable bags. When you are purchasing just one or two items, don't use a bag at all!

Shut off the water. When brushing your teeth or washing dishes, don't let the water run and run. Turn it off when you are not immediately using it and only turn it on for rinsing.

Going green is not hard to do. If we all take baby steps, together we will be making leaps and bounds toward a better planet for ourselves and for future generations.