VitaEurope wants to keep you company until Christmas and remind you of all the beautiful things you can do to make the last bit of 2011 useful, fun, sustainable and unforgettable.
We have prepared for you a special advent calendar. Everyday we’ll suggest you a simple action to improve your life and the world around you.
Today you get to open three windows as we’re trying to make your Monday a bit more cheerful!
December 3
A walk in the woods
Nothing can make you feel more alive than a walk in the woods. Before family and friends take over your house for the Christmas madness take some time just for yourself. Walking in the woods is the ideal stress cure and it’s just what you need to survive the holiday season.
Results compiled from several studies show a wide range of benefits:
decreased blood glucose levels in diabetic patients
decreased stress hormones
decreased heart rate
decreased blood pressure
general relaxation of the human body (increased parasympathetic nervous system activity)
possible boost to the immune system (reduced cortisol is associated with increased immune function)
Getting in touch with nature makes you realize how beautiful our world is and raises awareness about the need to protect it. After the walk you’ll be much more motivated to lead a green life.
December 4
Volunteer
As the European Year of Volunteering comes to an end, volunteering is still the driving force of civil society. The trick is committing yourself to something you really care about and have fun doing something good.
The good thing about volunteering is that you can do it everywhere. You could take the chance and leave for India or you could just do something good in your own town, maybe in your own building. Everywhere there is someone you can help. Maybe your old next-door neighbor, who has a hard time walking to the supermarket for her grocery shopping.
Here’s a list of website where you can get some inspiration to do some good:
December 5
Recycle
All right nowadays recycling should be something taken for granted but in our everyday life we could recycle much more than we actually do.
Here’s a good website where to find new ways of recycling and re-using things because not only garbage deserves a second life. Give your old clothes and furniture a chance! After all there’s something called vintage fashion that allows you to wear unthinkable stuff, like your grandma’s coat: fashion has never been this cheap and green.
If you have a lot of old clothes i and want to change some of your outfits without spending a fortune think about organizing a Swap party. When your guests arrive, carrying with them the items they want to donate to the swap, issue a ticket for each of the items. They’ll be able to exchange a ticket for a piece of clothing in the swap. Offer some tea and coffee and allow each person to present a piece of her own clothing to the audience. Guests who are interested can hold up their ticket and exchange their ticket for that piece of clothing. If more than one guest wants a piece of clothing, the person who raises their ticket first receives the piece of clothing. This continues until all of the pieces of clothing have found a new home and everyone is out of tickets.
