Sustainable practices aren’t just about saving the planet, they’re about slowing down and making life feel more manageable. Let’s face it: we’re glued to screens, juggling endless to-do lists, and surrounded by constant notifications. No wonder we’re so stressed out! Our bodies weren’t built for this pace.
Over the past decade, I’ve explored the importance of the connection between mind & body for our wellbeing, and helped hundreds of people create better harmony between their brains and their nervous systems. You can find more information about my work on www.louisawellways.com.
What I have come to observe over the years, is just how much our environment affects our well-being. One of the biggest challenges we face is what’s called the “Evolutionary Mismatch.”
Our nervous systems were created and evolved in harmony with nature, but modern life is overstimulating and fast-paced, leaving our biology struggling to keep up. Stress, anxiety, and burnout
have become the norm. Sustainable living offers a way to bridge this gap. By reconnecting with natural rhythms, we can feel more grounded and balanced.
Why Being in Nature Feels So Good
Have you noticed how being outside just makes you feel better? For most of history, humans lived in sync with nature: waking with the sun, walking barefoot, and spending most of the day outdoors. Today, we’re very disconnected from that rhythm.
This impacts our nervous system:
The sympathetic nervous system, the fight-or-flight response, often stays on high alert in large part due to our modern lives. But spending time in nature activates the parasympathetic nervous system, also called our “rest and digest” mode, which calms the body and reduces stress. Activities like walking in the woods or even looking at natural landscapes can lower cortisol (our stress hormone) levels, and improve mood. It’s a reset for your mind and body.
Mindful Consumption: Less Stuff, More Clarity
Our modern way of life also makes it easy to accumulate things – whether that be clothes, gadgets, or random knick-knacks around the home. But all that stuff can leave us feeling mentally cluttered.
Mindful consumption is about asking, “Do I actually need this?” Letting go of the excess can feel freeing.
Food is a great place to start. Choosing seasonal, local produce supports the environment and reconnects us with nature. Cooking can also become a calming ritual when you slow down and enjoy the process.
Fun fact: the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic system, is stimulated by chewing and eating slowly.
Mindful eating nourishes both your body and nervous system.
How Sustainable Living Helps Your Nervous System
Sustainable living isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for you too. Activities like gardening, walking barefoot on grass, or hearing birds sing, engage sensory inputs our ancestors relied onto feel safe. This stimulates the vagus nerve, a key player in engaging our parasympathetic nervous system, promoting
relaxation and well-being. The rhythmic nature of activities like planting seeds or digging in soil has been shown to calm the amygdala, the brain’s fear center. These practices also help regulate your nervous system by tapping into what’s called “Ancestral Memory,” creating a sense of safety and helping us feel more at home in our bodies and environments.
Easy Ways to Get Started
- Start Small: Swap single-use plastics or grow herbs on your windowsill.
- Get Outside Daily: Spend 10-20 minutes outdoors. Take a walk, garden, or just sit in fresh air.
- Make Mealtime Mindful: Choose fresh, local ingredients and take your time cooking and eating.
- Reduce and Repurpose: Repurpose items creatively— glass jars for storage or compost food scraps.
- Unplug: Take screen breaks and connect with nature instead, like sketching or hiking.
Why Sustainable Practices Matter
Sustainable living isn’t about being perfect, it’s about slowing down and finding what nourishes you. By reconnecting with nature and making intentional choices, you create the space your mind and body need to thrive. And the best part? These small changes help you feel better while positively impacting the world around you. When you care for the planet, you’re caring for yourself too. It’s a symbiotic relationship that leads to a more balanced, joyful way of living.