20 Things to Do Before 2020
Treat your body to a micronutrient smoothie every day
Dr. Rhonda Patrick is famous for bringing to light the importance of consuming enough micronutrients each day. Adding a smoothie to your diet that is densely packed with nutrients is a great way to ensure you are meeting those needs, and will give yourself the best chance to kickstart your day.
2. Swap out your toilet paper for Who Gives a Crap
We go through so much damn toilet paper every day. Whilst the paper itself generates a huge amount of waste, the plastic wrapping it comes in is an even bigger problem. WGAP is an incredible company that produces recycled and bamboo fibre toilet paper, is plastic free AND gives 50% back to improving sanitation in non-developed countries. Check them out here.
3. Find an infrared sauna studio and pay them a visit
Earlier this year I did a deep dive into infrared saunas and found out that there are a tonne of amazing benefits – they help reduce blood pressure, detox your body, boost your mental state and mood, improve your skin quality and assist sleep. No wonder I feel blissful whenever I visit! Make a commitment to yourself to visit the sauna as regularly as is affordable and practical.
4. Swap out your chemical laden home cleaning products for Thieves Cleaner
Conventional cleaning products are packed full of toxic chemicals. What we don’t realise is that this fairly unregulated industry is having detrimental effects on our health, and on the environment. Do yourself a favour and swap these products out for 100% natural Thieves Cleaner. It can be used throughout the house and you won’t have to worry about your little ones sticking their fingers in their mouths!
5. Find a garden centre nearby and invest in some house plants
This is a great, handy tip that will have your family reaping the rewards. Did you know that house plants can help fight air pollution in your home? As well as boosting the air quality, they also look great and provide a top-notch aesthetic for any room.
6. Invest in a water filter jug
By investing in a water filter jug, you reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disease by more than 80%. Bacteria like cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine and must be filtered out by mechanical filters. Filtering your water will also remove any chemicals in the tap water that are used to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites.
7. Get yourself educated
Spend some time investing in your greatest asset – YOU. Watch What the Health, Gamechangers, Earthlings and Before the Flood on Netflix. If you like these, check out this list of other great documentaries that will change your outlook on the world and make you realise that the time to act is NOW!
8. Download the app STAYFOCUSED for your phone
Do you ever sit down on your couch, pull out your phone and BOOM, a whole hour has passed? We are all familiar with the dark hole that is social media. The STAYFOCUSED app is a gem that helps keep you OFF the apps that are not productive and are wasting your precious time.
9. Clear out your social media
To that point, spend an hour clearing out your social media. Unfollow or mute any accounts that makes you feel less than optimal. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of filling your space with people and accounts that inspire you. It’s time to say goodbye to any accounts that make you feel like your life is less than, or that lead to frustration or negativity.
10. Track your period on a free app
There are several great apps that have been developed that allow you to effectively track your cycles. Why bother, I hear you ask? As women, we are cyclical beings, and our moods, energy levels, and cravings fluctuate throughout the month. One app I love, GLOW, tracks cycles to help women avoid pregnancies, or get pregnant.
11. Invest in a book, course or instructor
2020 is going to be our year! Why not invest in a book, course or instructor that supports your vision for yourself. Struggling with a specific issue in your life? Dying to learn a new hobby? Think a life coach could shift your perspective? Take a leap of faith.
12. Change your energy provider to ENOVA
Enova Energy is a social enterprise that is owned by Australian community shareholders, and helps communities to power themselves with renewable energy that is locally generated, stored and distributed. They also give half their profits back to the community via energy efficiency, education and community projects.
13. Change your superannuation fund to Australian Ethical Super
Choose a super fund that is good for investors AND good for the planet. Traditional super funds invest in a range of asset classes, including mining, gambling and fast fashion companies. Australian Ethical Super prides itself on investing only in companies and assets that are ethical. What makes it even better is that they have outperformed the average fund during most time periods. Make your dollar count!
14. Set a daily step target for 2020
Intentional movement is everything. Our bodies are meant to walk, to run and to jump, but instead so many of us spend our days cooped up in the office. As a result, we feel sore, lethargic and unenthused. You don’t have to run a marathon; all I’m asking is that you set an achievable (but ambitious) step target and commit to it in 2020. I guarantee you will feel better for it.
15. Become a rainforest guardian
Become a rainforest guardian in 2020 and raise money for Halfcut to help stop the horrific deforestation that is occurring. Halfcut is a fundraising movement that started with the purpose of buying up and protecting endangered rainforests globally. The money raised is donated directly to The Rainforest Trust 'Saving Indigenous Land in The Amazon' campaign, which focuses on the Western part of the Amazon basin.
16. Create a gratitude list
Spend half an hour writing out everything you are grateful for. A growing body of research shows that the benefits of practicing gratitude are very real. Gratitude is one of the most researched emotions out there, and it might just be the most powerful one. Having these higher vibrational thoughts attracts higher vibrational things into your life. It shifts your perspective and gets you operating at a higher frequency.
17. Commit to donating blood
Pull out your calendar, visit the Red Cross website and book in 3 appointments to donate blood in the New Year. Of course, be reasonable – if you have pre-existing health conditions be sure to get the go ahead from your doctor. In short, if you can, you should. Every donation saves 3 lives.
18. Clean out your closet
Eminem got it right when he went on about cleaning out his closet. Take some time to go through your wardrobe and donate the clothes that go unworn. By donating these items instead of leaving them hanging uselessly at the back of your wardrobe, you will help others be more sustainable, and play your part in creating a circular economy.
19. Set up a compost system
Food waste is an issue that is increasingly problematic. In fact, the total annual spend on food waste in Australia has hit a horrific $10.1 billion dollars! In addition to the negative impact it’s having on our wallets, our food waste behaviours are also hurting our planet. An easy way to reduce your food waste is to set up a simple compost system in your home. If you have a garden, check out this step-by-step on how to get started. If you’re not very handy, or are limited by space, take a look at this composting system by Bokashi.
20. Have a goal planning session to get clear on what you want out of 2020
Goal planning is everything. It’s been proven that people who have specific, written goals are far more likely to achieve them. It’s a new year, it’s a new beginning, and whilst I think we go a little overboard with new years’ resolutions, I love any excuse to re-evaluate and rethink where you’re headed. Ask yourself the following: what do I want to let go of from 2019? What are 5 things I did well? What are 5 things I could improve on? What goals do I want to achieve in 2020?