As a society and a culture, we have held onto some beliefs and standards that don’t actually help. We can swap outdated beliefs for values that will improve our quality of life. Free yourself from old mindsets and consider these approaches instead.

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Swap the zero-waste perfectionism for achievable eco changes.

Although the zero-waste movement offers some good ideas, the perfectionist ideals are probably not sustainable. Is it even possible to live completely plastic-free all the time? Medical supplies and tofu are some basics that are usually packaged in plastic. Also, the plastic I’m curious about The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make Small Changes That Make a Big Difference by Jen Gale.

Instead of being tired, prioritise your sleep.

It’s no longer ‘cool’ to deprive yourself of sleep or other needs just to be more busy. Things still have to get done. But it shouldn’t be at the expense of our health. Be inspired by Arianna Huffington as explained by this quote on her web site, “We are in the midst of a sleep deprivation crisis, with profound consequences to our health, our job performance, our relationships and our happiness. What we need is nothing short of a sleep revolution: only by renewing our relationship with sleep can we take back control of our lives.” You can read more about this with The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time.

As a parent, I know how the perfect sleep won’t always happen. I don’t feel guilty about having my own nap to revive. But, of course, we need to get plenty of shut-eye at any age. Explore ways to encourage more sleep. You can more easily help others when first looking after your wellbeing.

Move beyond the old or new ‘normal’ to a balanced way of life.

The old normal was pre-pandemic. In the first months or years of the pandemic, there was a ‘new normal’ that probably drove everyone crazy. Some of that remains whether we choose it or not. Life balance could be reached eventually. We eat out to support small businesses, maybe dining in more than we did a while ago. But at home, we can continue using those extra cooking skills we developed. Who learned how to make sourdough in the early days? Or something else? People connected online in ways that didn’t happen before this era. That’s not completely a bad thing. Communities formed across continents, bonding over shared values or purpose. Meanwhile, we now may see opportunities to reconnect with local neighbours. Both are needed. We don’t have to abandon the positive online practices that became the ‘new normal.’ We can balance that with face-to-face life when possible.