Table of contents for Issue 17 in Planet Mindful

When my siblings called me a ‘quitter’ as a teenager, it hit a nerve. I had just stopped playing the violin after almost ten years of lessons and I felt guilty for wasting my parents’ time and money. Though true, I denied the allegation vehemently. No one wants to be a quitter. At the time it felt like an accusation that I had thrown the towel in without properly trying. Since then though, in my eyes at least, what it means ‘to quit’ has been redefined. I used to see quitting as a failure. Now I see the flipside of the coin and perceive my more recent ‘quits’ as successes in their own right. Life lessons As I grew up, the message that ‘winners never quit and quitters never win’…

Despite centuries of reports from followers of Eastern traditions that slow breathing can improve focus, bring a sense of calm when we might otherwise lose it and even whisk us away to an altered state of consciousness, most of us still don’t take time out from our busy lives to prioritise this simplest and most unobtrusive of body movements. Obviously, we breathe automatically day and night, and most of the time we don’t give it a second thought. And for a good while, neither did the majority of scientists. Along with other air-breathing creatures, the brainstem – one of the oldest parts of the brain – has long been known to be in charge of setting the rate of respiration, making sure that we keep oxygen flowing into our blood…

What if I told you a plant existed that was a healthy source of protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids, could be used to make more sustainable alternatives to cotton, wood and plastic, while boasting a negative carbon footprint? You might think this was all too good to be true and just the ramblings of a plant-based lifestyle über advocate. If I mentioned that this mystery plant is in fact hemp, the nonintoxicating variety of cannabis, you might begin to understand why most of us are unaware of its potential to improve not only our own health but that of the planet. For the last 60 years, cannabis prohibition has hidden hemp away from all but its die-hard fans. Sure, you might have seen the odd hemp T-shirt emblazoned with…

I confess that getting dressed is something I often do in a half-asleep fog, if I do it at all these days. Yet this most everyday of actions can have a profound impact on our wellbeing and on the planet. Over recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the devastating impact clothing can have on the environment. Fashion is the second most polluting industry on earth. Catherine Orpin founded Touch of Tweed (touchoftweed.co.uk) to change the way we view clothing by focusing on sustainable practices and natural materials. She explains that: “most garments, especially fast fashion ones, are made with inexpensive, petroleum-based fibres that don’t easily decompose, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic. These fabrics will be in landfills for decades to come.” Synthetic materials are one of…

It has been a tremendously difficult year and at times it has been hard to imagine a light at the end of the tunnel. But the summer solstice is an occasion we can all look forward to – the sense of light, life and renewal that it brings is more welcome than ever. Coinciding with the final stages of the roadmap out of lockdown, 21st June 2021 will bring much-needed hope, as well as new opportunities for connecting. For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, it will be the longest day with the most sunlight in the year, marking the official start of summer, according to the astronomical definition of the seasons. This is because, during this time, the sun is the furthest away from the equator. Also…

Scenes of litter-strewn beaches and beauty spots across the UK grabbed the headlines last summer. With many of us planning to holiday at home this year too, the problem of rubbish could surge again – but it doesn’t have to. There are simple steps we can all take to make this a more sustainable summer by reducing our waste as well as our carbon footprint. Whether you’re planning a day at the seaside or an epic camping adventure, here are some easy ways to make the most of the season without eco anxiety. That just leaves the weather to worry about. Before you go anywhere Start by creating a kit of seasonal essentials: sunglasses, sun hats, washable napkins, reusable bottles and cups. Don’t forget a bag for rubbish so you’re…

Self-love is the most beautiful source of love that you can receive because it comes from you – and no one can ever love you more than you can love yourself. After growing through many uncomfortable relationships and friendships, I’ve learnt that only I can love myself the way I want to be loved. You set the standard for how you’re treated and you create the boundaries for the love you will and won’t tolerate. Setting high expectations for others to give you what you’re not giving yourself is setting yourself up for disappointment. The only person you can ever have expectations of is yourself. You know your capabilities, and you know your strengths and weaknesses; the beauty in this is that you also know how you can improve, learn,…

Have you ever had a sudden, overwhelming urge to dive into the local bakers for a sweet treat? Did you ever follow an impulse to do something kind for a stranger? Do you sometimes find yourself saying something in anger that you later regret? An impulse is a decision made without thinking. It’s usually driven by an emotional response to an obvious external trigger: caving in and eating the family pack of crisps; succumbing to the alluring stranger; hitting ‘buy now’ in response to the tempting ad that popped up on your Insta – these are examples of acting on impulse, not intuition. Your inner wisdom is not guiding you to eat more junk food, buy more fast fashion or hurl insults at the woman who took your parking space.…

1 Premium and luxury goods aren’t sustainable purchases 2 Carbon-offsetting is a great way to combat global warming 3 Sustainability is too expensive 4 Being an avid recycler will help to solve plastic pollution 5 A single individual’s choices cannot make a dent or difference 6 Buying organic is always better for the planet 7 You must go all-in on sustainability to play your part…

Cottagecore is as a concept inspired by a romanticised, nostalgic view of rural life. It’s true that amongst the 1.6 million #cottagecore posts on Instagram, you’ll see an abundance of floaty dresses, floral patterns, home-baked goods and, of course, beautiful country cottages. However, the ‘core’ of Cottagecore is a down-to-earth desire for simple, creative, sustainable living which connects us to the natural world. Ramona Jones, a Cottagecore author and social media influencer (monalogue.co.uk) admits that Cottagecore is indeed “about escaping into a pastoral fantasy”, but she also says that “the overall aim is to bring a sense of peace and safety”. Ramona’s words help to explain why Cottagecore’s popularity has soared during the pandemic. The appetite for embracing a lifestyle that provides an antithesis to the pressures and pace of…