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Today marks the start of National Downshifting Week here in the U.S. It's a week-long (July 7 - 13) celebration of addition through subtraction; making your life more enjoyable by cutting down on the unnecessary (and less-necessary) activities, taking a little more time and expending a little less effort, in an attempt to enjoy some of the finer, slower things in life. And it's a great way to further incorporate some green habits into your life.
Built on the success of InterNational Downshifting Week -- which started in the U.K. in 2005 and happens every spring, usually around Earth Day -- the event here in the U.S. is driven by the positive things that can come from slowing down your pace, embracing living with less and leading a simpler, greener and happier life -- all things we try to promote here on Planet Green every day. It's not about accomplishing less; it's about prioritizing your life to better harmonize with your green values. Follow these tips and you'll be well on your way to celebrating downshifting every day of the year.
Find and use your local Freecycle group
Employing online communities like Freecycle -- and other resources like EcoFlip and Craigslist -- is a great way to lighten your load and get rid of a few things without dumping them in the landfill. One of the Top 10 tips from Downshifting Week is to collect a bag of clothes, toys, or other useful items and pass them along to someone who needs them more than you, and these online resources can help you do it easily and quickly.
Buy fewer things to start with
This is something we talk about a lot at both TreeHugger and Planet Green. Sound daunting? Don't fret; here's an easy way to do it: make a list of things you usually buy once a week or so, and cross three things off the list. It doesn't have to be essential items, like milk or bread, but we've all been tempted by the impulse buy from time to time. Cut out the disposables, focus on highly-useful, highly-necessary items and you'll be surprised at how easy it is to cut back, and your wallet with thank you! Another easy way to buy less: write a grocery list before you go shopping and don't buy anything that isn't on the list when you get to the store.
Cook a meal from scratch using seasonal, local, organic foods
Several of the hot topics for us at Planet Green and TreeHugger are based around the best ways to engage more thoughtfully with the food we eat. Though the end result of this process is relatively simple -- a wholesome, delicious, mindful home-cooked meal, with ingredients procured from your local farmers' market (or even directly from the farm itself!) -- the point is to learn something much bigger than how to cook one meal. Similar to the ideals trumpeted by the Slow Food Movement, it's about understanding what it takes to grow and harvest your food, learning more about what your local region has to offer you in each of the four seasons, and celebrating and savoring the best of what comes from within a farm's reach of where you live. Once you start with one meal, I think you'll find it's too much fun to limit yourself to just one meal.
The Downshifting Week website has a Top 10 list of other things to jump-start your downshift, from composting your organic waste to raising chickens in your backyard; you can also grab the Downshifting Manifesto to use as a guide to downshifing your life this week, and to help you stick to your new habits after the week is up. And, when you've successfully shifted down, don't forget to join up with the Downshifters map so you can add yourself to the growing movement, and celebrate your new lifestyle with others around the globe.
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
More downshifting and slow-movement reading on Planet Green and TreeHugger
National Downshifting Week : 2005
It's National Downshifting Week! (2006)
National Downshifting Week: 2007
TreeHugger Picks: Get a Taste of Slow Food
Support Your Local Small-Mart
Live Green. Think Local First
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