Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 24

The Right-To-Know Revolution

In 1986, California passed Proposition 65. The legislation forced companies that sell products with chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects to label them as such. While the legislation was originally a gigantic win for environmentalists, these days it’s a running joke. Cancer warnings adorn everything from organic soaps to steering wheel covers, bikinis, parking garages, Disney Land, and much more.

Proposition 65 is a case study in the ways in which good intention advocacy can go woefully w...

Is Bamboo Actually Eco-Friendly?

In eco-leaning circles, bamboo is hot, hot, hot. The grass (yep, it’s a grass!) is touted eco-friendly and *the* solution to deforestation and these days bamboo is the main fiber in some paper products, textiles, bathroom necessities, furniture, flooring, and more.

But as with any crop, there are plenty of problems associated with worldwide reliance on a monoculture. Are marketing claims that tout bamboo’s benefits nothing more than next-level greenwashing?

Today I put my guest in the hot seat a...

A Better (Trash) Bag

When it comes to trash bags, there’s plenty of confusing verbiage. Compostable? Biodegradable? Bags with post-consumer recycled content? While one could certainly make the argument that biodegradable and compostable trash bags aren’t worth the money since they’re headed to the landfill anyway (those pits aren’t vegetable gardens, after all); the more cynical amongst us could say there’s no such thing as an eco-friendly trash bag if it holds bad-for-the-planet waste.

The goal is certainly to redu...

How To Organize The Pantry

Your pantry can be your friend or your foe. When it’s well-stocked and organized it will support your health goals, but disorganized spaces will likely derail your long-term wellness objectives.

The worst part? Pantry staples that are marketed as healthy (ahem … bars, protein powders, and crackers) are oftentimes the main culprits contributing to brain fog, weight gain, and belly bloat.

Today I speak with Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach Leeann Rybakov about how to declutter and ...

The Minimalist Cell Phone Movement

The first iPhone hit the market in 2007 and most of us jumped on the smartphone bandwagon without looking back. 14 years later, countless studies document the pitfalls associated with reliance on powerful tech at our (literal) fingertips: impaired cognitive functioning, loss of self-esteem, and increased depression and anxiety are just a few.

The minimalist cell phone movement seeks to take back what smartphones have taken from us, and it advocates for the return of simple phones without distrac...

Is An Electric Vehicle Right For You?

Gas prices are through the roof and we’re feeling the pinch at the gas station. Is now the right time to invest in an electric vehicle?

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Automobiles leave a big footprint. Extracting petroleum products from the earth and shipping them around the planet is both energy-intensive and damaging (let’s not forget about oil spills!). There’s also the tailpipe emissions problem: vehicles in the US are responsible for a whopping one-third of all air pollution in the country...

Late Stage Capitalism And Self Care

Underneath all of life’s burdens, many of us experience the triple losses of time, freedom, and mental space. Self-care is generally touted as burnout’s antidote, and advocates argue that regular self-care routines lower stress, anxiety, and frustration while simultaneously improving energy, concentration, and overall life satisfaction. Sounds wonderful, right? But there’s a problem to #selfcare culture: In amidst capitalism, anything and everything becomes a sellable product or service, self-ca...

The Convenience Tax

All too often (and perhaps without even realizing it!) many of us live our lives by taking the path of least resistance. What’s the easiest choice? What’s most convenient? But there’s cognitive dissonance to be felt when we sacrifice our values in the name of convenience, and experiencing such dissonance can be an uncomfortable experience.

Today I speak with author and social impact expert Sharon Schneider about how seemingly small daily choices can enhance a life of alignment with your heart-fi...

An Ounce Of Mess Prevention

Comedian Phyllis Diller famously once said, “Housework can’t kill you, but why take the risk?”

Our homes are for living, and living is a messy business. But preventing messes before they become unmanageable is indeed possible, and seasoned minimalists often rely on tried-and-true prevention techniques to reduce both housework and overwhelm.

Read on for 5 tips to help you fold, dust, and vacuum less so you can enjoy life more.

 

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Intuitive Eating

Calorie counting, diet cycling, and loads of food guilt. Sound familiar? Intuitive eating may be the answer.

We have diet culture to thank for our body image woes, and that’s because corporations first sell us unhealthy food that detracts from our health, and then we’re sold the promise of yet another restrictive diet as the ultimate – and only – solution.

Today my guest and I answer a listener’s question about the fundamentals of mindful eating. Claire Chewning is a Registered Dietician who bel...