6 Green Ways to Improve Your City Lifestyle

How To Go Eco-Friendly And Make The Most Of Urban Living:

Living in a city is great, or else why would millions of us choose to live here? There are loads of job opportunities, lots of bars and restaurants, the shopping is good, and there are even museums and art galleries if you want to indulge in a bit of culture. Despite all the positives, there are some noticeable drawbacks too. Not only are cities expensive places to live, but many find they are constantly on the go and feeling isolated is common among those living in urban areas. To make the most of where you live below are six clean and green tips that will improve your city lifestyle.

1. Be Cost Savvy

Being cost savvy doesn’t mean you have to forsake fun. It doesn’t mean you have to give up a social life to stay at home and save money. What’s the point of living in a city if you’re not going to enjoy what’s on offer? It does mean, however, that you should start knowing where and when you can find something cheaper – and environmentally sound. Simple things like visiting a supermarket in the evening when more (sustainable) foods are reduced, or looking for discount vouchers for ethical, local-sourcing restaurants when going out for a meal, will help save money and be sure to give you a clear conscience.

Also, learn the things that you can do for free. In many cities there are lots of art galleries and museums that are free to enter, or cheaper if you go at certain times or on certain days. You might be able to get cheaper theater tickets by purchasing them on the day of a performance, when the theater is trying to fill up empty seats.  It takes a bit of effort to start, but soon finding discounts and cost-saving tactics becomes second nature and leaves you with more money to spend on things you enjoy doing.

2. Get More Sunlight

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is now a well-known condition and, even if you don’t suffer from the winter blues as strongly, for most people getting more sunlight helps to improve their moods. Those living in cities, especially in areas with lots of tall buildings blocking out sunlight, getting enough natural light can be difficult. Add to this the middle of winter, when many people find themselves going to work and home in the dark – it is no wonder that winter can be a depressing time of year.

Making sure you gets lots of sunlight often helps. If you can get out of the office during lunchtime, go for a walk even if it is just for twenty minutes. At home make use of your garden, or a communal outdoor space if you are in a flat. You could also consider installing skylights, which unlike conventional windows, face upwards so the light is not blocked out by surrounding buildings.

3. Relax

Cities are hectic places. You can find yourself constantly on the go trying to juggle work, social lives, relationships, fitness regimes, hobbies, sleep – really there is only so much you can fit into a day.

Taking a little bit of time to relax and recharge will help you to take a step back and prioritise what is important, goals you want to achieve and unwind from daily stresses. Many people find taking up yoga or pilates can help with this, but even just taking ten minutes to listen to some music will help.

4. Be Positive

It may sound a cliché, but you are what you think. So if you’re constantly thinking negatively this will affect your quality of life. Positive thinkers tend to be happier and achieve more, solely because they believe they can and if they meet setbacks and challenges they will find a way around the problem rather than giving up.

If you are a negative person it can be difficult to change your mindset, however just by trying to be consciously more positive in both the way you think about yourself and the way you treat others, can start having a positive impact on your life.

5. Become A Tourist

Most cities attract millions of tourists every year. Despite this many people living there fail to explore their own city. If you have a free weekend, grab a tourist guide or explore a site like Lonely Planet and do some touristy things. Visit different areas, landmarks, parks and other places you would never normally go to. Be sure to take care of the environment and it’ll reward you.

Soon you will discover a whole new part of your city.

6. Get To Know Your Area

As well as exploring new places, become familiar with your own local area. Be chatty with the people you get your morning coffee from regularly, join local groups and get involved in the community. For some people living in a city can be quite isolating, however by getting to know people in your local area can help you to feel part of a community and enables you to build strong links with your city.

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About The Author:
Derin Clark is a writer, journalist and blogger with many years’ experience writing for business publications. She is particularly interested in environmental issues, as well as exploring new ways of balancing finance, work and lifestyle.

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