Ways to Support Your Environmental Wellness

It’s been quite the year so far… 

As we take a moment to reflect, it becomes clear to us what really matters most: a place to live, and the health/safety of ourselves, our loved ones, our community, and our earth.   

We must slow down and be aware of our surroundings. The next time you take a moment to reflect on how your environment impacts your wellbeing, ask yourself these questions. 

Is your cluttered kitchen causing food safety concerns?
Do you have a toxic relationship that you need to distance from?
Has it been a hot minute since you changed your bedding and cleaned the dust bunnies from under the bed?

Do a scan of your living and working spaces to find opportunities to improve. Remember that health and safety are basic needs required to achieve overall wellbeing.

Sheridan takes sustainability seriously, and our Office for Sustainability is leading the way towards goals that support our environmental wellness. Every action counts when it comes to leading a more sustainable lifestyle. Here are a few tips to guide your decision making ⬇️

1. Reduce your waste – Check out this article from the Office for Sustainability for “50 ways to green-up your life and reduce your waste line”.

2. Sort and dispose of waste properly – Sorting your waste properly at school and at home (Peel/ Halton/ Toronto) is essential in reducing our environmental impact.

3. Be a responsible consumer – Purchasing = Supporting, as we are constantly “voting with our wallets”. The United Nations recommends Meat-Free Meals and Zero-Waste Fashion as two key actions for consumers.

Humans are part of nature. As time goes by and the pace of life increases, we sometimes forget this important fact. Making time for a mindful connection to nature is essential to maintaining our wellbeing. Here are some ways to reconnect with the earth today ⬇️

1. Get into the garden – Gardening is regarded by many as the best way to connect with the earth. Growing your plants from seed or from bought seedlings is rewarding and it can also act as a way of accessing locally produced food.  

2. Learn about indigenous species – Learning about the species that we share our surroundings with helps to be more aware of your environment. Merlin is a free app that you can use to identify birds.   

3. Get active – Choosing active forms of transportation like walking, biking, paddling, skating…basically anything non-motorized…not only eases our environmental impact, but it provides you with the opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise. Check back for our post on Physical Wellness in a few weeks, we’ll be sharing some tips!   

All Sheridan community members are expected to treat each other in a manner that is respectful and courteous (Sheridan College, 2018). Respecting the rights of others to express their own opinions, picking up after ourselves, and staying up to date with school announcements are all ways in which we can practice good citizenship. When we all act as good citizens, we create an environment that is supportive to all in the community.

Many students choose to engage even further with the Sheridan Community by getting involved. Here are a few ways in which you can get involved:  

• Sheridan Student Union 

• Office for Sustainability  

• Sheridan Athletics 

• Volunteering in the Community 
  

This was written in collaboration with your Sheridan Student Union, Sheridan Wellness and Counselling Services, as well as the Mission Zero Team in The Office for Sustainability.  
 

References 
The Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. (2018, October 27). Student Code of Conduct. Retrieved from Sheridan College Policy and Procedure Management here.

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We recently hosted an online session to help students learn more about growing their own food! If you missed it, please feel free to watch the session below:

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More ways to support your wellness