Sorting plastics for recycling is one of the many ways that we can help lessen the negative impact that it has on our environment. Consumer goods are ever increasing in the market and different kinds of plastics are the go-to containers for them. So, it is important that we know what kind of plastics we are bringing into our homes; to make it easier for us to identify them for recycling. It is one of the easiest way to taking your first step towards environmental wellness.
Common Uses of Plastic
A plastic water bottle is the most common item that comes to mind when we talk about recycling plastic. But there are different types of plastics that we use in our everyday life and a lot of these plastic items can be recycled.
LDPE film (stretch wrap, sheet film, clean plastic bags)
PET pallet banding
Big bags
PP/PE packaging
Kraft Poly-lined bags (the kraft is paper)
Plastic drums and buckets
HDPE belting and tooling
Various PPE gear
Types of Plastic
Plastic producers use a numeric resin identification coding (RIC) system to determine the polymers or resin used in them. Not all plastics have resin in them but this coding system help make them easier to identify for recycling. You will usually see this code at the bottom of bottles or at the bottom corner of other plastic items.
1 PETE – Plyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE): water bottles 2 HDPE – High Density Plyethylene (HDPE): milk bottles, bags 3 PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): juice bottles, cling wrap 4 LDPE – Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): squeezable bottles 5 PP – Polypropylene: yogurt cups, plasticware 6 PS – Polystyrene (PS): egg cartoons, packing peanuts 07 O – Other: Often Polycarbonate or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), bottles, auto body parts
Even though not all plastics contain resin codes; it is important t still sort them because they can still be reused. Sorting plastic by their type also helps to reduce contamination during recycling so that they can be recycled properly. Remember to wash them thoroughly with soap and water and dry them before taking them to a recycling center.
Don’t forget that electronic gadgets have plastic parts too but they contain more chemicals than household plastics. There is a proper way to dispose of electronic wastes that we should follow for these items.
In the meantime, there are simple things you can do to help reduce environmental pollution. Of course, it also helps to be aware and to avoid actions that end up further damaging the environment.
Do you know about environmental wellness? Are you environmentally well? Having a healthy environment is important. It is where we go about pursuing our goals. It is important that our environment makes us feel safe to express our authentic ourselves. We should feel safe enough to do what we want to do, and receive support from our social circle too.
One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.
– Leo Tolstoy
In reality, not everyone is in an ideal environment to stay healthy and focused on self growth. However, there are some things that we can do to improve our environment. Here are 10 questions you can ask yourself to assess your environmental wellness.
Are You Taking Care of Your Environment?
Ask yourself: Do I …
Make a conscious effort to conserve energy (by shutting off lights when not in use, keeping doors closed to preserve cool air, walking, biking, or carpooling, etc.) whenever I can?
Purchase energy-efficient products and sustainable materials when possible?
Make a conscious effort to conserve water at home and in other places I go to?
Do my part to reduce air pollution (by keeping my car tuned up, having plants around my living space and home, etc.)?
Make a conscious effort to not litter (bringing reusable water tumblers, etc.)?
Recycle and use recyclable products?
Buy organic and sustainable products even though they can be more expensive?
Buy from local farmers and businesses whenever I can even though it can be more expensive?
Spend time to support environmental organizations and activities?
Keep myself updated on current environmental issues as well as potential solutions and strategies?
There are many more things that we can do to help us achieve and maintain our environmental wellness. Being mindful of how we contribute to environmental issues is a small step that we can do right away. Then, we can start making conscious efforts to reduce our negative impact on the environment. In our own homes, we can start by clearing our space of negative energy and decluttering. This way, we can have clarity on how we can improve all dimensions of our wellness.
Look at the photo above. How do you feel? Don’t you feel mentally exhausted? You will feel stressed just by mere looking at it. Does your environment look similar? The fact of the matter is that a messy living and working environment do cause stress and anxiety. A study done by anthropologists from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) showed a direct link between clutter and stress. So, to remove stress, you must begin by decluttering.
Clutter Defined
What is clutter? A clutter is a collection of things from mails, books, magazines, plastics, pens, dirty clothes or just simply anything that is scattered everywhere creating a mess. It results to the impediment of movement and it reduces the functionality of the space.
It is difficult to maximize the use of your space if you have clutter everywhere. Not only that, chances are, you will be wasting a lot of time looking for missing items. In addition, clutter can also make you lose money by misplacing your bills. You might also feel embarrass when there is an unexpected guest. Thus, removing clutter will help you get rid of that unnecessary stress, worries and fear.
Causes of Clutter
Common causes of clutter include:
Emotional attachment to things
Guilt in disposing presents
Lack of time to clean up
Procrastination
Shopping for things that you don’t actually need
Unfinished projects
How to Remove Clutter
Here are some tips on how you can remove clutter in your home:
1. Allot 15 Minutes per Day
Decluttering can be overwhelming if you have managed to accumulate tons of it for the past several years especially if you are busy. It would be very difficult to do it one sitting. The best approach is to allot 15 minutes a day for decluttering. All you need is a timer and a calendar. Set the timer at the start of the 15 minutes and mark your calendar with an X once you are done. This 15-minute daily habit will not only slowly transform your home but will also result to an improvement in your quality of life.
2. Do it One Room at a Time
If clutter is present in your whole house, the best approach is to do it one room at a time. Choose the room where you spend most of your time.
Figure out what the purpose of that room is. Each room in your home needs to have a clear purpose. What is it for? Is it a place where you sleep and rest? Is it a place to entertain your guests or to eat with the family?
Once you have clearly defined what the specific purpose of that space is, now you need to remove all things that do not relate to that specific purpose. Start with the left hand corner going down and slowly moving to the right. Think of it as if you are reading. Once you have finished with one room and see the results, you will be more than motivated to continue to the next room.
Then begin filling each box. Make sure to fill up each box equally. For items that you are unsure of, ask yourself whether you need that item or not. If you do need that item, do you use it? If your answer ‘no’ to both questions, then that is a sign that it is time for you to let go of that item.
4. Do the Oprah Winfrey Closet Hanger Experiment
If your problem is on how to organize your wardrobe, a quick and easy way is the Oprah Winfrey Experiment. Start with hanging all your clothes in the opposite direction. After wearing a specific clothing, return it back to your closet but this time in the correct direction. Do this for six consecutive months. After six months, you will have a clear idea on what items to dispose and not. You can try this approach with other household stuffs such as linens, bedsheets, cleaning products, etc…
5. Stop Buying Stuff
If there is a need for you to declutter, it only shows that you have so much stuff in your home. It would be very difficult to proceed with your decluttering if you are going to continue buying stuff. So, stop buying in the meantime until you have finished your decluttering. You will also be saving money by not shopping.
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 07.22.2018
Feeling bored? If you are one of the millions of people out there who are in a lockdown because of the coronavirus, now is the perfect time to clean and organize your home. A clean house is good for you and your overall wellbeing. Just look around you, for sure, there are things to get rid of to improve your home.
When your environment is clean you feel happy, motivated and healthy.
– Lailah Gifty Akita
According to a study by Nicole R. Keith, PhD, associate professor of Indiana University; people who live in cleaner houses are healthier and more active. On the contrary, another study reveals that people who live in cluttered areas are more likely to be depressed. Clutter affects people’s feelings and satisfaction about life.
Normally, people are so busy that they don’t have enough time to clean and declutter the house. That is the reason why things just accumulate over time. If you want a better and healthier life, take advantage of this time to get rid of things or clutter in your house. Here are top 10 things that you need to get rid of as starters:
1. Expired Food
Go through your refrigerator and your pantry. Avoid health risks by getting rid of anything that is already expired! If there are foods that you don’t eat, it is much better to give them away so that someone else can enjoy them.
2. Expired Medicine
Do you have any unused or expired medicines in your cabinet? You really have no use for expired medicine. It is best that you throw them away. Check the dates on the labels of each box or bottle. The ones that you will still keep should be properly labeled. Take inventory of those that you no longer need such as pain relievers or antibiotics. It is recommended that you throw them away also. Remember, they are prescribed specifically for you. It is not wise to let others take the medicines that was originally intended for you.
3. Expired Beauty Products
So, you can’t bear to part with an half-consumed expensive beauty product that you bought a year ago. Unfortunately, hanging on to expired beauty products might be doing your skin more harm than good. They might even become the cause of a skin problem.
In a study published by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, results showed that about 70% of women in the study used expired beauty products and that 67% of the make-up samples used by these women were contaminated. If you use expired beauty product, there is a big probability that it is contaminated.
4. Clothes You Don’t Use
You might have shoes or clothes that you don’t wear anymore that are just taking up space in your closet. If you do, this is the best time to get rid of them. They may be outdated or do not fit anymore. Whatever the reason is, if you have not used them for over a year now, that’s a clear sign that you should get rid of them already.
5. Old Magazines
Let’s face it, you are not going to re-read old magazines or subscriptions. Before they even pile up and start cluttering your home, why not donate them instead to local charities, schools, libraries or free clinics?
6. Unused Plastic or Bottle Containers
It is always best to recycle plastic and bottle containers. However, if you have kept them for so long and they are still unused up to this time, it is best that you dispose of them already. Just may sure to dispose of them properly so that they can be recycle elsewhere. There are companies that buy unused plastic and bottle containers for recycling.
7. Outdated or Broken Technology
If you have old or outdated technology, that is considered an eWaste, short for electronic waste. These kind of waste can be extremely harmful to the environment because of the materials used in its production such as lead, mercury and arsenic. So, if you have old technology at home such us gadgets, TV remotes, cords, chargers and many others; it is best that you dispose of them properly. Include used and old batteries that are just lying around.
8. Old Toys
Throw away broken toys. Donate old toys that are no longer in used but are in still good condition so that you can make other children who are less fortunate a little happy. With the new toys that the children received over the years, they won’t notice if some of the old toys went missing.
9. Paper Clutter
Even in this digital day and age, you have probably still accumulated a lot of paper clutter in the house. Sort them out and throw away old newspapers, receipts, pamphlets, brochures, old bills, your children’s test papers and scribbled notepads.
10. Other Broken Items
Do you have any other broken furniture or items like chipped mugs, pens that are not working or broken jewelries in the house? Now is the best time to get rid of those. Remove clutter and get rid of items that are useless, broken and can no longer be repaired nor be given as gifts.
Edited Version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living 01.07.2019. Feature Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay Images.
We all want a vacation now and then to be able to relax and re-energize. However, our busy lives just doesn’t allow for a luxurious getaway. Us girls also wanted to go on a vacation but our schedules never seem to match. We always had something to do on weekends. But we were all determined and constantly excited to discuss our plans for a weekend getaway. Finally, we settled on just going on a short but fun road trip to a small resort in Atimonan, Quezon.
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It was a 6-hour ride, far enough from the city but still near enough not to exhaust us from the travel time. Picking a date to go was tricky at first. But our determination and positive thinking paid off because a couple of days before the weekend, all our schedules synced. So, we met early morning, on a weekend, (despite some mishaps and a sleepless night of packing our bags) for our quick adventure. It was a very quick one indeed. And it was all worth it as we came back with more than just fun memories of our trip.
The essence of pleasure is spontaneity.
– Germaine Greer
The Journey
The 6-hour road trip to Atimonan, Quezon didn’t feel tiring at all as we started early in the morning to avoid traffic. Our goal for this road trip was to relax and have fun. We always thought of this trip as an adventure; so we were all on an adventurous mood as we tried out alternate routes around the area when we did encounter traffic.
One of us volunteered to drive and borrowed her boyfriend’s car for the trip as well. Aside from admiring the sight of green trees, the mountains in the distance and endless fields of green with cows and horses grazing or shading themselves under the trees, we also had a playlist to accompany us. Of course, we had lots to talk about too so we never got bored during the trip.
One of the most fun we had was when we were going thru the zigzag road. Since the road had steep turns, people are stationed at these sharp corners to manage traffic. They signal drivers to stop when there are oncoming cars from the opposite lane to avoid accidents. They also wore colourful shirts and had colourful flags for good visibility. As a sign of thanks, drivers throw out coins as they pass by. So we prepared our own coins and gave some to them at every turn until we ran out of coins. We were especially fond of the grandmother who was sitting at one of the stations.
Courage and the willingness to just go for it, whether it is a conversation or a spontaneous trip or trying new things that are scary – it is a really attractive quality.
– Alanis Morissette
The Resort
Since it was a quick road trip to Atimonan, Quezon, we didn’t really have time to go to all the tourist spots but we did visit a few ones near the resort where we stayed. The Playa de Lucia Resort which was a newly developed facility. Some parts of it was still under construction at the time and they had a swimming pool. However, we were more interested in getting some vitamin sea so we let the kids enjoy their pool time.
Resort signage at the entrance to the pool area.
When we finally checked into our room, the first thing we did was rest for a bit on the comfortable beds. While our companions took a nap, two of us went around to scout the area, check out the beach and of course, take pictures.
The scene at the resort’s pool area from our 2nd floor terrace.
The Pier
We took everything at a slow pace so we set aside swimming for the next day. For the rest of the afternoon, a friend who lived in the area took us around to some interesting spots. First off, we went to Coco – an old pier which was a trading port back in the day. Though it now has cracks and holes, the structure still looks solid and locals and tourists alike visit the place for a relaxing view of the sea. Of course we had to take pictures and it was especially beautiful during sunset.
View of the beach from the old pier.
View of Coco – the old pier, from the side.
This was halfway to the end of the old pier; a long walk from the beach.
View of the ocean from the edge of the old pier.
The pier extended from the beach far out into the sea. It was this part where the floor of the pier had broken down and through the break, you could look into the deep, blue waters. Approaching the break and looking into the water was exciting and scary at the same time. The water’s deep blue color made it seem mysterious, as though mermaids could be swimming underneath the waves, or sea creatures could suddenly rise up and snatch you.
The golden glow of the sun lends the whole place a nostalgic feel. | Source: Pinky
The beautiful view makes the mysterious waters less scary. | Source: Pinky
View of the deep, blue sea from the edge of the broken portion of the old pier. | Source: Pinky
A fisherman casting his nets near the old pier.
A good view of the massive structure from the beach front.
We didn’t go near the edge to avoid accidentally drowning in the deep waters. The calm waters helped us to relax and just enjoy the view. The walk to the end of the port and back to the beach was quite long but the view all around was a welcome respite from the daily scenery in the city.
The Lonely Mermaid
Our next destination was a lone piece of rock, or boulder which just seemed to be attached beside the road and right behind it, a sculpture of a lonely mermaid atop a smaller rock. See a theme here? The rock seemed to be impossibly suspended since it looked like it had a smaller base; which would make it all the more mysterious but we were too afraid to go down and check.
The Lonely Mermaid
A lonely mermaid was there and you can walk up to the monument thru cement steps from the side of the road. We didn’t want to risk losing our footing on the slippery steps, so we contented ourselves with a picture of both the rock and the lonely mermaid. Both these lonely structures were by the highway and the backdrop of the beautiful blue of the sky and the ocean behind them made the whole scene beautiful to look at.
Scenery around the resort at dusk. | Source: Pinky
The sky changing color as night approaches. | Source: Pinky
The Dinner
It was getting dark at this point so we opted to go back to the resort and prepare for dinner. We had agreed to wear the dresses we could never wear for work during this vacation, and dinner was the perfect excuse to do so. I had prepared hair clips that we could wear as accessories for this very occasion and so off we went to dinner at a nearby restaurant (who’s name I can’t remember) which was also near the sea.
The restaurant was large and though it was dark outside, we could hear the sound of the waves and feel the cool breeze from the sea. There weren’t too many people around so the place felt quiet and we were chatting in low voices so as not to interrupt the relaxing atmosphere. This made eating the dishes enjoyable but it also made us very sleepy after we ate our full.
So after dinner, we wen’t back to our room but we didn’t sleep. We spent the time chatting about our issues in life and figuring out our futures until late into the night. It was one of the most honest, deepest conversations and profound self-reflections that I have had in a long time. Being honest with one’s feelings and getting advise without being judged is such a freeing experience and I am thankful for the experience with these girls. As the night wore on, sleep finally got to us and we agreed to take an early morning swim so we could be back on the road before lunch.
The Beach
The next day, we went down to the beach in our swimsuits. We were met at the hotel entrance by Lucio, the owner’s dog who was named after his late wife Lucia (which is also the name of the resort). Lucio walked with us to the beach. We could hear him splashing in the water as we meditated at sunrise while grounding ourselves in the sand. He didn’t go too deep into the water though although we encouraged him. Instead, he was sunning himself by the beach as though he was guarding us and our belongings.
Lucio scouting ahead.
Sunrise at the beach. | Source: Pinky
It’s not the first time I saw a beach with calm waters but in the mornings, the water is usually cold. Here however, the water was warm and inviting and because there were hardly any waves, we could enjoy just submerging ourselves neck-deep in the water without salt spray stinging our eyes.
We dreamed of our own beach property where we could enjoy this view.
We mostly floated around to bask in the early sunshine. It seemed as if we owned the whole place because we were the only ones on the beach at this time. Since the sun wasn’t scorching hot at this time of day, we didn’t even put on sunscreen. The whole world seemed peaceful and serene at the time. No buzz from city traffic disrupted our thoughts and the gentle sound of the water and warm sea breeze was calming to our senses. In such surroundings, it was possible to let go of one’s worries and just enjoy the present moment.
The sun welcoming us to another day.
The sun was getting warmer and so after a couple of hours, we went back to our room. Lucio also walked with us back to the resort entrance and headed to his usual sleeping spot. We could feel how relaxed he was as we had been relaxed too due to the slow pace of activities we had been enjoying since we arrived.
The Journey Back Home
Before lunch time, we hit the road as we are nearing the end of our road trip to Atimonan, Quezon. We passed by the same zigzag road but this time around, we stopped by the souvenir center. The shop sells local delicacies and crafts. My companions got themselves some honey. I bought some turmeric powder and a woven bag.
One of the most memorable sceneries that greet you and the one you say goodbye to when taking a vacation in the province. | Source: Pinky
Our next stop after this was for lunch along the way, where we also got more souvenirs. After a few more hours, we could tell just by the state of the traffic that we were nearing Metro Manila. We were back in the city again but we feel refreshed and revived. Our short vacation made us feel more ready to face the usual daily grind the next day.
The Experience
We did not visit many tourist spots during this road trip to Atimonan, Quezon because our goal was to slow down our pace and enjoy relaxing activities instead. We all agreed to repeat this experience. Just go somewhere to relax, not worry about tourist spots and itineraries. We just want to be with nature, enjoy the sights and sounds without hurrying back to and from each destination.
We may not remember the names of the places we’ve been to but our senses will always remember the rest and quiet that we experienced together. Two days is a short time to get to know each other better. But somehow we have a deeper understanding of each other’s personalities just from the conversations we had that night and from the jokes and anecdotes we shared with each other throughout the trip. We may not see each other again soon, but we know that we will always have a connection. And we will always be looking forward to our next adventure together.
Still hesitating to go on that trip? I hope this mini-adventure of ours, our road trip to Atimonan, Quezon gets you motivated to plan for your own weekend getaway. Tell us about your best travel adventures and your favorite travel moments.
P.S. Yes, we took a lot of pictures of the scenery around us. Maybe why we only got to visit a few spots. They’re something to look back again to when we are stressed out and we want to remember some of our happy moments.
Traveling to new places is a rewarding experience. Traveling also helps you grow as a person. However, you need to remember that just like in your home country, there are rules to follow when abroad. Your trip will be a more rewarding adventure if you try to follow certain travel etiquettes that would make locals appreciate your enthusiasm for their country and culture.
Don’t be that tourist who the locals would rather not be involved with. If you notice that locals don’t seem to be welcoming when you ask for directions, or any kind of aid, maybe you are making them uncomfortable in some way. You might even be disrespecting their culture or breaking some rules already and don’t even know it.
Here are some travel rules to keep in mind to ensure that you not only have a memorable travel experience but leave behind pleasant memories for the locals you encounter too.
1. Learn about your destination
Aside from planning out your itinerary, make sure to learn about the local culture, history and traditions. You might come across interesting trivia that are unique to that culture or locality. You can use this information as a conversation starter to interact with the locals.
Your interest in their culture might endear you to the locals you approach. You might even make great friends.
2. Learn basic conversational lingo + practices
One of the things you should learn is how to converse with the locals for basic information. Learn how to say “Thank you”, “Hi”, “Please” and “Goodbye”. Also learn to ask questions for finding a restaurant, your hotel, how to get to a bus terminal, etc. and don’t expect everyone to understand English.
While you’re at it, learn how the locals greet each other. In some nations, shaking hands is the norm while in others a bow or a kiss on the cheek is expected. This way, you won’t be surprised yourself (or feel offended) when a local greets you with a gesture you’re not used to.
Learn other important customs such as tipping in restaurants. In some countries, there is a customary percentage for how much to tip while in other countries, doing so is considered rude.
3. Don’t forget you’re just a visitor
When you go to another country, you are essentially a visitor and the locals are your host. So, just as you don’t want to interrupt your host’s regular activities; don’t expect local folks to make way for you in daily situations such as in public transport or in ticketing lines to a local amusement park for example, just because you are obviously a foreigner visiting their country.
Also, follow the rules in the places you are visiting. Rules exists for a reason and you may not need understand why but the locals do. Remember that ignorance is not an excuse to break the rules. So be aware of certain prohibitions in the places you will visit and follow them, not only as a form of respect to the locals but also to avoid landing yourself in jail.
Be friendly and respect the people and their rules and practices as you would in your own country. Locals would rather engage with a courteous and respectful stranger than someone they feel is demanding and disrespectful.
4. Dress accordingly
Part of respecting the local culture is to observe proper dress codes in the places you’re going to. If your itinerary includes going to a church or temple, dress accordingly. Don’t show up in shorts and a sleeveless shirt and expect to be accommodated. Similarly, if you’re going to a museum, make sure to wear something not too casual and don’t wear slippers.
Don’t be an obvious tourist by wearing sneakers all the time. If you’re not doing a lot of walking and hiking anyway, leave the rubber shoes at your hotel and wear comfortable day shoes that will still be appropriate when going into a local restaurant or a church.
Avoid wearing fanny packs (belt bags) as you might just attract pickpockets. Wear a cross-body bag instead. Also, try not to hang your camera on your neck at all times. Stash it inside your bag after taking pictures.
5. Be mindful When taking pictures
Aside from standing out like a sore thumb when you’re carrying a selfie stick around, you might also be disrupting locals on their way to their own destinations. Take a selfie using a selfie stick only when and where appropriate. Don’t disrupt foot traffic for example. Find a less busy spot instead. In places where elbow room is scarce, just use your mobile phone instead.
Also, selfie sticks might not be welcome in some museums and in other places, a camera flash might not be allowed either. So mind the rules and the situation when taking pictures so you don’t end up disrupting other people, breaking the rules or worse, damaging your camera equipment.
If taking pictures is not allowed, then respect the rule and just enjoy the experience. It’s better to take back great memories of your trip than a blurry picture that you took in secret, anyway.
6. Avoid comparing and/or constantly complaining
You travel to a new place to experience new things so be open to the new experience instead of comparing it to what you’re familiar with and complaining about it. Just because their traditional coffee doesn’t suit your taste buds doesn’t mean their coffee is inferior to what your country produces.
Learn to appreciate what’s different and try to understand why it’s different based on the local culture. It can be an interesting conversation starter that will allow you to learn even more about the local culture and practices.
If you have a controversial point or a strong opinion about certain topics like politics or religion, keep it to yourself. Discuss them privately with your travel buddies and don’t voice them out in public places. Locals might be sensitive to these topics and you might end up offending everyone who hears your opinions on these topics.
7. Be a nice human being
No matter in what country you go to, be a nice human being by respecting the place where other human beings live. Keep these in mind wherever you go:
Only bargain where appropriate. Don’t haggle for a bargain to the point that you embarrass and/or get into a fight (verbal or otherwise) with the local seller. Understand that some of these sellers depend on tourists buying their items to earn their livelihood. So as much as possible, don’t haggle too much. Especially if local artisans themselves are selling their hand-made crafts, pay your respects for their time and effort by buying their items at a reasonable price.
Follow the same consideration when it comes to booking local residents as travel guides, renting boatmen and their boats, etc.
Don’t leave behind your trash. Whether on the beach, on a mountain trail or in your hotel room; don’t litter. Dispose of your trash appropriately. Not only will the local residents appreciate you, the environment will benefit too.
Observing travel etiquette is an important part of your travel experience. By observing these rules, you can be a well-mannered tourist that locals will welcome in any country you visit.
Travel goals should be a part of everyone’s bucket list. Travelling is fun and full of excitement. It makes people happier. Travelling also helps you grow as a person. It exposes you to a whole new world. It opens your eyes to different ways of doing things. So, if your goal is to have a fresh start, a perfect way in redesigning your life is to have worthy travel goals to make your life better.
Here are worthy travel goals to consider when you go to your next destination:
1. Go to a Place You Have Never Been Before
There is a vast world out there. There are so many places to go to and so many different cultures to experience, so why limit yourself to just a few? Exposing yourself to at least one new place each year is definitely worth your time and resources.
2. Try Traveling Solo
Travelling solo can change you as a person. It will help you grow. When you travel solo, you will have to assume responsibility for your travel. If something goes wrong, there is no one to blame but you. There is no else who should come up with solutions but you . In short, you need to learn the art of survival in an unfamiliar place. You need to be alert all the time and learn to talk to the locals. You will be forced to come out of your comfort zone. In short, the success or failure of your trip lies solely on you. It might be scary at first but once the trip is over, you will go home a better and more confident individual.
3. Meet New Friends
When you travel, you will notice that everyone is friendly. It is so easy to start a conversation with strangers. To befriend the locals, it helps to learn the basic everyday phrases of the local language. If you are part of a tour, you will be surrounded by fellow travelers like yourself. Just simply start a conversation by asking them questions like where there are from or what places they have visited so far in the area. Most of the time, they will be more than pleased to share with you their travel experiences. Meeting friends from around the world is what makes traveling more fun and meaningful.
4. Allow Time for Spontaneity
Having a day-to-day itinerary will help you manage your time and resources well. It will make travelling from one point to another easier if you know where you are going. However, it is not wise to schedule every minute of your trip. That will only lead to stress if it is not followed. Allow some time for spontaneity. If you feel like skipping a part of your tour to just sit in a cafe and watch people; then go ahead.
5. Buy Souvenirs from Local Makers
If you are going to buy souvenirs, don’t buy things that are made abroad. Shop for items that you will never find elsewhere. Buy from local makers and artisans. Bring home something unique.
6. Try the Local Food
One of the best part of travelling is the food. Your travel will not be complete if you are not going to try out the local cuisines. Always try something new. Have a taste of the authentic flavours. A country’s traditional dishes are reflections of their culture.
7. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place or landmark that is inscribed by the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation as having cultural, historical , intellectual and scientific significance to a particular place. By visiting these sites, you are actually helping the preservation of these places for the future generation. Click here for the complete list of UNESCO World Heritage List.
8. Join Cultural Tours
There is no better way to learn and experience a travel destination than from the locals themselves. Joining a cultural tour will give you an in-depth understanding about the place, its history and the people. There is no need to join a multi-day tour group. There are half-day or whole day tours in almost all travel destinations. Some cities even offer free-walking tours for tourists.
9. Go on An Epic Road Trip
A road trip is the best way to really experience and explore a place. First, you are in charge. You can stop whenever and wherever you want to. You can eat whatever food you like. In short, you are in control and you have the freedom to choose your own adventure.
10. Go on A Cruise
Did you know that a cruise is one of the cheapest way to travel? The fee that you are going to pay for the cruise covers almost everything. It includes the transportation, the accommodation, all meals (including room service, use of facilities and amenities, entrance to live shows onboard. Most importantly, a cruise will take you to several different places or countries in just one trip.
We all need our clothes, shoes and bags for our daily work but we don’t need all of them all the time. The changing seasons also means that we use a different set of our wardrobe for a different season. Here are 5 tips to organize your wardrobe. An organized wardrobe keep your stuffs in order and keep clutter at bay.
1. Store Off Season Clothes
If it’s summer don’t keep clothes for cold season on the rack or on your shelves. Store them away so you can keep them clean and not have to pick them up on the floor every time you’re choosing what to wear. This keeps them in good condition and saves space in your closet. You can then take them out when it’s the season to wear them and store the previous season’s clothes away.
2. Organize Your Closet
Sort your clothes and decide what organizers you need and what your closet or cabinet allows. For example, if your closet has a hanging rod but you want more shelving, then you can buy hanging shelving to store clothes you don’t want stretched out on hangers. You can do the same for bags and other accessories
3. Use a Garment Rack
To clear more space in your closet, use a garment rack to hang clothes you use most of the time such as your favorite jacket, blazer or shawl; your go-to jeans and blouse, etc. You can also hang your favorite accessories here such as your fave scarf, hat, sunglasses, handbag, etc. The floor space can be used to line up your shoes too.
4. Organize Your Accessories
Gather your accessories and sort them out. Do you have a lot of bracelets or watches? You can DIY an accessory organizer customized to your collection so you can easily display them on your dresser or DIY separators to organize them neatly in your drawers. You can also DIY or purchase a jewelry organizer that you can hang in your closet or on a wall to save more space. You can also hang your scarves and belts for easier access. This makes it easier to see what you have so you can easily decide what to use.
5. Display Your Shoes
If you have the wall space, use tension rods to display your shoes or get shoe organizers the you can hang on your door. This means you don’t have to go thru boxes each time you need to select what shoes to wear with your outfit.
These quick tips to organize your wardrobe might take some work but it’s all worth it. If you can see what clothes and accessories you have, you will be able to use all of them. Having them organized also lets you spend less effort trying to remember what you have and searching for what you want. Remember that you only need a few basic pieces in your closet to stay stylish and chic.
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 04.20.2019 Feature Image: Original Photo by Yasmine Boheas on Unsplash
Traveling helps you grow as a person. When you travel, you learn about new things. You also discover a world that is different from yours. In the process, you change. When you get home, you are no longer the same person as you used to be.
Learn
Reading books will make you grow as a person. You will have access to a vast range of information. It will entertain you and stimulate your creativity. It will also open your eyes to a new whole world that is different from your reality and make you dream and aspire to become a better version of yourself.
“The world is a book, and those that do not travel read only a page.”
– St. Augustine
St. Augustine of Hippo, said to be one of the most intelligent saints who ever lived, believed in the value of traveling. He correlated reading with traveling. Just like in reading books, travelling will also help you grow as a person. You will see different places and things. You will be exposed to various people, cultures, and beliefs. Because your learn from your travels. traveling helps you grow.
Discover
When you just stay at home or in your area, everything that you do are all habits. Everything is automatic and just merely a part of your routine. However, when you travel, you become alert of your surrounding. You begin to plan and everything that you do will involve decision making. You will also be exposed to a different way of doing things.
Change
When you get back home from your travel. Somehow, a part of you has changed. You begin to look at things differently. You are no longer the same person as you used to be.
If you want to start anew, it is recommended that you travel. Go to a place where you have never been before. Look around you. How is the place different from yours? Observe the locals’ way of life. Are there lessons that you can learn from them? Then think about your life. How do you live your life? Are you contented with where you are right now? What aspects in your life would you like to improve? Being in a new place will help you get a new perspective in who you are and where you want to be. Aim to do this on a regular basis. Make traveling to a place you have never been before at least once a year.
Go out there and travel if you want to grow as a person. So, what are your travel goals for this year?
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 12.20.2018 Image Credit: Lothar Dieterich from Pixabay Images
