Transition from Summer to Fall: what are you ready to let go of?

Transitions: What it means for the body, soul, and your home

The transition to Autumn can be chaotic. Like the changing seasons, our bodies, minds, and wardrobes naturally change. It's up to us if we want to play an active role in the transition.

I don't have kids, so I can't speak to the back-to-school madness, but as far as change goes, Autumn for me involves letting go of what was and embracing a new chapter. 

We want to inspire our readers to do the same. Letting go can be difficult, and embrace a positive new habit, an emotional shift, or willing to be introspective when, in the past, you may have robotically go through this season without reflection, can be difficult in ways you didn't anticipate. 

3 Tips for embracing change

1. Focus on one thing you want to let go of as we enter September (seriously, just one) avoid overwhelm by limiting yourself to one thing. Write it down, tell a friend, and notice how you feel without it

2. Notice your surroundings. Nature has a way to subtly (and sometimes, not to subtly) speaking to us. Look around you as you want to your car or as you sit at your desk, can you visually see the transition from summer to fall? 

3. Seek inspiration. If you listen to the news daily (guilty over here) it can feel as if humanity is doomed. That's only a small portion of humanity. There's still good people doing amazing things for the planet. 

Another way to embrace change is to look to women who have achieved great things when they've accepted change and lead with thoughtfulness. Let’s take inspiration from women leaders and find out where we can lead ourselves.

Women and Environmentalism

The empowerment of women is one of the most important factors in environmental conservation. Women play a key role in preserving the planet and its resources. They are more likely to recycle, use public transport, plant trees, and think about the environment, and they have a smaller carbon footprint.

It is a broad stereotype, but there is some truth behind the notion that women are, on average, more empathetic and cooperative than men, that they have a greater sense of social responsibility. Empathy makes individuals more likely to care about their community and, by extension, the environment and all the creatures within it.

Some of the individual women who have made unforgettable contributions to the health of our planet include:

• Jane Goodall, who has inspired millions of people to care not only about the fate of the chimpanzees that she observed but also the environment at large.
• Rachel Caron, whose book, Silent Spring, reshaped the national conversation about how we use toxic chemicals and fostered a movement that led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, who made huge contributions to Kenya’s women’s rights and environmental movements. Her organization The Green Belt Movement empowers communities and individuals to take action, preserve the environment and secure food and water supply.
• Vandana Shiva, who has worked tirelessly through her organization, Navdanya, to promote fair trade and protect the biodiversity of India’s many native seeds.

The list goes on and on. Everywhere you go in the world, women are at the forefront of taking action for the environment. Let this inspire small steps this towards a sustainable change this Fall.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint at home this season

Women are in a prime position to choose sustainable options, because usually they have greater influence over household purchases and daily decisions that affect the environment. Therefore, they are in a strong position to affect change through their purchasing power.

To exercise your own environmental impact on a daily level:

• Look to your closet before you buy anything new. Ask yourself if you really need it. Let 20 minutes go by before you "hit buy". 
• If you do need to buy something new, consider where it came from, why it's so inexpensive, and the lasting effects it will have on the Earth once you no longer need it.
• Choose plastic-free options when you have the chance, like shampoo and conditioner bars and laundry detergent sheets, and refill rather than replace bottles of household cleaner.
• Walk and take public transport when possible.
• Always bring reusable bags on your shopping outings.
• Cut back on your (and your family’s) consumption of animal products, such as dairy and meat. Try oat milk and protein-rich alternatives to meat, like beans, soy, quinoa, or Beyond and Impossible meats. Even swapping animal products for other protein sources in a few of your meals each week makes a difference.
• Recycle when you cannot reuse. Find out what products (including what kinds of plastics) your local recycling program accepts and then avoid purchasing containers that cannot be reused or recycled.
• Choose energy efficient appliances and light bulbs when you need replacements. You can look for the Energy Star label.
• Use cloth napkins and towels for all but the dirtiest jobs, for which you might want to turn to paper towels.
• Buy paper goods that are made with at least 50% recycled material.

Women are fantastic educators. Don’t be afraid to share your eco-friendly finds and ideas with others, including children, for whom you are a role model.

Save Water

The average American uses over 80 gallons of water per day. This is the combination of shower, faucet, toilet, dishwasher, and washing machine use. And when you think about the amount of water it takes to produce food and beverages, you may be surprised at just how much water you personally use.

Water conservation is an important way to practice environmentalism. Take short showers. Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. Fix leaks in a timely manner. Research the water-usage of various crops (including crops like cotton, which can be very water-intensive) and let that inform your buying decisions.

Save water by planting native plants in your yard or garden. Native plants are an eco-friendly option because they don't need as much tending, watering, or fertilizing.

Enjoy Quality the Green Way

Being green doesn’t mean you have to turn away from little luxuries or quality goods. In fact, as more companies are greening their production lines and their materials, you are gaining some really top-notch choices that you can also feel good about as an environmentalist.

At Lunar Method, our mission it to bring you beautiful and durable luxury that we know will align with your environmental ethics because those are our ethics as well. We make products made to last that have a classic look for any and ALL seasons.