How does the moving industry affect our ecosystem?

Relocation seems to be an integral part of our planet's everyday cycle. Every person will move at one point in their life, and many of us will do so multiple times in our lives. With so much migration going on all over the world, one is bound to wonder how the moving industry affects our ecosystem and how much damage it actually makes. 

If you are committed to creating a sustainable life for yourself, then you are probably already aware of how detrimental an average relocation can be. For those who still struggle with sustainability and everything it entails, this guide will be some sort of a blessing, helping you take better care of our planet the next time you have to relocate. 

In which way does the moving industry affect our ecosystem?

Think about the last time you had to move. We can bet that your main goal was to be efficient and get your relocation out of the way as soon as possible. And that's a reasonable goal. After all, no one is keen on spending weeks of their life having to wrap, seal, tape, and pack. But there's only one glitch about trying to be effective - it usually takes precedence over sustainability. 

The reasonable thing is to aim for a quick and expedient relocation.

People usually want to protect their items as much as possible when moving from one city to another one. That's why they use protective packagings such as plastic and air bubble foil. For starters, we all know how long it takes for plastic to decompose - and that's just a part of the issue here. The other part is all the waste we leave behind after relocation. We are talking about packing materials, moving boxes, plastic bins, and the list just goes on and on. Chances are that you will have dozens of trash bags filled with waste. And bear in mind that there were thousands of relocations conducted that same day. 

Luckily, there are ways to prevent and lessen this negative effect moving has on our ecosystem. And that doesn't just go for local moves which people always assume are easier. There is a way to have a sustainable relocation even when you need to have your household items transported internationally. The pieces of advice are about to follow - the question is whether you plan to incorporate them during your next move.

How to have a more eco-friendly relocation? 

We all have the duty of helping our planet heal. To do that during your next relocation, you just need to follow the three tips we are about to provide. If you are aware of how badly the moving industry can affect our ecosystem, we have no doubt you will be more conscientious during your next move. 

Rent moving boxes instead of buying them 

Moving boxes are definitely one of the most important components of moving. After all, you can't pack your items without them, so like it or not, we all have to use them. But there is undeniably a way to significantly prevent waste during relocation, and that's by renting reusable moving boxes. 

Reusable moving boxes delivered at your doorstep – what could be better?

With the Internet at your complete disposal, you shouldn't have a problem finding a service that offers such help. In addition to offering reusable moving boxes, lots of companies also complete the drop-off and the pick-up of their boxes. So when you finish with your move, you don't have to worry about getting rid of the waste. See? A sustainable move can actually be a lot easier and certainly less stressful!

Use soft fabric for wrapping your items 

Make no mistake - some sort of protection for your items is mandatory during relocation. But you don't have to resort to the conventional packing materials which create a lot of waste. Sort through your items and separate those that can be labeled as fragile and/or valuable. Now take all the soft fabrics you own, such as bedding, towels, linens, etc. and start wrapping your items. 

Think of this as a win-win situation. Not only do you get to pack and protect your fragile items, but you also tackle the problem of fabrics, as they are automatically packed and ready to go. Not to mention that by doing this, you get to preserve our planet and our ecosystem. Who would have thought that the most eco-friendly packaging solutions were right at our fingertips? 

Have a garage sale 

No matter how minimalistic your lifestyle is, you can rest assured that you are going to have many items that you won't pack and relocate. Instead of realizing that once you start packing, we suggest you be proactive about it. Dedicate a weekend to sorting your belongings and deciding what you don't plan on keeping. You can then organize a garage sale for those items that didn't make the cut or you can donate them. 

Reducing waste during relocation is the number one way to lessen the effects of moving on our ecosystem.

Either way, you will work on a very important thing - preventing waste during relocation. And by now, all of us have hopefully managed to realize how waste has a detrimental effect on our entire planet. That's how the moving industry affects our ecosystem in the long run, leading up to the problems we are facing today. 

The solution is right in front of you

We have already established that the relocation industry can have a long-lasting effect on our environment. But does the moving industry affect our ecosystem on its own or are we also the ones to blame? It turns out that we all play our role in the pollution and waste that is all around us. While you might not be able to solve the global problem, you can certainly make all the necessary changes in your life. Beginning with your next relocation, try to implement the tips we handed out today, and feel free to search for additional ones on your own. Only by working together can we make a noticeable change in our ecosystem. 

The equation of coronavirus COVID19 in the USA (Based on differential equations)

The COVID19 coronavirus pandemic took the world by surprise, and spread unexpectedly. Many countries took emergency measures such as closing their borders, declaring quarantines or curfews.

Figure 1. COVID19 cases in the USA

How coronavirus can help us live more sustainably

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is no small matter. It has shaken up the global economy and changed our individual, personal lives. Despite initial claims and optimism that downplayed it, it has turned out to be a very real, very serious pandemic. But humans have also proved they can always overcome tragedies and become stronger through trials, so this cloud may have a silver lining as well. Namely, it may just shine a light on how we may live more sustainably after the coronavirus is conquered.

Governments across the world are resorting to restrictive measures, including banning large gatherings. This is often a personal choice as well, but most EU countries are now working to avoid Italy’s staggering numbers. China has responded locally as well, as have the US and other governments, East and West. Such measures have very visible effects on businesses, commuting, and even manufacturing. Supply lines have been disrupted, working conditions have changed, and panic-buying has become a response to limited movement.

But as we try to adjust and overcome the danger, we may very well see actual benefits to this state. The environment has benefitted from decreased human activity - that much we can all assume. But more specifically, we can observe such noticeable examples as;

●       Lower personal transportations emissions

●       Lower manufacturing emissions

●       Lower supply chain emissions

●       Less pollution on landmarks and sites, such as the canals of Venice

●       More eco-friendly work solutions, such as telecommuting

So we can safely deduce that we do have viable solutions in our hands. This trial may reveal how we, both on country levels and as individuals, can live more sustainably. 

Commuting

With limited transportation, businesses, schools, and universities have had to adapt. Away from physical transportation and the emissions that it causes, telecommuting has already proven to be a more eco-friendly, sustainable solution.

Reducing our carbon footprint can begin with reducing our optional commute, but a shift on this level hasn’t often been discussed as much. In many modern fields, colleagues can collaborate from a distance. Teachers and students can as well, and so can freelance professionals. In an effort to sustain our workflow and remain active, we may have found a great eco-friendly way to do so.

Our current traffic emissions are likely not a way to live sustainably

Telecommuting is both easy to use and very affordable. Videoconferences are a very viable alternative to physical meetings, both for business matters and education. Most such services, such as Skype and Google Hangouts (among others), are very affordable too – free options already exist. If those cannot meet your needs, paid services are very affordable and lenient. Many of them only require that one person pay the monthly subscription, and they can then host large teams and groups. Skype for Business costs as little as $2 per month, and a single account can host meetings with up to 250 people – perfect for education institutions. Google Hangouts offers 30GB of storage for $5, and unlimited storage for $10 – ideal for businesses that rely on file-sharing. Those aside, the cost of such services usually ranges from roughly $10 to $20 a month and often includes additional tools.

There are potential challenges, for sure. Ease-of-use may not be one of them, but team members will need to have the needed tools as well. Doing so may mean that more people buy accounts to be able to host meetings – but the cost is mostly negligent. For fields such as relocation services, such options may not exist - but such professionals as the ones at fourwinds-ksa.com still find ways to reduce their commuting needs. 

TP

An issue that’s far more serious than it sounds, toilet paper use is actually worth considering. In emergencies and times of need, it’s TP that is often bought in bulk. That in itself is understandable, but do we really live sustainably in this regard?

Toilet paper is not used in the same amounts around the world. It may be extreme to suggest that we do away with it, but just how much we use is worth discussing. The average Brazilian uses 38-40 rolls a year, while the French use 70-72 and Americans average a staggering 140-142 a year. More than 50% of Americans use 10 or more rolls a month, and the vast majority (over 80%) use 5 or more. For an average family of four, those numbers become massive; roughly 560 a year.

Massive amounts of paper are not recycled every year

Doing as little as counting the sheets and cutting down on them, you can benefit both your own budget and the environment. A 50% reduction, where possible, is an immediate 50% reduction in TP expenses; for an American family, this can be approximately $80 per person per year – or $320 per year per household. At the same time, you will reduce the industry’s emissions and the countless tons of paper that are needlessly used or not recycled.

Shopping locally and sustainably

On the subject of shopping, the vital COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have made us limit our shopping trips. Shopping has different cultural connotations in different countries, but in essence, it is the same – industry and transportation emissions are tied to it. From import & export companies acting responsibly, to individuals reconsidering their day-to-day lives, there is much that can be done. This may be a good chance for us to reconsider our shopping habits, then.

The amount of waste we produce because of consumerism is massive

Supply chains have already been disrupted, which leads many people to shop locally. Hygiene and proximity to others have also limited our trips and shopping times, which also limits how many non-essential items we buy. This is no doubt a way to shop sustainably since it reduces both our own car emissions and carbon footprint, and industrial emissions that consumerism fuels. It helps us support local markets and farms, which very often produce far less CO2 emissions than industrial manufacturing and megafarms do. On a personal level, this also helps us grow deeper community bonds, and thus solidarity and social cohesion.

Shopping responsibly does have benefits, then, not unlike online shopping. Consolidating essential shopping more can help you schedule weekly shopping; fewer deliveries or trips, thus fewer emissions. Online shopping certainly has its own environmental costs as well, but a heavier focus on it over how we shop now will be a net benefit. Limiting non-essential shopping goes hand in hand with this, as reconsidering how much of what you buy is truly essential will come up. Consumerism does have cultural weight, and such concepts as shopping therapies may need to be challenged in this context. Global CO2 emissions have already been visibly decreased due to the emergency, but why should we not continue this way when it is over?  

5 Stress-Related Health Problems That You Can Fix

If there is one thing that pretty much all people living in modern times have in common its that we are stressed. Age, gender, status,... None of them seem to alleviate the fact that stress is a part of modern life. Now, some of us are good at handling stress and can keep themselves relatively healthy in spite of it. But for others, managing stress is not that easy, and they often experience stress-related health problems. So, to help those people out, and anyone fearing that they'll find themselves in their shoes, we are going go over the most common health problems caused by stress and how to deal with them.

The most common stress-related health problems and how to deal with them

If we were to list all of the stress-related health problems, we would need hundreds of pages. Over the years, doctors have found a plethora of things that can happen to a person if they are under a lot of stress over a long period of time. So, to keep this article at a reasonable length, we are going to focus on the most common health problems. With luck, the following tips should give you helpful info on how to keep yourself healthy during particularly stressful periods.

Headache

Having a headache due to stress is arguably the most common way of experiencing it. If it is a short term one because you are going through a stressful period like trying to ensure your safety when moving abroad, you need not worry much. But a constant migraine can be a cause for concern.

How to deal with it

If the headache is mild, the best thing to do is to try and relax. Turing towards medication can be tricky, especially if you often experience them. If the relaxation doesn't work and your headaches persist, consider talking to a specialist.

Migraines are one of the most common stress-related health problems.

Lack of sleep

Not being able to sleep properly is another thing that modern people suffer from in great numbers. You'd be hard-pressed to find a person that has regular 7-8 hours of sleep that doesn't rely on sleeping aids. Well, at least one of the reasons why people usually have trouble sleeping is stress. Now, if you've moved recently and remembered to ask for assistance for your international relocation, the disturbance of sleep shouldn't worry you much. After all, jet lag is quite a real phenomenon. But, if insomnia persists, it can be quite detrimental to your health. Your immune system will suffer, your hormones won't function properly and you will have the urge to eat unhealthy foods.

How to deal with it

Ideally, you want to use natural methods to cure insomnia. Some of the things you can try are:

●       Training in the open air.

●       Avoiding sugars and caffeine.

●       Drinking Chamomile tea before bed.

●       Eating only light dinners.

●       Doing yoga or meditation before bed.

If your problems persist, you need to avoid self-medicating.

We all need 7-8 hours of sleep in order to function properly.

Overeating

Overeating is a common, yet a quite unhealthy way to deal with stress. Eating tasty foods releases dopamine to our brains which lower our stress levels. While this is an effective way to chemically reduce stress, is not by any means advisable. First, you aren't doing anything to manage the source of stress. Instead, you are simply hacking your brain, so to say, in order to avoid it. Second, any effect you have from overeating will be short term at best. After a short while, the stress will come, and with it resentment because you ate too much.

How to deal with it

Keep track of your diet. If you feel the need to overeat, do so rarely and control the amount. Things can easily get out of hand, especially if you don't have other stress management tools. So, ideally, you should find a way to relieve yourself from stress without having to overindulge.

Substance abuse

By the same token, substance abuse is a terribly unhealthy way to deal with stress. In its mildest form, it means that people go drinking or smoking in order to calm themselves. Now, there is nothing wrong with having a drink every once in a while. But, if this becomes a daily habit, you are in trouble. The damaging effects of substance abuse are numerous, and some of them can be quite scary.

How to deal with it

Again, try to figure out the source of your stress. People opt for substance abuse as a sort of self-medication. But, in actuality, this is not a long-term solution. What you are doing is simply buying time away from feeling stressed. And the currency you are using is your health.

If you feel the need for alcohol, you are probably in trouble.

Depression

Every mental health manual will tell you that stress can lead to depression. And, while this is true, there are a couple of things we need to set straight. First, we need to make the difference between clinical depressions and regular blues. Just like the words "Internet" and "Web", people confuse depression and sadness and lump them together. Well, let's make them distinct. If you end up feeling a bit sad due to stress, don't worry. This is a sign that there is something bothering you and that you need to fix it. On the other hand, if you are unable to think a positive thought or you are unable to get out of the bed in the morning, you might be really depressed.

How to deal with it

For feeling a bit down, you simply need to use the methods we have already outlined. On the other hand, if you are truly depressed, you need to see a licensed therapist. Some forms of depression require medication while others can be talked through. All in all, you shouldn't shy away from getting help if you are unable to shake it off.

Corona virus Infography

Infography about the corona virus pandemia. Numbers updated on March 11, 2020