Health & Wellbeing 48 JANUARY <strong>2017</strong>
Health & Wellbeing Eco Corner How long should stuff last? In these days of built-in obsolescence, we forget that plastic lasts forever. And we’re surrounded by it, store food in it, drink from it and even wear it. But we now realise that its widespread use is catastrophic to the environment. It was hailed as a new wonder and it’s here to stay, so let’s focus on avoidance of single-use plastic and reduce, reuse and recycle! Fortunately, the environmentally aware and enterprising are addressing our exposure by seeking innovative ways to reuse plastic; plastic (PET) bottles are now recycled to make eco filling for pillows, for example. But it’s not all plain sailing, as in the case of recycling PET bottles to make clothing. We’re now aware of microfibers. These are less than 1mm in size and are thought to be the greatest source of plastic in the ocean, which come from washing synthetic clothes. So mid-holiday season, with recycling bins overflowing, be sure to do the right thing and recycle packaging correctly. It’s great to see social media playing a positive role enabling Buy Swap Sell platforms to flourish, testament to the old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. This supports the Northern Beaches’ ‘Sort it Out’ campaign, encouraging a shift away from kerb-side collection to reuse and recycle. And from 1st July you’ll be, able to swap your cans and bottles for cash, thanks to the Container Deposit Scheme – a strategy to reduce waste by almost half by 2020. Diamonds are scarce and last forever. Unfortunately, plastic is abundant and also lasts forever, so use it sparingly. Pursuit of happiness: put down that screen Wishing for a happy and healthy <strong>2017</strong>? The fact you are reading something that isn’t on a computer or phone signals you are off to a good start. Strong social relationships and offline human connections are the key to happiness for Australians, according to new research conducted by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). According to the Compass for <strong>Life</strong> Survey, human connections took the top spot on Australia’s wellbeing scale, with the survey finding people who connected with family, partner and/or children daily, and those who caught up with colleagues socially as well as those who were connected into their communities in a variety of ways, had higher wellbeing scores than those who didn’t. The survey also found adults reporting a high usage of social media, a platform designed to bring people closer together, reported significantly higher levels of loneliness and negative emotions. Overall the survey of 1,000 Australian adults and 518 adolescents found Australians report a positive sense of wellbeing. Other factors linked to a more satisfied life included: getting a good night’s sleep, keeping active, engaging in relaxation, eating well and having a hobby and being open to new experiences, including travel and learning. The survey found the happiest Australians practise mindfulness and “live in the moment”. Interestingly older Australians (aged 65-plus) have significantly higher levels of wellbeing and lower levels of loneliness and negative emotions than the rest of the population. People aged 25-34 scored significantly higher on loneliness than adults 35 years and over. And although money and wealth are rated in the top three things that come to mind when Australians are asked what makes a good life, household income was unrelated to wellbeing. The APS noted an unexpected finding was that adolescents who consumed food from fast food restaurants every day reported higher scores on several indicators of overall wellbeing. The research suggests a possible explanation for this result is that eating at such venues engages young people in social activity, contributing to overall wellbeing. – Lisa Offord Health & Wellbeing Russell Lamb is the Founder of ecodownunder JANUARY <strong>2017</strong> 49