Staying indoors makes us realise so much about the functioning of our homes, mind, body and soul which we otherwise overlook. Now is the time to reflect within yourselves and of our very own dwellings too, mindfully and sustainably.
To help you make sustainable choices, reduce waste, and increase your wellness quotient, we came up with 7 activities that you can take up from the comfort of your home.
So without further ado, let's read on!
1. AROMATIC POCKET POUCH
A little extra care, a small little measure, a little something for your pocket!
We have a small, no-hassle tip for you to follow to keep yourself immune.
All you need:
1 Camphor
1 Javitri Flower (Mace)
1 Cardamom
2 Cloves
Benefits:
Camphor: Clears nasal and chest congestion and inflammatory conditions. Cures cold sores and cough.
Javitri Flower: Aromatic and a traditional medicine for cold and cough and keeps your body protected from diseases.
Cardomom: It promotes respiratory health and brings relief from coughs.
Clove: Has a lovely warm and woody smell. Its anti-inflammatory compounds come handy in preventing and treating sore throat, sinusitis, cough and cold.
Put them all together in a little porous pouch. Carry it around with you in your pocket and keep smelling it once in a while. Make one for each family member.
It's a super cure in your pocket without a pocket pinch.
2. IS IT DESSERT OR IS IT A SCRUB?
Are you missing your trip to the parlour to pamper yourself. Worry not, you could do a fun facial at home itself. Did you know your morning cup of Joe could be an exfoliating agent too. Coffee powder is a great scrub and also a natural bronzer.
You could treat your skin with basic ingredients you're sure to find at home.
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Ingredients:
1 banana
⅔ cup ground coffee
½ cup sugar
½ cup coconut oil
Grated chocolate; remember to take your favourite one!
Method:
Peel open the bananas and muddle into a paste. Bananas protect your skins' free radicals and fight acne.
Add the coffee powder and sugar, mix them together. This helps with skin exfoliation. Pour in the coconut oil and stir it up for soft smooth skin.
Grate some chocolate into this mixture which will help revive moisture. Mix gently, to combine it all together into a luscious scrub.
Put your yummy homemade scrub into a transparent jar. Scoop out a bit and apply, whenever you're longing for that extra glow.
Nestip: Refrigerate the jar since bananas are perishable. If left out in warm temperatures, it could start smelling bad.
Remember this yumminess is for your skin, don't get tempted to lick it off!
3. CANDY COUGH DROPS
Junk the store bought high sugar drops cause we have a recipe to make your own herbal version of these beneficial and tasty drops with all natural ingredients and no artificial additives.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
1 tbsp ginger powder
1 lemon
8-9 crushed cloves
Crush some cloves in a mortar-pestle until finely powdered.
Add the sugar, water and put to boil, followed by ginger powder and powdered cloves. Squeeze an entire lemon into the pot. Let it bubble and keep stirring to achieve a semi-thick consistency.
Once the consistency is achieved, pour the syrup quickly, but carefully using a spoon into silicon moulds or make small drops on a butter paper.
Allow the syrup to harden by letting it cool down completely.
Lightly dust with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
Nestip:
1. Add some finely crushed dried lemongrass for some extra flavour.
2. Involve the kids while making and use these as candy treats for them.
4. MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST SMOOTHIE
We don't realise how much organic material we throw in the trash which is full of nutrients for our plants. This organic matter if composted can be rich in essential nutrients for plants at home.
Did you know, the precious wet waste from our very own kitchens can potentially become black gold for our plant babies, providing them with the much needed nourishment with an easy method and no smelly compost bins necessary.
Blending the raw materials in the blender will help decompose them faster, and the plants will reap rewards quicker too. We make smoothies for ourselves, how about making some for your plants too for them to thrive.
Collect edible kitchen wet waste like vegetable and fruit peels, wasted cooked food and some dry organic matter like dried leaves or egg shells.Cut the big peels into smaller pieces so that they muddle well in the blender.
Throw in all the scrap and add some water. Let it blend until you achieve a semi solid paste.
Put some soil into a pot and treat you plants with some smoothie by pouring it onto the soil. Layer up with soil again put your plant into it.
Your plants are sure to enjoy this compost smoothie and reap luscious green leaves, flowers and even fruits soon!
5. ALL-PURPOSE SCENTED CLEANSER
Some items in your kitchen work so effectively to clean simple stains on various surfaces and moreover cost next to nothing. You won't have to make that extra trip to the store if you're out of surface cleanser. Try this DIY homemade one instead. These natural products will come to great use and keep your wallet happy too.
You will need an empty dispenser or spray bottle.
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 tbsp baking soda
Orange & lemon rinds
Make a mix of the crushed orange and lemon rinds and keep it aside.
Mix the baking soda in water. Add the rind mixture into the liquid and mix well. The citrusy rinds do a great job of masking the scent of vinegar.
Pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then let it infuse for a few days before using. The longer you let it infuse, the more potent it will be. Strain and use the natural aromatic solution to remove stains, clean trash cans, wipe away smudges from surfaces.
Besides a citrusy scent, the lemon and orange rinds also help boost the cleaning power due to its acidic properties. A cleanser with fruity fragrance that is absolutely non-toxic is ready to use.
Happy Cleaning!
6. MAKE YOUR OWN PROPAGATION STATION
Let's multiply the most essential resource as we're on lockdown. Learn to multiply your favourite houseplants through propagation.
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It's an ideal time to propagate while plants are in full bloom with the onset of spring, all up and about post the winter hibernation.
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Along with some mature plants, you will require some transparent glass jars like jam bottles, old perfume bottles or you could use some fancy old alcohol bottles. Keep a pair of scissors handy too.
3 Easy Steps to follow:
Step 1: From a mature plant, take a leaf or stem juncture (node) and snip off 1-2 inches. Make sure you keep a node or two with the cutting, as it's from here that the new growth starts.
Step 2: Remove the leaves that are close to the node, especially ones that would end up under water when placed inside the glass jar.
Step 3: Place your plant cutting into glass jars you have collected. Place the propagated plants in a spot that receives bright to moderate sun light.
Check the root growth regularly on a weekly basis and keep changing the water when you notice murkiness or fungi for your plants to remain healthy and jars to look aesthetic.
Overtime, you will have a green propagation station that you can use to easily add greenery in any corner of your home.
Plants like Pothos (Money Plant) and Syngonium (Arrow plant) stay healthy and grow well in water itself. Some other plants do better when transferred to pots after growing roots. So take your pick and try your hand at this immensely satisfying activity!
7. DARK CHOCOLATE NO-BAKE BITES
Being tethered at home can lead to erratic eating and reaching out for all those unhealthy snacks or sugary sweet treats while yo binge watch TV shows. Sugar is the last thing one must reach out for as it depresses the immune system.
We all love our fair share of sweets so how about satiating your sweet tooth by something sweet yet healthy. If you're a dark chocolate freak, this sure is a delectable delight for you, providing you with the necessary sweetness, nutrition and energy.
Ingredients:
1 cup muesli & old fashioned mixed
½ cup walnuts & almonds
1 cup of your 70% dark chocolate
3 tsp cocoa powder
A pinch of salt
Roast the oats and muesli in a shallow pan.
Chop the almonds and walnuts. Add a pinch of salt and lightly toast the nuts.
Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces and use a double broiler to melt it. Take a blender and blend the roasted oats, dry fruits and cocoa powder.
Remember not to blend it too much. You require a coarse consistency instead of a powdered one. Pour in the melted dark chocolate into this mixture and gently mix all of it well.
Butter your palms slightly, so that the batter does not stick to your fingers and roll them into balls or your favourite shapes.
Get creative and involve the children too, to keep their hands full. Relish these yummy and healthy bites with your evening cuppa or simply munch onto them for your sweet fix.
These make a great mid day snack for those who need a small bite to get through the rest of the day.
Now is the time to indulge in healthy and mindful habits along with your partners, children, siblings or grannies. So leave those gadgets and remotes, put on your gloves, and develop a new take on sustainable wellness for yourself and your loved ones.
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