Read

Guides for our everyday life based on the "Less is more" principle. Declutter your home, closets, daily routine and learn to focus on the essential. Feel better and your new freedom. Enjoy the read :)

• Shethinx blog
• “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” Jared Diamond.
• “Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future” Johan Nordberg - Optimist.
• “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” Yuval Noah Harari

Traveling respecting your environmental values is a challenge in most countries and some time you will be surprised by how much advanced some countries are (I love to talk about Rwanda banning plastic for real).

The funnier and the most interesting thing is that people will ask you questions about your desire to respect so intensively the environment. How come you were able to pack so light? You will be soooo proud.

If you are brushing your teeth with a bamboo brush holding your homemade toothpaste in a tiny glass container, I swear even flight attendants will smile at you and dentists would be interested to know the composition of your toothpaste reassuring you that using non commercial toothpaste is actually excellent for your teeth (might need some fluor addition from time to time)!

By essence people are interested and curious, you will inspire them and be inspired by their questions. But first, being a source of inspiration requires a few tips and tricks. That’s why we are proposing 10 tips to pack light (I swear you can do it) and embrace your human and environmental values wherever you are.

1. Standard cabin Content

• 1 small shampoo (100mL plastic)
• 1 small air conditioner (100mL plastic)
• 1 small shower gel (100mL plastic)
• Day cream 50ml
• Night cream 50 ml
• 1 box of cotton ear bud (one per day almost!)
• 1 box of organic tampon/hygienic pads
• 1 deodorant (plastic)
• 1 plastic toothbrush
• 1 plastic toothpaste
• 10 cotton pads
• 1 razor
• 1 sunscreen (100mL of plastic and pretty bad content for the environment)
• Box with jewelry
• 1/2 books/e-book
• Tissues

99% of these items have plastic container that will be thrown away in the country hosting you! First step - Forget the sample options in small plastic container.

I used to love goodies or free sample items, now I’m glad to have a luggage with no small plastic items (no plastic at all is the goal, go as far as you can). These samples might be free but cost a lot for the environment.

Ideal cabin content (Photo)

• 1 Soap (indispensable)
• 1 shampoo bar
• 1 dry oil for your skin and your hair
• 1 organicup for your period (definitely the best option for women traveler)
• 1 small bamboo Oriculi - My indispensable best gift ever for traveler
• 1 essential oil of Palma Rosa for your deodorant
• 1 bamboo toothbrush
• 1 small glass container of your favorite homemade toothpaste.
• 2 reusable pads
• 1 rasoir (non plastic)
• Organic sunscreen (if you have time homemade recipe)
• Tea in bulk (to avoid individual tea)
• 2/3 earrings and 1 necklace/bracelet
• 1/2 books/1 e-book
• 1 reusable tissue

2. Keep/start your good habits while traveling - Bring your zero waste survival kit

Bring your own reusable set of ustensile including a reusable straw, your bottle of water asking the flight attendant to refill it (it will help you to hydrate your body and decrease the jet lag effect).

3. Calibrate your luggage/Forget about the extra

How many days do you stay? Take exactly the same amount of tee-shirt and underwear forget about the extra tee-shirt, the extra short, remove all the extra. If you go 5 days take:

• 5 tee-shirts
• 1 long-sleeve shirt
• 1 short
• 1 trouser (no jean)
• 1 sweater or hoodie
• 1 versatile Hat
• 1 pair of Sunglasses
• 1 swimsuit

I highly recommend to travel with a backpack rather than a cabin luggage as it is much lighter and easier to carry even though you aren’t planning to go for a hike, wheels are not easy to manage on the sand.

4. Chose a place where you can wash your cloth easily or bring your cleaning cloth soap

Chose a place with no daily service or make them know in advance you don’t need your towels to be cleaned every day (remember don’t use the samples ;)). Some hotels even propose extra reward points for not cleaning your days 3 days in row, or even cash back.

Privilege small hotels like Boutique hotels, B&B/guesthouse don’t be tempted to use their sample bathroom essentials, you have everything you need and the quality of your products are much higher. You are prepared and mindful.

5. Shoes

That’s the most challenging item not only for women actually ...

• 1 pair of running/trek shoes (too soft running shoes might be an issue be mindful) - Would fit your desire to run or hike if you have the possibility to do so.
• 1 high heels, we never know we might dance! Gee whiz it’s definitely optional but wanted to talk about the possibility to dance everywhere barefoot is always an option for good dancers ;)
• 1 flat pair/flip flop

6. Chose ethical/second hand cloth

Your cloth material is more than important for your skin and for your environment values. Privilege organic cotton, hemp, merino wool (ideal), odor-resistant materials, or other alternative material. Jeans are way too heavy.

Roll clothes instead of folding, I wasn’t convinced on this trick but actually it’s pretty efficient.

7. Keep ¼ of your bag empty. Forget the duty free detour or the last minute gift

Shop local privileging local material and “savoir faire”. If you don’t have time don’t by anything. Think about sending a postcard with kind words to your beloved.

8. Light … to easily use local public transportation

You will have to carry out everything that is in your bag. Don’t count on a gentleman/your partner to carry your luggage, you are strong and smart enough.

Grabbing a cab at the airport or at the train station is too often not the best option, most airports proposed public transportation which are faster and cheaper than cabs.

If you cannot, use car pool or just ask people around you in the line where are they going. You might share the ride.

If you doubt it we can bet and check who will arrive first ;) Shinkansen, RER, even the LIRR is faster from JFK.

If you need to rent a car rent an electric or hybrid one you will save on your budget and make a great step forward for the environment.

9. Make-up

Take the essentials the sun will soon tan your skin (If you’d like to) anyway and will you will even more beautiful

• Organic Lipstick
• Organic Mascara
• Organic Black pencil (optional) - You are beautiful

10. Last but not least

Enjoy your stay being mindful of others and have an amazing human experience. You might contribute to a local initiative stay tuned.

3 must have

• Zero waste survival kit
• Water bottle
• Backpack

Zero waste survival kit

Oriculi, Solid shampoo, Cotton pad, Bamboo Toothbrush, Homemade Toothpaste, Homemade Deodorant, Essential oil (palma rosa), Towel, Chopsticks, Metal straw, Menstrual Cup

(Optional)

Bonus trick - Pre-order a veggie meal or no meal

The food is not so good anyway depending on the airline you selected. Traveling business/first you don’t need to worry about the plastic, but you would’ve need to preorder your veggie/vegan meal option as well or make it default in your preferences to save you time.