I was recently looking into some of the things I buy often and I had a look at what I could reduce further to save a bit of extra money. I put this impromptu list together of 5 items or ‘aspects of things’ that I have stopped or really reduced in buying. If you look at how much you spend on these small things over time, it can really add up and you will be surprised just how much of an impact it can really have!

What have you stopped buying or reduced in an effort to save a bit of money?

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A quick video on some thoughts I had about minimalism and attachment to material things, it may be a bit of a ramble but I hope someone resonates with it and finds it interesting. 

What we know as minimalism can tie in quite well with spirituality and attachment to material things, as well as desires within this world. It is an interesting topic and I try to explore it, really just touching on the surface of it here.

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The post Some Thoughts On Minimalism And Attachment appeared first on FitNish.com.

For a while I have been looking for some minimalistic style training shoes. What that means, is that they should be relatively inexpensive, comfortable and be truly functional. I think I found them in the Feiyue trainers. ?? 

In the video below I give them a bit of a test run through some training and skating and give some feedback on what I like about the Feiyue training shoes. They truly are comfortable, not that expensive and provide such great grip compared to many other conventional training shoes.

The “Feiyue” name translates “to leap” or “to fly over.”

“Feiyue literally means “Flying Forward” and symbolizes the dual elevation of both body and mind. This lightweight canvas plimsoll first hit the streets of Shanghai in the 1920’s famous for its robustness, flexibility and comfort. Bringing together all walks of life, from workers, Shaolin Monks to politicians, Feiyue crossed borders and generations to land in France in 2006. Without losing any of its authentic vintage charm, this lightweight canvas shoe then underwent a series of transformations. Its DNA gradually evolved, combining French and international influences.”

?? If you’re looking to get an Evolve skate board in South Africa, click here to Shop Evolve ??

Use CODE: Evolve x Nishal for R750 off your purchase ?

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The post I Found The Best MINIMALIST Training shoes, The Feiyue Trainers appeared first on FitNish.com.

For me, becoming more and more eco conscious and eco friendly, and reducing my waste allowed me to also become much more of a minimalist. I like the minimalist approach because it shows you how a lot of the stuff we have/want, is very unnecessary and not useful and we clearly do not need a lot of it.

One thing to note, if you are trying to follow a more eco friendly life or a more minimalist approach to life, it is not about stopping everything entirely, or making a massive change overnight, unless you really want to. All these things were a gradual change for me and over time it all became more and more of a habit, and yes ideally it is the plan to get to zero waste, but it is difficult in this day and age. So don’t get caught up with that, just focus on making a change as small as it may seem, it all adds up and over time does get bigger.

On that note, in this video I show 5 Simple Waste Free Swaps that you can try on your quest for a more Zero Waste Lifestyle ?

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The post The Fit Five! 5 Simple Waste FREE SWAPS (Zero Waste Lifestyle) appeared first on FitNish.com.

Does this sound like you or like a situation you may be in:

You have a spare room, or a garage, or even a cupboard (or cupboards) that you put stuff into that you don’t know what to do with. Or you keep putting things into there, thinking you may need them at some stage in life…

And then fast forward 5 years and you still have not used anything in that room or cupboard and each time you see it or think about it, you get overwhelmed at just the thought of going through it all!

So if that does sound like you, then please do get in touch with me I can help with:

• Going through all the stuff.
• Helping you decide what you need and what you should let go of.
• Helping you recycle or sell or donate excess things.
• Reorganizing and decluttering the spaces.
• If there is any sensitive things I am happy to sign a sort of NDA if needs be.

I try to live a more minimalistic lifestyle and really enjoy the process of ‘decluttering’ and cleaning up. I am am trustworthy and loyal and have many people you can chat to, to hear more about me. I have decluttered many a cupboard, garage and rooms, mostly for myself as well as for family members and thoroughly enjoy the process. 

It is always such a good feeling to get rid of excess things that I don’t need, kind of like a feeling of freedom, and through doing this regularly I feel like attachment to material things lessens more and more. Through this you learn to appreciate and value things that much more and it helps with buying only what you need, which will save you money!

Currently I am based in Gauteng, so feel free to drop me an email or contact me via social media channels and I would be happy to chat more if you have any questions on how I can help you

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The post Need Help Decluttering, Reducing And Organizing A Room? appeared first on FitNish.com.

With all the anxiety and stress that comes attached to modern life, the idea of living a simpler one is not only appealing but may be life-saving for some. This short guide will present a few tips on how to live a simpler life and make the most out of each day. 

What Does a Simple Life Mean? 

A simple life can look completely different from one person to the next, and it’s important to embark on a path of self-reflection to understand what areas of the modern way of living are affecting a person the most. 

Living simply doesn’t necessarily mean completely renouncing modern life and its offerings, but rather changing the Self and how it fits into the current world. 

Here are tips on how to live simply and changing oneself from the inside:

Leveraging the Present 

Modern life rarely makes room for people to appreciate the present and everything it means. It’s important to dedicate even just a few moments in a day and leverage that moment, be it through yoga, meditation, or other calming activities. 

The goal is to bring a bit of self-awareness and allow the pace of life to slow down for a bit.

Reviewing (and Letting Go of) Attachments to Material Objects 

So much of the modern way of living revolves around material gains: more money, more clothes, more gadgets, etc. 

This creates a never-ending race to gather the most material objects in which nobody truly wins. A simpler way of life proposes keeping what is needed to function and be happy and letting go of this desire to add more. 

Focusing on the Self 

Humans cannot function without social relationships, but it’s important to prioritize the Self before others. Seeking calmness and happiness in the Self can help improve interactions with the outside world as well.

But for most, this path must start and try to understand what their brain, body, or even spirit needs. Because a lot of people are not truly connected to themselves, they can completely miss the signs these elements are giving, and get more involved in what the people around them need. 

Reconnecting with Nature 

Nothing says more “modern way of living” than the image of an urban jungle. This environment can sometimes augment the rapid pace of life, which is why removing oneself from this environment, even just for a few hours, can be extremely beneficial. 

Reconnecting with nature and its powers helps keep people centered, more grounded with the natural pace life was designed to have, and gives the mind the space to let go of worries and troubles. 

Learning to Celebrate Life and Its Moments 

Often, people that let themselves get carried away by the modern way of living remain clueless about the many gifts they already possess. 

In a simpler form of living, these small gifts are acknowledged and celebrated. Similarly, steps that take people closer to victory, no matter how small, are also reasons for gratitude and celebrations. Life isn’t always about the big, flashy lights people often actively seek. 

Challenging the Mind 

Habits formed throughout life often prevent people from letting go of what they know to be true, and this can apply to trying to live a simple life too. 

Sometimes, to achieve living simply, one has to challenge their perception of life and the world around them, possibly even their role in the world. But, the payoff is worth that effort!
 

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“Our Proudly South African, Zero Shampoo Bars are anything but average. Packed full of all the good stuff, and made using zero of the things that leave behind a mess. This shampoo bar will get you through 55 – 70 hair washes which will outlast most of your favourite bottled shampoo’s. Wash away knowing you are leaving behind zero waste!”

• Zero plastic packaging
• Zero palm oil in the ingredients
• Zero water in the ingredients

Zero bar flavours:

• Jojoba oil
• Moringa oil
• Argan oil
• Desert melon oil 

Why switch to shampoo bars

1. Reduce plastic bottle waste. Think about all those shampoo and conditioner plastic bottles that get thrown away every few months when they shampoo finished. You could avoid sending all that plastic into the environment by making the switch to a shampoo bar.
2. Less palm oil use. Palm oil production results in a lot of deforestation.
3. More natural. Most shampoo bars use more natural ingredients and ones that are biodegradable than most bottled shampoos.
4. Ease of use. Shampoo bars are easier to carry and travel with. They are nice and small and won’t spill and you can take them on the plane without that hassle of having to make sure you only have 100 mls of liquid.

The Zero Bar Review:

Ingredients:

The ingredients are listed below:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
• Agar
• Peg- 7 Glyceryl Cocoate
• Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil
• Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolized Silk
• Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
• Steartrimonium Chloride
• Citric Acid
• Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
• Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil
• Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
• Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
• Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
• Hydrolized Keratin
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone
• Methylisothiazolinone
• CL 3844459, CL 934210

I am not going to lie and say I know what every one of those ingredients are, so I won’t comment much on them without doing some research first, but it is good to see a lot of natural oils on the list, and no Palm oil, which is one of the main features of this bar.

Use:

I gave it a try and the zero shampoo bar is easy to use. Use it just like a soap bar, lather between your hands and apply to your body and hair. You don’t need that much, just a bit and then rub your hands together to get it to foam up. Ladies with long hair would probably need a bit more. I am yet to see how long it lasts, but judging from how much I use, I’m sure it will last me a good number of months, maybe even a year. 

I had already made the switch to a more natural soap for my face, body and hair with the pure simple soap, so I will not be buying a bottled shampoo ever again.

For me, the bar worked well on my hair and I can’t really say if there was a big difference compared to using a bottled shampoo (head and shoulders). I do quite like the smell of these bars though. One thing to remember, if you travel with the bars and keep them in a small container, is to not leave them in the container when they are quite wet. Rather let them dry a bit outside before placing back into your container after use. This just helps them not become soggy and keep their shape.

Cost

The bars can be purchased online from various places one being harmless house for +- R75. It may sound expensive, but when you compare them with conventional shampoos and how long the bars last you realise it really is not that bad. And you are reducing your waste without even trying Check their website for a full list of stockists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2UkgZ-gjZz/

I was also sent a bamboo toothbrush to try, which is quite nice, and a whole lot more environmentally friendly than conventional plastic toothbrushes. Just be sure to make sure you choose one suited to you, I.e. Soft, medium or hard bristles. I use very soft bristles and find even the soft bamboo brushes to be a tad bit too hard. 

So in conclusion.. which one will you choose?

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The post I Tried A Shampoo Bar, Why You Should Switch To Hair And Body Bars To! SA’s Own ‘Zero Shampoo Bar’ Review appeared first on FitNish.com.

Often people get intimidated by people who speak about reducing their waste and living a more ‘minimalist lifestyle’. What you must understand though, is that all it takes is a very small change to start, you don’t have to be implementing and worrying about reducing every tiny bit of waste in your life, initially. It all comes with practice and time and through that we can all do our bit. The great thing that I like about reducing waste and becoming conscious of it, is that it helps reduce our attachment to material things and allows us to really appreciate what we have. Through this you realize that you really do not need a lot of the things you think you may ‘need’.

Here is a basic break down on how to make your own natural and less waste body lotion and under arm deodorant. Once you know how, it’s really easy and fun to make your own, and think of all those plastic bottles that you will save from going to land fills around the world!

Read the full post on qoo.co.za, which shows the method used and more details about the exact amounts to use!

The main ingredients are:

• Raw Shea butter
• Coconut oil
• Raw Cocoa Butter (optional)
• Essential oils (Enough drops till you are happy with the smell)
• Almond oil (optional) (50 – 100 ml)

For the under arm deodorant, the process is exactly the same, the only added ingredient is bicarbonate soda. About 2-3 spoonfuls can be added when using 150 grams of shea butter and coconut oil, and it is added in method 3 when beating the mixture.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2M7Db_BdAX/

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The post DIY Zero Waste Creams And Under Arm Deodorant Recipes appeared first on FitNish.com.

If you have tried every face wash out there, being sold on all the marketing give this a try! So simple and so easy to use, and leads to less waste! Just use bicarb soda

Simply Make Your Very Own Zero Waste MouthWash!

This is a really easy and simple way to make your own mouthwash, to freshen your breath and rinse your mouth out. It only includes 3 things so no harsh chemicals and it leads to less waste!

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The post 0 Waste Minimalist Face Wash, Scrub And Mouth Wash! appeared first on FitNish.com.

They spoke at TEDxFargo about the benefits of letting go and living a meaningful life with less. For more info about The Minimalists visit theminimalists.com

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their four million readers as “The Minimalists,” have written four books, including the bestselling memoir, Everything That Remains.

The post The Art of Letting Go | The Minimalists appeared first on FitNish.com.