June 18, 2008

Where Stuff Comes From and Goes – The Full Story

At the Productivity Café we're always sending the message about being streamlined, right-sized, eliminating waste, and having a great life. Sometime that message is overt. Sometime it is sublime. Today I watched a video that brings the impact of not being these things into the spot light. I think it's a must-see. So, go here when you have 20 minutes: www.storyofstuff.com. Warning: this is a big dose of reality - - it can be overwhelming.

Story_of_stuff_3

Here are a few things I learned while watching:

  • A full 99% of things manufactured or created are 'in the dump' 6 months after the process began.
  • The 4 major activities we engage in are: work, sleep, watch tv, shop.
  • We get over 3,000 messages a day saying 'You're broken, we have the thing to fix you, buy it!'
  • Those who are part of production are often paying the cost of getting the product to you by sacrificing health care, wages, and more. That's why a radio costs only $5.99.

Comment below with what impacts you!

Jun 18, 2008 10:51:39 AM | Lifestyle, Mindset, Over the Wall (observations of the other guy)

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Eat In - Use What You Have ~ Friday @ 5:00 Do you have 2, 4, or 7 boxes of pasta in the pantry? Do you shop at Sam's Warehouse, Costco or BJs and buy things in bulk? What's in the freezer? Pounds of meat? Bags of shrimp? Containers of leftovers? Packages of frozen veggies? How long could you prepare meals using the stuff in your cupboards, freezer and pantry? If it's more than a week take the challenge – eat out of your pantry until you're just about empty. Here are the guidelines: You start a menu with something that you have on hand. Let's say it's a can of chick peas, potatoes, rice, onions, frozen green beans, chutney, bananas that are starting to turn brown and frozen chicken breast. You decide to make a dish or menu using those items. Let's say chicken curry with the items above. Put the extra ingredients you need to make the dish on your shopping list. Let's say you need diced tomatoes to finish the ingredient list. You purchase that item when you grocery shop for perishables like milk and fresh fruit. You make the curry and use all those things out of your stores. And, let's say you savor every bite! Go to the top and start at 1. Again with another pantry item. Repeat until the cupboards, freezer, and other extras are almost gone. For fun mark your calendar with the date you start this project. Mark it again when you're doing a replenish the staples shop which you don't do until you think, "I feel like Old Mother Hubbard with Bare Shelves." The benefits of doing this: You'll use ingredients before they go bad or expire saving guilt & money You'll be creative and resourceful – be proud of yourself You'll be eating well! – enough said You might lose weight – depends on what type of recipes you choose, doesn't it!? I've been doing this for 8 weeks so far. I think I have 4 weeks more to finish using most of these extras. ____________________________ R & R (rest & rejuvenation) are the intentions behind the Friday at 5:00 entries. Often these are inexpensive and low key because you recharging your batteries can be more easily achieved without running around and doing, doing, doing. Your productivity is rooted in your energy being high. Your energy being high is rooted in recreation!

Susan Sabo

I am a tool-loving productivity specialist who gets things done so I can travel the world, bicycle our country, spoil my friends & colleagues, and show you how to do the same.

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