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Editor’s note

Protima Tiwary describes herself as “a digital nomad trying to travel the world one wellness vacation at a time.” She is a content creator with Google's #teampixel and brand consultant, but follows her true passion as a fitness/travel blogger—which is all about leading a mindful lifestyle. You can follow Protima’s adventures on her very popular Insta account Dumbbells and Drama.

I have been trying to follow a sustainable lifestyle for over 18 months. A big part of that is supporting local brands and initiatives, and think more deeply about what I buy. These are some of the ways in which I have tried to learn and do better in recent months.

‘Minimalism’: This Netflix documentary helped me a lot when I just about realised that I want to move towards a slow, more mindful lifestyle. No, this film won’t shame you or make you feel guilty. But it reveals how your purchases have a huge impact on you and the environment. My favourite quote from their website: “Minimalists don’t focus on having less, less, less. We focus on making room for more: More time, more passion, more creativity, more experiences, more contribution, more contentment, more freedom … Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s important things—which aren’t things at all.”

Blossom Kocchar: I stumbled upon this range of aromatherapy skin, hair and wellness products two years ago. I had just started making mindful choices about my beauty purchases, and this brand offered an opportunity to try chemical-free products that were also super affordable. I have been a loyal customer ever since! My favourite products include the lavender face wash and the hair fall control shampoo plus cream conditioner. I work out five days a week, and wash my hair almost every day. But I’ve never faced any problems, be it dry or thinning hair. Their combo packs also make thoughtful gifts for friends and family. 

Thrifty Ideas India: My friends and I formed this non-profit initiative that promotes a more mindful way of living. Over the past year, we have held clothes swaps and second-hand book sales in Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. And all the money collected was donated to NGOs and to kids living in Mumbai slums. During the lockdown, we also conducted a lot of virtual sales and events—like a music, dance and arts festival—to raise money for a COVID relief fund created by our co-founder. 

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