Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Eugene Yiga of Varsity Blah.

Mind, body, heart, and soul: These four elements make us who we are. In order to fully explore our potential we need to constantly nurture all aspects of our lives. It’s not just about being “well-rounded” or balanced; it’s about being anchored in what really matters. And with another year already upon us, now seems as good a time as any to start making some serious change.

The Mind

Everything begins in the mind. Every skyscraper, every painting, and every custom-made Italian suit were once ideas in someone’s head. Without these ideas, nothing would exist. Without new ideas, nothing will ever change.

The problem is that most people stifle new ideas without ever giving them a chance to flourish. One of the biggest things that held me back in life was my limiting belief about what was possible. I was always talking about how I couldn’t do this or how I couldn’t be that. Is it really surprising to see that what I believed actually came true?

We all need to start seeing the world from a different perspective. That comes from going out everyday and keeping our eyes open to all the possibilities. It comes from learning new and exciting things that force us to stretch our minds and move outside our comfort zones.

Put practically, there are a lot of ways to do that. Turning off the TV would be a good start. Pick up a book, a newspaper, or a magazine that doesn’t have yet another celebrity’s drinking problem on the cover. Go to a museum, a gallery, an exhibit, a film festival, a theatrical production, a classical concert, or a jazz concert. Take a dance class, a cooking class, or even an investment class. Do a crossword puzzle. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Learn a language, learn an instrument, or plan an exotic holiday just for fun. Phew! I’m sure you get the idea.

Recommended Reading:

• As a Man Thinketh by John Allen
• Thinking for a Change by John Maxwell
• Mind Power into the 21st Century by John Kehoe
• The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

The Body

Healthy living has become increasingly popular recently. And that’s definitely a good thing. Regular exercise and a balanced diet leave us feeling (and looking) good. But not many people follow this advice.

What’s up with that? Why would anyone not want to invest in something they know will pay dividends a thousand times over? I guess it’s because most people simply have no reason. They think of all the hard work and sacrifice it takes and then simply give up in advance. That’s why it’s important to have a good reason in the first place. Why comes first; how comes second.

My reasons for living a healthy lifestyle are simple. I want to look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside. Keeping that in mind is the reason I’m able to exercise regularly, even on days I’d much rather stay cuddled up in bed. It’s also the reason I’m able to avoid all those tempting chocolate bars at the supermarket checkout, as much as is humanly possible!

Another aspect of taking care of my health has to do with stress management. There are three approaches I have as far as that goes. Firstly, I make a constant effort to become aware of my emotions. I do that by keeping a journal, which has become the perfect outlet for everything on my mind. Secondly, I make sure I’m well-rested. I do that by meditating every afternoon and by getting enough sleep at night.

But the best way I’ve found to deal with stress is to manage my time. Like I said in Work in Progress, it’s about taking care of the big things so the little ones take care of themselves and the really little ones don’t bother me at all. To do that, I ask three questions to decide whether or not to do anything.

Firstly: Does it have to be done at all? If it’s not really important, I don’t do it! Secondly: Does it have to be done by me? If someone else can do it instead, I let them! Thirdly: Does it have to be done today? If I can put it off until later, I do. (Of course this assumes it won’t be put off forever!) Ultimately, it’s about working on what matters, focusing on one thing at a time, and always remembering that life is not meant to be taken too seriously.

Recommended Reading:

• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
• Heart of the Soul by Gary Zukav and Linda Francis
• Destructive Emotions by Daniel Goleman
• Self Matters by Phil McGraw
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
• The Everything Stress Management Book by Eve Adamson

The Heart

This aspect is all about relationships. It’s impossible to go through life without interacting with other people on a regular basis. And it’s also impossible to ever feel completely fulfilled without strong relationships. You can be the smartest, sexiest, and richest person in the history of the world. But without people to share that with, none of it will matter.

The people we spend our time with have a powerful effect on us. They change us, whether we’d like to admit it or not. More specifically, they tend to make us more like they already are. Whiney people create more whiny people. Interesting people create more interesting people. That’s why it’s important to spend time with the right people and not the wrong ones.

Now I’m not talking about right and wrong in the way only a comic book could do justice to. I’m talking about what’s right for you. That’s something we all need to figure out. By knowing what qualities you want to develop in yourself, you can figure out whether the people in your life are keeping you on track towards achieving that or are dragging you off course altogether.

Personally, I look for three qualities. The first is vision. This is about being ambitious, living life based on some sort of direction, and having the discipline to go out and make things happen. The second is passion. This is about being outgoing, showing a spontaneous side every now and then, and always knowing how to have fun.

The third (and definitely most important) is integrity. That means living a principled life. It’s about being tolerant of other people, honest in your actions, and always an independent thinker. It’s about developing complete security in who you are and what you have to offer the world. It’s about living your own life instead of letting other people live it for you.

So, what do you do once you’ve found the right people? You hang onto them, is what! I’ve lost a few too many great relationships just because I got too busy with stuff that didn’t even matter. That’s why I now keep a list of all my contacts in plain sight so that I’m forced to look at it everyday. Nowadays, there really is no excuse. All it takes is a quick text. What are you waiting for?

Recommended Reading:

• The Everything Self-Esteem Book by Robert Sherfield
• Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
• Influence by Robert Cialdini
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Improve Your Communication Skills by Alan Barker
• The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie

The Soul

The fourth and final element of all people is the soul. This is what really matters. It’s about finding your purpose and then living it everyday. Many people seem to think their mission in life needs to be a spectacular quest to “save the world.” That’s not true. It doesn’t have to be huge; it just has to be something. And it has to be what’s right for you.

Life really becomes a whole new experience once you figure out what you were born to do. Getting up in the morning isn’t quite as difficult as it used to be. All those little things that used to drive you crazy don’t seem as annoying anymore. Everything becomes so much clearer and life definitely becomes a whole lot more enjoyable too.

So, how do you figure out what you are meant to do? A good place to start would be at the beginning. After looking at all the things I wanted to be when I was growing up, I noticed a pattern. All of them, from movie director to human rights lawyer, had to do with other people. I always loved being an entertainer. I loved using my sense of humor to cheer people up and ultimately make their lives a little better. That’s how I came to realize my mission in life is to uplift, inspire, and ultimately change the world.

I also realized that the only way I can bring about this change is through my own efforts. I need to live a life of integrity and passion. I need to live life at such a high level that those around me are inspired to do the same. It’s the reason I’m so committed to my health and my work. It’s the reason I wrote this book!

That basically means I go out everyday and spend my time doing things that add value to my life and the lives of other people. And there are tons of those. Every time I read a book, go running, or do a favor for a friend, I like to believe I make a small difference in the world. Silly as it may sound, I believe those things add value to my life and I believe that value gets passed on to everyone around me.

That’s my key to happiness. It’s just a case of living one day at a time and making sure every day counts. It’s about doing little things that have a huge impact. A smile here and a compliment there really go a long way! In the end you realize that happiness is a choice and that you might as well be happy because 99% of the time there’s no reason not to.

Recommended Reading:

• Life Strategies by Phil McGrawThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• The Eighth Habit by Stephen Covey
• Success Built to Last by Jerry Porras, Stewart Emery, and Mark Thompson

Conclusion
Well, that’s all I have to say about the mind, body, heart and soul. I hope I’ve given you some ideas you can apply in your own life. And I really hope you’ll take the initiative to make whatever changes you feel the need to. All the knowledge in the world means nothing unless it’s applied. If you’d like to learn a bit more about the things I’ve talked about, I highly suggest “Get the Edge” by Anthony Robbins. It is without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me. It completely changed my life and I know it can do the same for you.

To read more from Eugene Yiga, check out his blog, Varsity Blah. To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link.

When is a worn out old sock not a worn out old sock? When it’s a dustmop. Don’t toss that sock just because the elastic is all gone. Wash it, turn the sock inside out, and use it as a dusting glove. And nobody will say a thing if you wear them inside out and dance across the floor. Just crank up some music and get to cleaning. The slippy part is fun, but don’t takea  spill. Before you toss — before you recycle — think about what secondary purpose that “useless” object might have (Thanks to Tina for today’s tip).

Ah, the memories (and drama) of setting up the nursery. Some people call it “nesting,” a way to show creativity in the first space a child will call their own. So, of course you want to make it as safe as possible! If I had known about these paints when I was pregnant with my first daughter, I would have used it for the entire house. That paint smell that never seems to go away? Those are mainly VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds - that not only contributes to poor indoor air quality, but depletes the ozone layer as well. Here are some innovative, safe, non-invasive paints with a stunning color palette to help your prep your baby’s room. Be sure to check about application, if it needs a primer, or anything else paint-related before you buy. Like many things green, these paints don’t come cheap, and you want to make sure it’s done right the first time!

Milk Paint - Yes, it sounds kind of, um, gross, and yes, I too have envisioned the paint smelling like a dairy product. However, The Genuine, Old-Fashioned, Home Made Milk Paint company has recreated an old-fashioned milk paint formula that is safe, durable and anything but milky. Milk paint is made from milk protein (also known as casein) and lime, (also known as calcium), plus the earth or mineral pigments. This is as natural as it gets, folks. There are no acrylics, acetates or formaldehydes in the paint to make your project unsafe. Their new Safe Paint for Walls is organic, non-toxic, zero VOC (volatile organic compounds), biodegradable, non-flammable, fast drying, comes in 20 colors and comes in powder form to mix at home.

little YOLO - The children’s line from eco-paint innovator YOLO Colorhouse features six gender-neutral colors that will brighten any infant’s room. Called the “Sprout” line of paints, YOLO contain zero VOCs, and are washable. The paints are also certified by Green Seal, a non-profit organization focusing on environmentally responsible products.

Green Planet Paints - One of the newest “high-performance, interior” eco-paints on the scene, Green Planet Paints has a colorful palette to go from your nursery to any room in your home. The paints come in eggshell, flat or semigloss, all created with mineral pigments and no VOCs. If you’re building a LEED certified home, using Green Planet Paints can earn you up to four (4) LEED points. You may have to just repaint your whole house!

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

I was sitting here at my computer, pondering whether I wanted to write a post with tips about “making 2009 your best year ever”. It’s been done, and most of my tips you’ve already read before on Zen Habits.

I made a small list of things I’d recommend to anyone wanting to make 2009 their best year ever … coming up with a single life-changing goal, creating a mantra for that goal to keep them on track, simplifying their lives, making time for loved ones and themselves, learning to be in the moment … all of these are great tips, and I could come up with a dozen more that would really help people if they wanted to make positive changes.

But then I realized that there’s just one tip that’s needed. And it’s not a tip you’ll read in most personal development, productivity or self-help blogs or books.

That’s because if you implemented this one tip, you wouldn’t really need any others. It would put all of us out of business.

So, because I enjoy writing personal development posts and books for you guys, I’m counting on you to NOT actually implement this, and to keep needing other tips I give you in the future.

Kidding of course! Go ahead, put me and all the rest of ‘em out of business. I’d rather have you happy and successful, and look for another job, knowing that I did something good.

So what’s that single secret, the one thing that will not only make 2009 your best year ever, but put personal development and self-help bloggers and authors out of business?

Are you sure you’re ready to hear it?

OK, you’re ready. :) Here goes:

Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.

Sounds too simple, but if you haven’t realized this, and put it into action, it can have an amazing effect on your life. Today. Right now.

My Life of Waiting

When I was young, I couldn’t wait to become an adult. Oh, the freedom! Becoming an adult would bring me happiness. I couldn’t wait.

When I became an adult, I couldn’t wait to get a good job. That would surely bring happiness. I couldn’t wait. When I got a good job, I couldn’t wait to get a raise. When I got a raise, I couldn’t wait to get married. When I got married, I couldn’t wait to buy a nicer car. Got the car, then I couldn’t wait to buy a house.

When I bought the house, I couldn’t wait to … get out of debt.

I could go on for quite awhile, but you get the point. None of my desires ever produced happiness, because I was stuck in the mindset of wanting more. When I got what I wanted, I wanted something else. My happiness was always on hold, because I was waiting to reach a goal.

Waiting for happiness.

On Goals and Desires

It’s good to have goals. I have them — it’s a part of living and working. But how much are you investing in your goals? How much of your happiness is based on your goals?

It’s also natural to have desires, but if your life is a series of desires, one after the other, and everything in you is in pursuit of those desires, you will always be striving for happiness, waiting for it.

Instead, remember: Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.

Feel free to pursue goals, and desires … but don’t make your happiness dependent on them. Don’t think of happiness as something you’ll have once X happens (whatever X is right now for you).

Life is a Journey - Enjoy It!

So how do you go for goals and still have happiness right here, right now? By remembering that the important thing isn’t the destination … it’s the journey!

Remember that, always: the journey is the most important thing. Not the goal. Not the ending point.

Think about it: if you are only happy once you reach a goal, what about all the time you spend getting to the goal? That’s much more of your life than actually being at the goal. If you’re only happy when you’re at the destination, you’ll be unhappy most of the time.

What’s more, if you are stuck in that mindset, when you reach your destination, you won’t actually be happy — you’ll be looking toward your next destination.

Instead, remember: Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.

How do you enjoy the journey? By appreciating life in its fullness, its wonderfulness. By not looking so much toward the future, but focusing on the present moment, right here, right now. By looking around you, and realizing that everything you need for happiness is already here!

Everything You Need for Happiness

What do you need to be happy? Do you need a fancy car and a mansion and millions of dollars? If you could have every single desire granted to you right now, would you be happy then?

Or can you be happy now, with what you have?

Can you look at the gorgeous sky, and realize what a miracle it is? Can you look at a sunset, a forest, a flower, a child, and realize the miracle of each of these things? You probably can, if you take the time to look at them fully.

And then you might realize that your eyes are a miracle, and that they allow you to see each of these other miracles. If you have your eyes, you have all you need for happiness.

What if you are blind? Can you taste chocolate, or strawberries, or cinnamon, or tears, and realize what a miracle those things are? Can you hear Mozart, or John Lennon, or Jack Johnson, and have your soul fill up with happiness? Then you already have all you need for happiness.

All you need is the present moment: spend time with a loved one, talk with a friend, watch a funny movie, go swimming in refreshing water, smell fresh baked bread, go for a walk or a run, curl up with a good book, cuddle on a rainy day, give and receive a hug.

It’s true — this is the only thing you need to know: Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.

But … What About My Goals?

Should you give up your goals for 2009, now that you’ve decided to be happy now? Nah. Go ahead and pursue those goals, but remember to enjoy the journey. Consider:

• Losing weight. Will you only be happy after you’ve lost weight and are slim and trim? When you have the perfect body? Screw that! Make it an enjoyable journey — exercise can be a lot of fun! Eating clean, healthy food can also be incredible, once you learn to enjoy it! Enjoy the journey to health and the great body will only be a side benefit.
• Getting productive. Do you have a desire to crank through your to-do list, stop procrastinating, and knock down your projects, one after the other? Well, that’s good, but realize that your to-do list will never ever be completed, nor will your project list. They’re never ending, and in fact they’re supposed to be that way. So you’ll never reach a destination here — all you have is the journey! Learn to enjoy your work - every minute of it — and productivity will come naturally.
• Learning a new skill. Whether you want to learn French, or to play the trombone, or to master Jeet Kune Do, will you only be happy once you’ve learned the skill? No! Learn to love the learning process! It’s an exploration not only of new territory, but of yourself. It’s wonderful.
• Simplifying. Do you want to get rid of clutter? Will you be happy only when you’ve gotten rid of all excess things? No! Enjoy the process of decluttering — it’s one of my favorite pasttimes! :) Imagine that I’m there next to you, enjoining you to “TOSS IT!” with a wildly cheerful voice.
• Writing a book. Do you want to write the Great American Novel? Don’t wait until you’re done to enjoy the book … love each moment you can spend writing. It’s a miracle.

What are you waiting for before you become happy? Can you find happiness right now, in this moment? Let us know in the comments!
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Elsewhere:

• Why Less is More: Interview with Leo Babauta of Zen Habits.
• The Power of Less: An Interview with Leo Babauta

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It’s back to work today after the New Year’s holiday, and that means out with those 2008 calendars. Why not save a few trees and consider paperless options in 2009? Consider free online planners, such as Google Calendar. They’re portable, easy to update and share with co-workers, integrate with many mail programs and smartphones — and you won’t have to worry about recycling this time next year.

It’s the first week of 2009, and already two friends have had babies, and five more have announced they’re expecting this year. It’s definitely the year of the baby for a lot of people! I thought I’d kick off the new year with a week of newborn/infant write-ups to make any parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or whomever ready for their eco-kid’s arrival.

Can you count how many blankets you’ve either given or received for children? I had everything from handknit throws to cotton swaddlers to a blanket that screamed flammable, sent to me after my kids were born. For a truly luxurious (and thankfully, natural) blanket, these SHI SHU BABY blankets will fit right in. The mom behind SHI SHU found out the hard way how unnatural products can react with skin, when her son broke out in a rash from a microfiber blanket. SHI SHU blankets are handwoven, and made with a 60%/40% natural cotton to bamboo blend with bamboo sateen trim. Bamboo is an amazing fiber - it’s antibacterial, breathable, washable and long lasting. The fibers are not chemically treated, and will wow anyone who receives one!

This blanket would be an ultimate for me, something my kids would snuggle in for years to come. And luckily, they come in adult sizes! This week, I’m celebrating the wonder of babyhood by giving away one super-gorgeous, large SHI SHU BABY blanket in the color of your choice! Just leave a comment at this post with your favorite color. The giveaway will be open until next Sunday night, January 11th at midnight, PST.

Winner will be chosen at random. Open to US residents only. Retail value is $88.

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter.

I have a secret.

But I’m not sure if I should tell you.

I mean, it pretty much lets me do whatever I want. I can overcome towering odds. I can keep going when all I feel like doing is throwing in the towel. I can defeat the most terrifying of fears.

I bet it could do the same for you… if only you knew what it was.

Actually… it’s kind of embarrassing. It’s about my underwear.

When I wear red underwear, I can do anything.

Seems a little silly, doesn’t it? I mean, what’s so special about red underwear? (No, I’m not talking about the lacy risque kind, just regular briefs. Promise.)

I honestly don’t know what it is. Something about them just makes me feel almighty. It’s like nothing can get in my way and nothing can stop my superhuman powers.

So, what does this have to do with you? Why should you keep reading for any reason other than the lure of underwear?

Because there’s a little thing called NLP going on here, or — big word coming — neuro-linguistic programming. (For more info on NLP check out Tim’s blog here). It’s basically taking an object, a symbol, a gesture, or a movement and turning it into a trigger. It’s programming yourself to react or feel a certain way when an event is triggered. It’s part power of suggestion, part power of intention. And it works.

Although I didn’t intend to do this with my red underpants, it’s still the same thing happening. An event, the wearing of my superhuman briefs, causes an emotional response in my mind and body. In this case, the feeling of being unstoppable.

You’ve probably felt this way before with a lucky hat or a piece of jewelry that means a lot to you. Or it could be something like a batter hitting the ground 3 times before he goes to swing. Whatever it is, there’s some serious awesomeness going on there.

The key is to take that unintentional programming and apply it intentionally. Instead of letting things trigger emotional responses within you on accident, it makes more sense to do it on purpose, right?

Leo says that effectively changing your habits requires a trigger to help you remember to take action. In the same way, you can use triggers in your routine to help you create certain emotional states. Ideally, the key is to be able to set off triggers anywhere, so you’re not dependent on something else (like listening to a song, or watching a scene from a movie). Although those can be secondary options, too.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• If you want to help yourself get in a creative state, you can setup an environmental trigger. Maybe that means sitting in a certain chair (putting on your thinking cap, as it were). Or it could be triggered by a change in your breathing (slower or more rapid breathing).
• To get excited about exercise, you might setup a trigger by moving a certain way or doing a visualization. You could make your trigger swinging your arms back and forth and visualize yourself in front of mirror with your ideal body. Use something that gets you pumped up. MMA fighters and boxers do this all the time by slapping their chests or face. Not recommended, but you get the idea.
• In order to put yourself in a state of confidence, you could create triggers in your posture. Sitting straight and stretching my arms above my head always makes me feel more confident.
• To trigger yourself into a state of focus, you can touch your eyes or massage your temples.
• Putting your hand on your heart is a great idea for cultivating an open mind and preparing yourself to really listen to someone.

These are just a few ideas; you can make up your own triggers. They can also be environmental, like engineering the attentional feng shui of your room. Take a look at your space and see what kind of triggers it sets off in you. Are they reinforcing your passions and your goals?

What this really comes down to is unleashing your inner superhero alter ego. Maybe you can’t keep going, but your superhero alter ego can.

Maybe you can’t write those 5 pages of your book you committed to, after you worked 9 hours, made dinner, and put the kids to bed. But your superhero alter ego can. Use the power of NLP to setup triggers to unleash your inner awesomeness.

Just try it. You never know… maybe your underwear is magical, too.

PS: Can you afford to let another year slip away without following your dreams? My upcoming ebook, Reclaim Your Dreams - A Step By Step Guide to Making Your Dreams a Reality, will be launching on January 13th to help you on your path. For exclusive tips on fast-tracking making your dreams a reality and a special, exclusive discount on my book for Zen Habits readers go here to get on the list.

This article was written by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind. To learn more about how to reclaim your life, grab a subscription to Illuminated MInd
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The GreenWashBall claims it can eliminate laundry detergent and save consumers money. Is it an eco-revolution — or another case of greenwashing?

My first impression of the GreenWashBall was that its manufacturer some chutzpah to market a eco-friendly product under a name synonymous overstated green marketing claims.

But it was the sort of pitch I look for: a modestly priced green product which could potentially save consumers some cash. It arrived in my inbox, as dozens do each week, with an offer of product for testing. I shot back a reply, and found my GreenWashBall was sitting on the front porch a week later.

Farewell to laundry detergent?

The GreenWashBall is presented as a replacement for laundry detergents. This seems like a good thing, given that the petroleum products, perfumes, and optical brighteners in conventional laundry detergents are sometimes irritating to people with chemical sensitivities. We already have enough unpronounceable substances in our daily lives — and who wouldn’t want to cross laundry soap off their weekly shopping list?

The ball itself is made of an unmarked, somewhat rubbery smelling green plastic. Rattling around inside are a handful of small round and cylindrical doodads the box describes as “powerful ceramics” designed to “break water into smaller pieces increasing its speed and penetration factor.” They are visible through a system of slots in the GreenWashBall’s sides.

The product literature goes on to make some fairly vague references to ions, pH levels, and eliminating chlorine in the wash water. These all sounded like something for more objective consideration. But first — let’s wash some laundry!

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. Claims which seem too good to be true usually are, but I had several loads of dirty clothes on hand and nothing to lose. I picked a few particularly nasty towels, some socks, and my Golden Retriever’s favorite binky; set the water to warm; and tossed the GreenWashBall on top. I often line dry laundry. But it was raining, so I ran everything through the dryer and brought them to the kitchen table for a sniff test.

A surprise

The laundry was clean. Not just clean, in fact, but really good. Everything smelled fresh without the benefit of perfumes or fabric softeners. The socks were a bit dull — we’re all used to whites with the benefits of artificial brighteners — but fit for wear. Ubu’s dog blanket was fur-free and ready for fresh slobber.

I was particularly taken by the towels. They were dramatically softer and fluffier than after a conventional wash. Perhaps the GreenWashBall wasn’t greenwash, after all.

Over the next several days, I did more loads: jeans, t-shirts, underwear, and a set of all-cotton sheets. In every case, the fabrics were clean and good-smelling, with superior loft.

Twitter weighs in

At Lighter Footstep, we’re fortunate to maintain an active Twitter stream with almost three thousand eco-conscious followers. At the beginning of the GreenWashBall test, i thought it might be fun to conduct our experiment “live” and pass along the results in real time.

As my skepticism yielded to surprise, the questions started rolling in: What kind of plastic is the GreenWashBall made from? What’s inside? How does it really work? It was time to become more objective about what could be happening here.

Examining GreenWashBall’s key claims

We’ll start with GreenWashBall’s stated benefits, as listed on a small pamphlet which accompanies each unit:

• [By eliminating detergents] You elimate allergic risks linked to detergent residues on your clothes and linen.
• GreenWashBall safeguards your linen from bleaching and oxidization caused by chlorine diluted water. Fabric remains elastic.
• GreenWashBall has an anti-bacterial effect.
• Due to its efficiency, there is no need to add any bleaching or other additive to your detergent.

Yes, eliminating detergent improves the lot of those irritated by commercial laundry ingredients. There’s certainly no downside in reducing chemical exposure, even for those of us who tolerate cleaning products.

The amount of chlorine in tap water is generally minute, and it’s difficult to imagine it has much effect on modern fabric dyes. Since GreenWashBall doesn’t list its active ingredients, it’s tough to judge how it removes chlorine from water — if it does so at all.

GreenWashBall’s claim of anti-bacterial action is more troubling. While the product website hints of “remote infared rays emitted by GreenWashBall” (whatever those might be), the company’s lack of specifics make it impossible to verify disinfectant action short of lab testing. That isn’t to say it’s not happening: silver, for instance, has true antimicrobial properties. It is at least within the realm of possibility that silver might be contained somewhere in GreenWashBall’s mysterious contents. But the company should do a much better job of substantiating its benefit in this area, particularly in view of a specific health claim made on the GreenWashBall website:

[The] GREENWASHBALL eliminates pathogen germs in the water of your washing machine, giving clean and healthy linen. GREENWASHBALL has an antibacterial effect and eliminates bad odors.

Customers expecting GreenWashBall to contribute to the reduction of things such as fecal coliforms deserve a more detailed explanation of how this product is effective.

So why was the laundry clean?

My testing was unscientific, so I’m not saying that GreenWashBall doesn’t work. But I can think of at least one reason my clothes came out clean: I washed them. In detergent.

While we generally think of detergents in terms of the stuff we buy at the store, any compound used for cleaning is a detergent. That includes water — it suspends dirt until it can be rinsed away. Warm water introduces a surfactant effect, dissolving dirt and oils. We’re strongly conditioned by advertising to believe laundry cannot be cleaned except through the introduction of soaps and foaming agents.

We’re also accustomed to baking commercial detergents into our fabrics as they dry. That’s why our clothing smells of perfume after the wash, and how optical brighteners are still able to do their job. The added loft and softness I noticed in my laundry was probably due to the absence of detergent residue.

Just for fun, I did a final load of laundry similar to that of the first batch. Using nothing but warm water, the results seemed identical to those with the GreenWashBall. Lesson learned. We can probably save money and turn out better quality laundry by reducing the amount of detergents we use.

And the GreenWashBall has a way to go if it intends to live down its name.

This article originally appeared on Chris Baskind dot com under the title A Lesson About Greenwashing and Laundry.

The old saying is true: New Year’s Resolutions are made to be broken. Rather than setting yourself up for failure, recognize that real change is a process. Pick a several areas for improvement. Now brainstorm a few tactics for each of these areas. Every 30 days, toss the ones which aren’t working or get them underway. You’ll find you’re less likely to abandon your big picture goals if you let the details just be details.

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

At the end of 2006, I thought I’d just had the best year of my life — I quit smoking, took up running, completed my first marathon, became an early riser, became organized and productive, started eliminating my debt and getting my finances in order, became a vegetarian, my youngest daughter Noelle was born, among other things. Not bad, for one year!

At the end of 2007, I knew I’d just had the best year of my life: I’d created Zen Habits and made it a Top 100 blog in its first year, I’d sold a best-selling ebook, I landed a book deal, I was able to eliminate my debt completely, and quit my day job. I couldn’t top that!

Well, I just did.

Now that 2008 is over, I think I’ve just had the best year of my life, once again. Zen Habits has steadily grown in readership, from 26,000 at the end of 2007 to about 80,000 today. I’ve had a wonderful year with all of you, the most supportive, encouraging, generous, and yes, stunningly attractive readers in the world.

Add to that: I wrote my book, The Power of Less, and it came out at the end of the year (if you haven’t bought it, please do so now!). I was able to spend the entire year doing something I love, which is writing for you guys.

Update: Omg, I can’t believe I forgot … I also had my church wedding in 2008, and an awesome honeymoon in Thailand!!! And I went to Honolulu, which I also loved, and I ran two marathons and did a triathlon! How could I forget all that?!

So as you can see, my 2008 was my best year ever largely thanks to ALL OF YOU. So THANK YOU, my friends! You are the best readers a writer could ever have, and I am deeply grateful for you, each and every day.

And so, to celebrate a new year and the end of a great year, here’s the unavoidable, inevitable, best of the year list. I’ll start with the Top 25 most popular posts of 2008, according to my trusty Google Analytics:

1. 20 Things I Wish I Had Known When Starting Out in Life
2. Minimalist Fitness: How to Get In Lean Shape With Little or No Equipment
3. 30 Things to Do to Keep From Getting Bored Out of Your Skull at Work
4. 5 Amazing Mac Apps for Getting Things Done
5. The Four Laws of Simplicity, and How to Apply Them to Life
6. The Lazy Man’s Guide to Getting Things Done
7. 21 Easy Hacks to Simplify Your Life
8. The Minimalist’s Guide to Simple Housework
9. 20 Money Hacks: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Finances
10. 17 Fitness Truths To Get You In Great Shape
11. 18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess
12. Top 5 Most Inspirational Videos on YouTube
13. How to Go From Sedentary to Running in Five Steps
14. How I Paid Off $35,000 in Debt, and How You Can Too
15. The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship
16. A 12-Step Program to Eating Healthier Than Ever Before
17. 12 New Rules of Working You Should Embrace Today
18. The Ultimate Guide to Motivation - How to Achieve Any Goal
19. 7 Little Habits That Can Change Your Life, and How to Form Them
20. 7 Powerful Steps to Overcoming Resistance and Actually Getting Stuff Done
21. 20 Amazing and Essential Non-fiction Books to Enrich Your Library
22. 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids
23. Open Source Blogging: Feel Free to Steal My Content
24. The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating) Clutter Entropy
25. 12 Practical Steps for Learning to Go With the Flow

In addition to these 25 most popular articles, I’ve chosen a few others that I really liked. If I wanted, I could easily choose a dozen more, but anyway, here goes:

1. 50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library
2. 25 Ways to Help a Fellow Human Being Today
3. A Simple Guide to Being Present for the Overworked and Overwhelmed
4. Productivity 2.0: How the New Rules of Work Are Changing the Game
5. My Four Commandments
6. The Six Greatest Gifts You Can Give Your Loved Ones
7. The Essential Time-Saving Guide for Busy People
8. Living Simply: The Ultimate Guide to Conquering Your Clutter

If you want to go back further, read Best of Zen Habits 2007. If that’s not enough, try the Beginner’s Guide to Zen Habits.

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Elsewhere: Read an interview with me on Wisebread talking about The Power of Less for personal finances.

Happy New Year! It’s been a very busy holiday season for us, culminating in a move to our new home in Fort Lauderdale. One thing I absolutely love about living here is the ability to walk to around a quiet neighborhood rich in history. We also take advantage of not having to use our cars to get to restaurants, the post office, even the library (if we’re feeling a little adventurous).

Downtown Fort Lauderdale is rich in culture and activities for children as well! If you live nearby, or a planning a trip down here, don’t forget to visit the Museum of Discovery and Science and 3D IMAX theater. Right now, they’re featuring “The Climate Change Show,” a multi-media exhibit that explores the effects of global warming through special effects, weather recreations and talking sheep (it is a show, after all). For little ones, the permanent playroom includes bubble making, climbing through a make-believe rain forest, and other hands on/nature related activities. Of course, there are also huge fish tanks, turtles ponds and baby alligator tanks to delight everyone.

This weekend (starting Friday, January 2nd through Sunday, January 4th) marks the 21st annual Las Olas Art Fair, one of my favorite in this area. The streets are jam-packed with craftsman and artists featuring everything from sculpture to photography, jewelry, home goods, clothing, and whimsical things you have no need for but are fun and pretty anyway. There are also great handmade toys and stuff for kids - I’ve been known to pick up some wooden cars or funky mobiles for people. Since I’ve missed the fair the past couple of years, I’ll be sure to be on the lookout for recycled or upcycled crafts to buy report on!

Out with the old — and in with the new! Here’s wishing you a healthy, green, and prosperous 2009. We’ll be back Friday to help you tackle the New Year. It’s also time for us to discuss our own New Year’s resolutions, and the direction we plan to take in the coming months. So: farewell to 2008, and here’s to successfully meeting the challenges which lie ahead. We can do it. Together.

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

Gretchen Rubin of the excellent blog The Happiness Project recently did a post with tips for writing your own personal commandments, and it got me wondering: what are my personal commandments?

I’ve always enjoyed Gretchen’s Twelve Commandments, even before I’d started Zen Habits, but it wasn’t until now that I decided to really think about what my commandments would be.

It’s a tough question, because most of us have a lot of ideals that we’d like to embody in our personal lives. How to choose? Gretchen’s post has a good list of some ideas others have chosen, many of them things I’d like to choose myself.

So I decided to figure out what the essence of my personal philosphy was. I started with a brainstormed list, then simplified down to the essential. Actually, I could simplify even more (you could get away with just one commandment) but I like my list — it helps remind me of different things I’m trying to do.

I originally had 12 things on this list, but I decided to simplify. Here are my Four Commandments:

1. Be present.

2. Seek to understand and accept.

3. Be compassionate, and passionate.

4. Do less.

In case you’re wondering what I cut off the list: smile, go slowly, be love, do it now, keep things simple, and be harmless. I also combined some of them (2 and 3 are combos) to simplify.

What are your commandments? Share in the comments!

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On another note, I’d like to thank everyone for helping to make The Power of Less a success! It reached the Amazon Top 100 in its first day (#64 as I write this), and was #10 in the Amazon Business section, #1 in the Business Management & Leadership Motivation section, so that’s a great way to start the New Year. Thank you my wonderful readers!

Elsewhere:

• My guest post on Mashable: How to Simplify
• An interview with me on bitful.com: How to make your life rich rather than full
• An interview with me on The Success Professor
• An interview with me on The Art of Balanced Living

During the winter months, your best indoor energy saving device is clothing. Rather than turning up the thermostat, head to your closet. Investing in a decent set of flannel jammies, a warm robe, and fuzzy slippers means you can stay comfortable and keep your thermostat several degrees lower on a cold winter night. Don’t skimp on quality bedding, and a hot water bottle slipped under the covers 30 minutes before bed will keep you cozy for hours.