We are very excited to sit down again with our friend and Wellicious Ambassador, Besma from Curiously Conscious, to discover more of her tips for mindful living. In our latest interview, Besma shares her daily routine, along with tips for a sustainable lifestyle and greener travel.
1- Please introduce yourself to our readers who haven't seen your previous Q&A with us
Hi! I’m Besma, I write the sustainable fashion and lifestyle blog Curiously Conscious, and you can find me online @besmacc. I’ve been documenting kinder ways to live and dress since 2014, and in those 10 years I’ve focused predominantly on fashion, textiles, and how we can dress better for ourselves and for the planet. In my free time, I like to practice yoga, and have recently discovered hot yoga, which I enjoy practicing at a local studio here in Brighton.
(Besma is wearing our Control Bra Diamond White and Best Yoga Pants Diamond White)
- What does an average day look like for you?
I’m lucky enough to set out my own schedule during the week, but I do like to have a loose routine. In the mornings, I’ll wake up, make coffee and breakfast, and get ready for the day. I like to be at my desk for 9:30am, where I can pick up emails, and start writing for the day. I write about new innovations, events I’ve attended, or spend time editing content. At lunchtime, I’ll make myself a soup or salad from scratch, and I always try to eat at least one home-cooked meal a day. In the afternoons, I’ll take calls or meet with friends and colleagues for coffee. In the early evening, I’ll either head to yoga class, or start preparing dinner - I love to cook and eat seasonably where I can. I share dinner with my partner, and we then relax in the living room. Some days, I might find myself in London for an event, or travelling for work, but really my favourite days are those spent in our cosy little home.
- What are easy things that our readers can do to live a more sustainable life?
I always say, if you’re looking to live more sustainably, start with the systems you’re part of. Switching to a renewable energy supplier or an ethical bank only takes a few clicks, but the effects are quick and highly impactful. Then, consider your habits; what do you do on a daily basis that you could easily change? It might be a reusable coffee cup, or walking to work. Be present and conscious in your choices, and know that these small changes have cumulative effect.
- Do you have any sustainable travel tips?
Yes! I recently updated my guide to holidaying sustainably and would love to share some pointers. First, I recommend considering the social impact and environmental impact of your travel plans. Is there any way you can support the local economy of the place you’re visiting? What about doing some conservation, or supporting a charity while you’re away?
Next, see if you can travel using public transport or take a train. And, where that’s not possible, see where you can make carbon savings in your life. We live in a small home, we avoid eating meat, we don’t have a car, and we don’t have any children. We emit far below the average emissions of a UK household, so a flight here or there is ok, although never great.
Finally, consider staying at a sustainable hotel or resort, and ones that go further than not washing towels daily; look for living wage employers, carbon neutral buildings, etc.
- Do you have any sustainable heroes that you follow and admire?
There are so many people in the sustainability space who inspire me, too many to count! Currently, I’m in awe of everyone who participated in Sustainable Fashion Week Brighton this year - local students, designers, models, volunteers. I’m always in awe of organisations like Remake and Fashion Revolution. And innovators and entrepreneurs, like Heike, who challenge fashion’s status quo and change it for the better.
6. Do you have any exciting projects or events in the pipeline?
I’ve just released my first ever fashion design - the perfect pair of Mary Jane Socks - designed in collaboration with a sustainable sock brand local to Brighton. They’re made with organic cotton and made here in the UK, by their small team. It took months to create and I’m so happy I can now share it with the world!