Sustainable Self-Care in Olympia: Why Your Choices Matter (and How to Keep Them Easy)

“Being sustainable doesn’t mean being perfect. It just means trying, every day.”

For me, sustainability became personal when I became a mother—and even more so as my husband launched his career in environmental sustainability. The more I learned, the more those “small differences” started to feel urgent—not just for us, but for our children, who are inheriting the planet.

A true “aha!” moment happened when my family began changing our routines at home: reducing our carbon footprint, tracking our waste, examining every shopping choice. Suddenly, I realized just how much garbage I was creating. Those little daily choices with groceries, products, and habits added up. When I found myself running a spa that didn’t really consider its own environmental impact, I knew I had to bring all I’d learned into my work life, too. Change isn’t always easy, but the rewards—like seeing my kids get it, watching waste and energy use drop, and seeing clients embrace new habits—are what keep me inspired.

What Does Sustainable Self-Care Really Mean?

Sustainable self-care, to me, means being conscious about your purchases and focusing more on experience than on stuff. At Wildflower, I’ve already done the behind-the-scenes research, selected trusted companies, and put carbon offsets in place so my clients can simply show up, relax, and never worry about the environmental impact of their self-care.

In Olympia, this “earth-first” mindset is in our local DNA. The community values our green spaces, and with Evergreen State College’s deep sustainability roots, there’s an intentional energy around protecting the planet. I love that my clients come in armed with tough (and thoughtful!) questions about sustainability and get genuinely excited about how we can work together for the greater good.

Small Changes, Big Impact

“Sustainability starts with intention, not perfection.”

One of the recent changes I’m most proud of: swapping bulky towels for reusable wax mats—especially for Brazilian waxes, my #1 requested service. This simple shift almost instantly cut down my laundry, saved water and energy, and freed up more time for my clients and my family. Sometimes, sustainable swaps are just about working smarter, not harder!

Through Wildflower’s partnership with Green Circle Salon, we’ve already diverted 181 pounds of salon waste (and counting!) from the landfill. Most meaningful to me? It’s not just about the amount of waste saved, but the shift in mindset—using less, producing less, and closing the loop on our environmental impact.

Olympia Proud: A Community in Action

“Earth care is self-care.” 

There’s something truly special about Olympia’s community. We are surrounded by beautiful nature, and the people here genuinely want to protect it. Our local businesses, like Jay’s Farm Stand, small downtown shops, and thrift stores, practice this philosophy every day.

It’s a joy to partner with other sustainability-minded practitioners in town, like my green-certified chiropractor at Phoenix Rising Wellness Center and Volverde, a business uplifting artisans in Mexico and supporting global sustainability. Together, we’re showing that sustainability is possible with each small choice.

Real Life Steps & Sustainable Habits

If you’re new to sustainable self-care, start simple:

“Use what you have, do what you can, start where you are.”

Before adding anything new, check what you already own—toss the expired stuff, finish what’s still good, and see if you can repurpose it. Pause before shopping and ask yourself, “Do I actually need this?” More often than not, the best swap is learning to get creative with what you’ve already got.

If there’s one sustainable habit I’d love to see everyone try, it’s rethinking “new.” Consider thrifting instead of buying new, both for your wardrobe. And bring me your empty beauty containers for recycling! You’ll earn points for more self-care—and together, we divert waste from the landfill.

The Human Side

Committing to sustainability has changed my own self-care routine, but I’ll be the first to admit: it’s not about being perfect. My habits ebb and flow, but my commitment is real. I’m lucky to live and work in a community that supports these values, and it’s my dream to make sustainable habits easier and more accessible for everyone.

And if you catch me with a big box of “trash” from clients, proud as can be—that’s just me, closing the loop and turning your small everyday choices into something bigger and better for us all.

You don’t have to do it all, just do something. Progress truly is more important than perfection.

Curious about how sustainable self-care can fit into your life? Pop in for a service, bring your empties, or reach out with questions anytime. Together, we can make healthy habits—for ourselves and our environment—feel easy and rewarding. Olympia, let’s keep growing a brighter future—one self-care moment at a time.