#reduce your waste
#11 bring your own cutlery
This is an easy one: Carry around a set of cutlery in your everyday bag. You can use an outdoor camping set or just go with your normal forks, spoons or sticks. Whenever your eating out anywhere in a place that doesn’t offer reusable cutlery, just use your own and skip the plastic. You can just put them in the dishwasher when you are back home and save a ton of plastic.
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If you follow me and read my post since last year you may know that I obtained a menstrual cup some time ago. The truth is I haven’t got an occasion to try it… until now, thanks to quarantine.
I needed some time to prepare the cup and of course also prepare myself for trying it. Living in a dormitory was an obstacle for me to do it, so when I started bleeding on quarantine at home I though it was a appropriate day to insert my menstrual cup.
Quick backstory: I got my first period when I was turning 10, so according to my calculations I have used about 3360 menstrual pads till today (for almost 10 years). So continuing counting I will use at least 10080 more until I stop menstruating.
“Tampons, pads and panty liners along with their packaging and individual wrapping generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic – in fact, pads are around 90% plastic!” - OrganiCup
One pad decompose in about 500 to 800 years! And burning them causes highly toxic emissions. So please consider switching to more sustainable menstrual products as:
- Cloth pads (watch this video!)
- Cup
- Periodproof underwear
My first period with menstrual cup:
Day 1 | Although I tried doing this before, it didn’t work out then. “Take your time” - I said to myself and began putting in right place. The first day of wearing a cup wasn’t the most comfortable and I wore a pad due to the insurance. I found very little blood inside the cup in the evening, which surprised me.
Articles and videos that helped me at the first day:
- 7 Things No One Tells You About Using Menstrual Cups
- How to use a Menstrual Cup – In-depth Instructional Video
- First Time Using A MENSTRUAL CUP During A HEAVY Period - Sarah Therese - I love her channel!
- The truth about menstrual cups TMI WARNING | I tried the diva cup - I completely love the girl’s energy :D
Also what I found helpful was medical lubricant, but to be honest I used it only at the first day. I didn’t mention it before but if you want to know, my cup is from the brand calledPerfect Cup;)
Day 2 | I felt really comfortable after wearing a cup at night. Also I didn’t notice any leakage. Although I think the ring was irritating me sometimes.
Day 3 | Again I felt very comfortable all day. I think the cup’s size is appropriate for me.
(sanitizing my cup in hot water while taking shower)
Day 4 | My bottom stomach hurt a bit, I think I put my cup a little too deep. But I reinserted it and then it was okay. In the evening I noticed that the amount of blood inside the cup was low so I decided to take a break of it and try on a cloth pad I sew before.
Day 5 | I stopped bleeding and after wearing a cloth pad for a night I felt a lot more pleased then after using a disposable pad.
Summing up: I loved it from the very first day! The feeling of not having a blood flood inside my pants and having any skin irritation caused by the chemicals inside the disposable pads… Absolutely stunning! Now I feel like: everyone who is menstruating should try that!
Also I have a story here: when I got my cup, I showed it to my boyfriend and he loved it and started playing with it, but when I showed it to my (women) roommates they were like “yuuuck!” and the situation was really shocking for me, because before I hadn’t met anyone who would react that way on a cup…
I’ve also asked some other people what they think about menstrual cups.
- “They are problematic and embarrassing in public toilets.”
- “I’m afraid I can stain something while putting it out.”
- “They are cool. Someday I’ll buy one!”
- “At least you don’t waste money on tampons and pads.”
- “I think it is a good way to reduce your waste.”
- “They seem to be more comfortable than tampons.”
- “In my point of view they aren’t made for me, but I’m not sure, because it seems to be better and more comfortable solution.”
And what is your opinion about menstrual cups?
I will finish with mentioning that there is nothing to be ashamed with talking about your period or using a menstrual cup! Love your body and accept everything about it! You are beautiful and worthy! ♥ ♥ ♥
