A City Girl's Guide to Living Green

For so many urban dwellers, life is a balancing act. Women try to squeeze in as much as possible into every moment of the day: work, family, friends and health. But all this success has a price: exhaustion. Refreshingly, a newfound interest in healthy living is developing, leading even the most competitive type-A person to search out ways to improve their lives and help the environment.

Through the recent focus on living green and global warming, it's clear that even the smallest decisions can have big impact on the world. The same holds true for managing a personal life-making a minor adjustment can lead to big rewards for overall well being. Since you are a city girl, you are most likely already living green by using mass transit, walking and learning to live with less. But if you want to take more action while also treating yourself kindly here are a handful of lifestyle changes:

Starting from the inside out is an excellent way to begin a makeover-and that means freshening up the diet. Thankfully, shopping for nutritious local vegetables and organically grown fruits have never been easier. With a proliferation of green markets and organic food stores, cooks have a variety of options that will please the palette and generate less waste.

Living well isn't all about veggies and whole grains. For decades researchers have been touting the health benefits of alcohol. Try unwinding with a glass of organic wine after the next take-no-prisoners meeting. Organic cocktails are also gaining popularity. For a hangover-free drink, combine red wine and pear juice to create a luscious treat. Keep an eye out for restaurants that are adding organic cocktails to their drinks menu. Examples include vitamin enriched vodka drinks sweetened with organic berry juice.

More and more people are searching for healthy alternatives to traditional pampering options. Taking care of the body, is a simple way to avoid long-term health issues and stay productive. Pampering needn't be an extravagant luxury. Many spas are tailoring their treatments and services to busy executives. Feel good about your spa choice by research spas and services with green options. Nowadays spas are offering their clients eco-friendly products, such as vegan nail polishes and organic skincare products.

Yoga may be the exercise of choice for budding environmentalists as it requires little gear and doesn't drain much power. But plenty of other green options are available fitness buffs. For many, heading outdoors to hike, run and cycle is a fabulous way to recharge. Personal trainers are also getting into the outdoor action. To keep clients motivated and fit, trainers are mixing in fresh air sessions with traditional weight lifting and indoor cardio workouts.

Once the body is on the road to health, the next step is to remake the home. Your apartment should be a haven from the outside world-a place to refresh and renew. The first step towards interior harmony can be a small one, such as outfitting your space with recycling containers. Gaiam sells a handy trio of collapsible bags that are easy to stash by the front door. Another idea is to remove your name from catalog lists. Try ProQuo to start taming the junk mail.

Moms have an extra stake in making sure they are doing all they can to be green. New books like Green Babies, Sage Momsgive heaps of advice--from diaper choices to the best first food choices--for new parents looking help the environment.

Clothing manufacturers are also joining the movement. Organic cotton is now a viable alternative to traditional chemically treated fabrics. Opt for organic when selecting yoga clothes and everyday items such as denim and tee shirts (Swell Foop makes some cool tees designed with a green message on them). Then when items get dirty consider using a green detergent such as Method Free and Clear (made from naturally derived, biodegradable, active enzymes that are 100% phosphate free).

From the smallest purchase to the largest lifestyle change there are more ways than ever to fell terrific about treating ourselves well. Change doesn't have to be painful. In fact, it's now possible to maintain a chic lifestyle while treating your body and the environment with care.