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How to Stop Relying on Big Business

Many of us feel trapped by big conglomerate and businesses. We feel constricted, like we need all these businesses telling us what to buy, what to wear, what to eat. We feel like slaves to corporate greed. But it doesn’t need to be this way, there are many things one could do to become more self-sufficient and independent. These words are here to help you do just that, or at the very least begin your journey to a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Consider Minimalism

People in modern societies live for things. Objects filling their homes, things piling up and cluttering out living spaces. A minimalist lifestyle gets rid of the clutter and makes more living space. Selling off all the unused appliances and things laying around can bring in some decent extra cash. Aside from gaining more space and some cash in your pocket, clearing the clutter is proven to reduce symptoms of depression.

Too many of us are overwhelmed by our daily commitments in life, work and school and children. Clearing excess clutter from your home significantly improves your health, both physical and mental, by removing the sort of visual evidence of all that stress. Getting rid of it all allows us to cut back, relax a little and slow down. Enjoy our lives rather than rushing to and fro, constantly worrying about this and that, disappointing someone or whatever else may cross your mind.

Imagine how freeing it will be, without worrying about luxury items or the next fall trend. Living your life the way you want, not how society wants you to.

Grow Your Own Food

There’s many ways to become self-sufficient and stop relying on big business for all your needs, but one of the most effective (and fun!) ways to begin is by starting your very own garden. Growing your own food, not having to rely on grocery stores, is quite comforting. Getting into the dirt and watching your produce grow from seed to plate is immensely satisfying and rewarding. Not to mention, there is a link between mental health and gardening. Studies show that gardening helps relieve the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and may be beneficial to people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Collecting rainwater in a water barrel can help ease some financial strain as well, by providing you a natural, free way to water your crops. Using the earth’s natural irrigation system prevents you from using your home’s water system, which in turn saves you money while growing your food and herbs.

Start Canning

As people come to realize that handling and sourcing your food is incredibly important, the process of canning foods has become quite popular in recent years. The benefits to canning your own foods are endless. To start, the shelf life of canned foods is incredibly long, and you know exactly what went into it to preserve it. Nothing goes in without your permission.

When canned as soon as it’s ripened, the food is just as good and nutritious as when it was plucked from the vines or dug up. For lycopene (a carotenoid that protects against prostate cancer), canned tomatoes are better than fresh!

One could approach canning as a full-time investment, purchasing many jars and filling up entire cabinets with your own food source, or as a fun hobby to do on the weekends. It doesn’t require a huge time investment.

Install Solar Panels

The potential cost saving benefits to solar panels are immense and certainly worth the trouble of installation. A sunny day could produce enough energy to power your home without drawing from the grid for even a second. Even on cloudy days, indirect or diffused sunlight can still offer up to 20 percent of the sunlight and energy from a bright sunlit day.

The downside to solar panels are the cost and the work of installation, but cutting down on energy costs, or eliminating them entirely, is worth the upfront cost.

I hope this has been helpful to you, and good luck on your journey to self-reliance!

References

Eberhard, Jennifer. The Link Between Clutter and Depression.

Camic, Paul M. Gardening as a Mental Health Intervention: A Review

Nola Green Roots. Benefits of Canning

One Comment

  1. I came here expecting an analysis of specific corporations or industries, and ways I could reduce my dependence on each, but instead you presented overall strategies and leverage points, which I think is much more universal. Thanks for the article!

    One that I’d add is ‘ride a bike’. We’re pretty dependent on the oil industry for a lot of things; breaking dependence on them for transportation is a very good start.

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