Thriving in 2025: What the Polls Say + Rainforests & Daily Detox

Happy Friday my friend,

There’s a lot to be hopeful about! According to recent global polls, “men and women, young and old, consider themselves to be thriving in larger numbers than any other time in the past.” Learn more about this poll and the “rates of thriving” here.

ECL TRIVIA: What Indigenous practice improves soil fertility and was key to early agriculture in the Americas? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🌱 RAINFOREST ANALYSIS: Are researchers climbing trees to study the rainforests? In fact, they’re studying the water dripping from rainforest plants and trees, discovering it carries environmental DNA (“rainwash”) from canopy creatures. By capturing and analyzing it with simple collectors, they identified hundreds of species— from orchids and ants, to birds and frogs! Learn more.

⛰️ MOUNTAIN MAGIC: If you’re like me and love the mountains, you’ll appreciate this in-depth look at why mountains are so important, and what they provide. Read about global tourism to mountains, what types of flora and fauna thrive in different mountainous ecosystems, and their impacts on our fresh water supply.

🧊 SEA ICE: The global sea ice annual minimum has halved since 1979, but arctic sea ice “has slowed dramatically in the past 20 years,” scientists report. What’s going on with ocean currents, global temps, and the rate of Arctic sea ice melt? Find out more here. (Interesting note: reporting this information last year got accounts banned by social media, only to have it now acknowledged in mainstream media. It was deemed dangerous climate-denialism. Is it possible our planet’s ecosystems are not so binary as “everything is doomed” or “everything is fine”? Do you think it is more complex?)

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🍓 DIRTY DOZEN: If you need a quick refresher on the “dirty dozen” of fruits and veggies to prioritize buying organic, click here. “More than 95% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and grapes tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides,” this article states. You might be surprised what was #1.

🧘‍♂️ GUIDED MEDITATIONS: Looking for some new guided meditations? Here’s four standout YouTube channels that Lifehacker recommends for instructor-led mindfulness sessions. Whether you’re looking for a meditation that is designed to address stress, grief, injustice, or unemployment, or you’re hoping for a voice with a calming accent, this list has you covered!

👀 DIGITAL EYE HEALTH: Did you know Americans spend over 5 hours daily on screens, causing widespread symptoms like eye strain, dry eyes, and risk of increased nearsightedness? The culprits: less blinking and prolonged close focus. Doctors recommend this 20-20-20 rule, plus several other helpful tips to mitigate the effect of screen time on your vision.

💦 What’s your daily detox?

When it comes to daily detox, few things beat the power of regular sauna sessions.

But let’s be real-not everyone has the space or budget for a full-size sauna at home. That’s why I’m such a fan of the Bon Charge Infrared Sauna Blanket. It’s hands-down one of the most practical wellness tools in our house.

Instead of booking pricey spa appointments, you can enjoy all the benefits-deep sweating, better circulation, and a serious calorie burn-right from your living room. I love that you can just relax, watch your favorite show, and let the far-infrared heat (up to 176°F) work its magic.

The best part? It’s portable, easy to use, and fits into any routine.

As an Earth Conscious Life reader, you can grab the sauna blanket or anything else from Bon Charge’s biohacking lineup at 20% off with code ECL at checkout.

Ready to bring powerful sauna therapy home? [Experience it here.] <<

Photo of the week

Trivia Answer:

The “Three Sisters” method—planting corn, beans, and squash together—creates a symbiotic system that enriches the soil naturally.

🎥 Vermicompost for Beginners

Upgrade to ECL Membership for new videos each week on DIY & homestead advice, gardening support, holistic health expert interviews, recipes and more.

Become an Earth Conscious Life Member for weekly solution-focused videos, recipes, Deep Dive articles, expert interviews, and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

...and a healthier planet:

• • Improve health awareness: Deep Dive articles & recipe videos
• • Protect ecosystems: expert video tutorials with leaders around the world
• • Prioritize mental health: custom meditations for relieved stress
• • Camaraderie: likeminded community (app coming soon!)
• • Inspiration: members-only ebooks, personal picks, and DIY ideas
• • Portion goes to support independent films, local food projects, and planting trees