Pick one day a week to go completely unplugged, free of any digital devices. Years of studies have shown that being disconnected from your phone and computer screens is beneficial for overall well-being and happiness, but recent findings indicate that it also may help you sleep better. According to a study by the National Academy of Sciences, spending time on your phone prior to bedtime can delay melatonin release, which causes you to take longer to fall asleep. It's best to leave phones off, and include e-readers as well, since they also emit the "blue light" from screens that affects your brain.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

One popular activity during the summer months is camping, but according to the Sierra Club, you should do one thing to minimize your impact when you're in the woods: Look for well-established campsites that have durable surfaces like gravel or rock slabs to pitch your tent. Avoid the Instagram-worthy areas like meadows or along rivers and lakes. While it may look idyllic, these areas tend to be fragile ecological sites that can be easily damaged or ruined.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

While antique and vintage furniture is the greenest way to furnish a home, sometimes you can't find the right piece and want something new. One new type of sustainable furniture on the market is made of mango wood, from the fruit-bearing trees of the same name. Mango trees are fast-growing (they can reach 100 feet in height very quickly) and bear fruit for about 15 years. Once the trees stop producing fruit, they are cut down and replaced with new trees by the farmers who cultivate them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION