6 Simple Ways to Live a More Sustainable Life
How often do you spare a thought to reduce your carbon footprint? We often tend to forget that our actions impact our beautiful planet and that Mother Earth does not just belong to us humans. That begs the question, “How to live more sustainably?”
Living a sustainable life is not as challenging as you would imagine… To ensure that we make deliberate, earth-friendly choices, we need to seek out fresh ways to go green, helping to unfold a new human consciousness and to create a positive and sustainable future. To help you get started, here are 6 simple ways to live a more sustainable life.
- Nifty Thrifty
Do you find yourself wearing the latest clothing trends, using the newest version of Apple’s popular phone, or driving a late model car ~ all to keep up with ever-increasing lifestyle standards? Intelligent advertisements are adept at targeting our insecurities… which translates to having a premium company’s brand value elevate our social status. It’s about time we lose these silly notions, don’t you think?
Thrift is at the heart of understanding how to live more sustainably. I.e. a thrifty lifestyle, with frugality running as a theme across all its dimensions is the need of the hour. It can start now. Repair things instead of having them replaced, look at expanding a product’s usable life in a creative way, switch to renewable energy, ensure food and water are not wasted… you get the idea. It’s time to understand, appreciate and integrate thrift into your life.
- Personal Grooming
I know what you are thinking… Learning how to live more sustainably should not come at the cost of sacrificing your personal hygiene, right? But guess what, these eco-friendly alternatives to your hygiene products are just as good as your plastic counterparts.
- Toothbrush: Billions of plastic toothbrushes are disposed of every year ~ imagine its adverse impact on the environment. Time to grab a bamboo toothbrush! It will deliver the same quality of cleaning and once it reaches the end of its life, its biodegradable handle can be composted thereby reducing the environmental pollution.
- Razor: Like toothbrushes, razors too come with bamboo handles making them recyclable and sustainable. Another alternative would be to use razors where the heads or blades can be replaced.
- Makeup wipes/cotton pads: It is estimated that more than 20 million single-use cleaning wipes are trashed every day. That’s a lot! Thankfully, many makeup brands offer reusable makeup remover cotton pads for an eco-friendly beauty routine. A flannel would suffice for most uses, though.
- Stay Aloof from Toxins
News of an oil spill or a toxic gas leakage causes an intense feeling of fear. But little do we realise that we are subjected to toxic exposure daily. Our household cleaning products, air purifiers, furniture polish and stains etc. are all stipulated under government regulations ~ however, prolonged exposure to such common indoor pollutants can feed on our good health.
Learning about the contents of these products and knowing their detrimental effects is an excellent place to turn things around. Also, consider the {safer} natural substitutes. Did you know that vinegar, baking soda, and lemon can combine to make a great cleaning solution? Why don’t you discover more such alternatives and stay out of harm’s way?
- Beans for Burgers
Our food habits are a significant contributor to global GHG emissions which negatively impact the environment. If you compare eating meat-based meals to its plant counterparts, the former puts a real strain on the environment in multiple ways. The chemicals needed for long term preservation, land use, eutrophication, etc., makes it undesirable for both human beings and the environment. However, suggesting the world turns to veganism is impractical and unfair to those who actually enjoy a diverse diet that includes meat. So, how to live more sustainably with the right food culture?
Well, you can start with replacing one meat-based meal in a weak with a plant-based one. If the collective consciousness of society follows this lead, there would be a significant reduction in the amount of carbon our food is producing, for a more sustainable 2021.
- Reduce Food Miles
Many of the food items you buy at grocery stores have travelled a long way to reach you ~ via inter-state trucks or railway trips, ocean-liners or flights ~ leaving some carbon footprint. When you make a conscious choice to buy locally grown products, you are reducing these food miles, and thus saving gaseous emissions.
Add to it, the fact that local products often come devoid of preservation chemicals, since they are not expected to be stored for an extended period. Many of them are organic, pesticide-free, farm-fresh, and hence more nutritious. It’s a win-win-win situation. You, the local producer, and the environment have only things to gain from this symbiotic relationship.
- Burn Calories, Not Fuel
Observe personal transportation on the roads. I dare say a good share is filled to 20 per cent of its capacity; in other words, it’s the driver alone!
Since transportation is a significant contributor to GHG emissions, make an environmentally-friendly decision to change your commutation habits. If your destination {office, shopping mall, etc.} is located not too far from your residence, consider walking or cycling. Why spent extra time at the gym when you can integrate exercises as a part of your transport to get from point A to point B? Let’s burn some calories and not gasoline. Fancy buying a four-wheeler? How about checking out electric options? And if either doesn’t work for you, and your destination is considerably far, consider opting for public transportation. Forty people in one bus is a lot greener than 40 people in 40 cars.
To conclude: How to live more sustainably is not about abandoning the conveniences, but it’s more about being conscious about the consumption of resources. You might question the effectiveness of small individual contributions, but it is these baby steps that lead up to significant change. Whether a bus ride here or a vegetarian dish there, a conscientious effort towards changing habits and becoming more environmentally aware, is a positive step towards preserving our planet.
What other ways can we enact change? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments below.
This is so powerful! ✨✨✨
Ever wondered how you can play your part in making our planet more sustainable? Here’s how you start… Let’s make changes TODAY!
Thank you so much, Priyanka! I appreciate all the love and support you have given me.
Awesome post ~ so fresh and effortless! ✨
Let the rays of the sun, the sweet smell of the flowers and the cold touch of the wind, sing you an Earth Song!
Thank you for continuing to share with us! Hope you are enjoying a beautiful Monday, Tanya!
Thank you, Deepak! Your wishes and kind thoughts are very valuable to me.
Love, love, love your share! ❤️
I’m a systems thinker with a BS from USC and an MMA (that’s a Master of Marine Affairs) from UW. That basically just means I’ve spent a looooot of time thinking about how PEOPLE and PLANET interact, and now I spend my free time releasing my brain into the internet, sharing a decade of learning about sustainability and climate change. 🙂
Aww ~ thank you so much, Deepa. Your support on this platform means the world!
New beginnings are available to all of us over fifty times a year; they are called Mondays! 🙂
With the conversation ever-growing around sustainability, it’s time for us to start saving our planet one positive change at a time. Remember: choosing something different doesn’t mean it will be inconvenient or difficult to adapt to. Most of the more sustainable and ethical choices will have little or no impact on your regime.
How nicely you’ve expressed this… I’m thankful you spare your time to read my posts, Rupa.
You have done a great job here, Tanya! There are a million different entry points into the realization that everything is connected – every part of our lives intersect with Mother Earth – and you never know what will capture your heart and attention!
Cheering you on! Let’s do this. ✨
Thank you so much, Simrat. My heart is dancing with joy!
Beautifully expressed, Tanya. Nothing works better!
I believe that wearing less is just helping me to feel more secure with what I wear; I chose the clothes every morning, and I do not even think about it. It has become so easy and natural, finally…
Thank you very much, Ritu! I’m greatly encouraged.
Love this! ✨ Thank you for sharing. Always great to learn more about sustainability and about the people supporting them. And here’s to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued in the environmental movement!
Sending you great positive vibes, Shubham!
That is the whole point of living sustainably ❤️ it means using what you already have. Let us pick one from the above list, and try to incorporate it into our daily lives. Let us build a better world together!
Thank you, Atul. Always a delight to have your appreciation!
Fashion is chaotic, and it can be an aggravation, too… My hope is that organic textiles will become a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people’s lives and the environment.
I love your account, Tanya. ❤️ Go green all the way!
I so value your sentiments. Thank you, Prachi!
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can!”
After a glorious weekend, I hope that you are motivated and ready for a new week of sustainable living… I’m learning to do so by being present and discovering myself by doing what my heart ❤️ needs!
Your sweet words are dearly appreciated, Akshaya.
Some other steps you can take to be greener includes refusing one-off disposables, repairing your faulty belongings, and being conscious of what you purchase. Simply put, I don’t have a specific plan. I flow, just like my personal creative mojo. If it feels right, then that’s the direction I take.
We can all find our own way to be kinder to our world…
Thank you for adding to my post so wonderfully, Amit.
Yes! Our actions and decisions today will shape the way we will be living in the future… I can’t express what I feel seeing what miracles human beings are capable of creating when they work together. ✨ Thank you for this post!
Loving your appreciation, Anshuman.
I am going to make everything around me beautiful and that will be my life – Elsie de Wolfe
By making small, sustainable changes that you enjoy, you can enjoy many benefits of an improved way of living and preserving… We must make a change before it’s too late!
I’m happy to hear this, Manavi.
Such a wonderful little reminder of how special our planet is… ❤️❤️❤️ So appreciate your advocacy, Tanya, and how you can help us in creating a cleaner and healthier environment.
You’re very kind, Komal. Thank you!
Beautiful share. ✨ You can take small steps in your sustainability journey to making your life that little bit more eco-friendly, even if you just start by choosing the apples without the soft plastic bag around them in your weekly shop.
This is just the beginning … continue to find more ways to make a difference for a better tomorrow.
Always a delight to have your appreciation, Kaveya.
I couldn’t agree more! We are living in such an exceptional time and thanks to social media we can do great things quite easily when we put our minds to it… #BeTheChange
I echo your sentiment, Charandeep.
Oh wow, it’s always great to find new sustainable ways to live an interesting life. I jumped straight in and everything lined itself up beautifully. Thank you for inspiring us to embrace small, simple daily acts that make a world of difference!
Thanks so much, Shyam! So chuffed you liked the post.
Thank you for continuing to educate us on the topic of sustainability and guiding us towards becoming active leaders of our present-day issues.
On that note: Tanya, you’re a compassionate and generous soul, and your simple lifestyle and philosophy are truly inspiring. ❤️
So very flattered by your comment, Deepti.
With everything that’s happening around us, it’s time to pause, take a deep breath and introspect. If consumption is done mindfully, it makes substantial differences and provides sustainable livelihoods to many families at the grassroots. I urge you to help spread the word and make purchases mindfully!
Thank you, Vibha. Very well said!
I am a sustainability enthusiast myself and love that you are spreading awareness about how the environment is bearing the brunt of our unhealthy consumerist ways… The adverse effects of our modern-day lifestyle have triggered many phenomena like increased climate disaster, climate change, and even the recent pandemic itself.
To effectively counter this trend, we need to consciously reflect on simple things like increased awareness, minimizing avoidable wastage, reducing plastic dependence through reuse/recycling, opting for more natural alternatives, returning to sustainable fashion – natural dyed, sustainable fabric, and upcycled products.
Thank you for adding to my post, Diksha. Nice of you.
For the future of our next generations. For the planet and all its components. Choose sustainable.
On a side note: There is no better time to look within – shifting blocks, healing, releasing & letting go. It’s a magical time to surrender all that no longer serves you, the things you don’t want (eg. guilt, fear, doubts). So grateful for this monthly ritual and hope it can be of service to you, too!
Such a wonderful thing to say, Vaishali. Thank you very much!
Every day we consume natural resources thinking they are endless. The reality is, Earth’s resources are limited. If we don’t change consumption patterns, they will deplete very soon.
Let’s change our thoughts, actions and responses towards natural resources and bring a positive and impactful change to Planet Earth.
You’re an incredibly thoughtful person! Have a beautiful day, Abhishek.
I think this post is amazing! Practising being sustainable in the best way you can make collective progress to lowering your environmental impact as well as saving your wallets. ✨ Join me as I navigate sustainability with Tanya’s help.
You are affectionate and kind, Prashant. Thank you for your sweet comment!
Sustainable living requires familiarizing yourself with reducing waste and allowing yourself to think green in everyday situations & choices.
For most people, there’s a complete disconnect between their garbage can and the garbage dump. It’s easy to become detached from the contents of your trash bin, but being more mindful of your waste begins by not being mindless about it.
Thank you for your sensitivity in seeing it, Preeti.
Sustainability is about using what we’ve got. Extracting as much worth from infinitely recyclable goods as we can. Not relying on extracting finite resources from valuable ecosystems for our goods.
The technology is there.
The methodology is there.
We know how to do it and we know why we should do it.
Let’s do this!
That is sensitive of you, to resonate like this… Thank you, Ambika.
I consider myself to be eco curious – I’m trying to wade through the often overwhelming and contradictory information surrounding sustainable living, whilst also trying to edge up the green spectrum in a way that works for me and my family.
Your post was the perfect read for people like me who are taking tentative steps towards a green life… Thank you for sharing, Tanya.
I’m overjoyed by your sweet words, Mahi. Thank you!
Better for the environment, better for your pocket! ✨✨✨
To add to your post, I would say if you and your family are looking for a healthy way to spend some time together, gardening is the perfect solution. You don’t need to have a large garden to reap the benefits. Window boxes, hanging baskets and pots are a great way to create beautiful displays in limited space. The mental health and well-being benefits of gardening can be enormous. It’s a tactile activity and demands a degree of mindfulness – the perfect activity to quiet an anxious mind.
Thank you so much for joining in and sharing your lovely thoughts, Kanchan.
I have a constant, and often infuriating, ebb and flow of thoughts going through my busy little head. They definitely arrive quicker than I can physically keep up with. But one has definitely stuck. And that’s striving to live a more sustainable life… Here we go!
Aw thanks, Arjun! I totally feel your enthusiasm!