As we try to creep out of this pandemic and emerge ourselves into a better future, you may be wondering what it will look like. During the pandemic, reusable items that would normally be allowed in cafes and shops were banned. As a result, waste became abundant. Masks became an essential and so many disposable masks seen flying in the wind. Not to mention the mounds of takeout containers that replaced meals out at restaurants.
If you noticed all of this waste and found yourself upset about it, there are things that you can do. You can take control of the waste you make by choosing sustainable living. In this article I’ve written out my best advice on transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle.
The most important thing that most people overlook when transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle, is that its a long process. It’s not as easy as ordering a zero waste starter kit online. It takes time and the journey is different for everyone.
Buy Less & Use What You Have
The best thing to do when you’re trying to make sustainable decisions is to stop buying new things. The less new things you buy, the more likely you are to use the things you have. When I started my sustainable journey, I had so many things. Things that I didn’t need or use. When I stopped filling my home with new things I was finally able to get a clearer picture of the things I used and the things that were actually useful to have.
By not buying body wash, I was able to use up what I had and then switch to bar soap. By giving away shampoo that I didn’t like (to my sister) I was able to cut down the amount of things I had that weren’t useful to me. When I used all of my disposable razors I was able to invest in a metal safety razor with replaceable blades. Are you sensing a theme here?
Sustainability isn’t about buying a bunch of sustainable products. It’s about using what you have and researching your purchases to make sure you are making an positive change. This is one thing it took me a little while to understand. Sustainability is not a picture perfect lifestyle. It’s a life that allows you to find value in every choice you make. It allows you to be proud to use and need less.
Get Thrifty
One of the foundations of sustainable living is reusing or upcycling things. Buying secondhand is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. By giving items a second home or a new use you can reduce the item’s overall impact on the environment. Not to mention that you are driving down the demand for new unsustainable products.
You can thrift all sorts of things and either clean them up or upcycle them into something new. If you’re not afraid of a project, this is a great way to live more sustainably and its often kind to your wallet. Some of my favorite things to thrift are travel books, wood furniture, home décor, and kitchen items!
Use your Creativity
The more creative you can get when trying to be sustainable, the more successful you will be. I think this might be one of the big reasons I love making sustainable choices. I’m always trying to figure out: how can I reuse this? What could I make it into? Could I paint it to refresh it? No matter what it is, there’s always a project or puzzle to be solved!
Start Sustainable Hobbies
One of the best ways to make sustainability a priority in your life is to surround yourself with sustainable hobbies. It will help you to immerse yourself in sustainability and soon you will have sustainable habits that are natural to you!
Some of the hobbies I have tried are: composting, gardening, making soap, canning, sewing, and of course upcycling! Check out my article on Sustainable Hobbies Here!
Care for Plants
As I listed above, gardening is a great hobby to have when transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle. Gardening has always been one of my hobbies. I often used to help my mom in the greenhouse when I was little. I have many warm memories of those moments shared over trays of dirt. As I grew older, I began to appreciate the gift of gardening that my mom had shared with me.
Gardening is more than growing plants. It is patience and listening to what the plants need. It also will teach you how many resources go into growing the produce you see in the grocery store. It makes you more thankful for the food you have easily accessible to you. That thankfulness can lead to less food waste too!
Check out my article on Apartment Gardening here to get started!
Make an On-The-Go Sustainable Living Kit
When you have an active social life on live on-the-go, sustainable choices can be a bit harder. By putting together a collection of sustainable living essentials you can make easier environmentally friendly decisions. Your on the go kit might include things like: a reusable water bottle, a mason jar, a set of silverware, a reusable bag, or a cloth napkin.
One of the things I am working on is preparing eco friendly snack ahead of time. I always buy bags of popcorn in bulk and by putting portions in a small container or jar, I can have a snack on the go. Other things that make great portable snacks are bananas, apples, oranges, and berries, granola or pretzels in a jar. These plastic free snacks can really come in handy when your hangry or tired and your will power to make sustainable choices is lower than usual!
Build a Support Network
Gather your friends and family that share the same views and talk about sustainable living. The more you talk about sustainable swaps the more normal they become to you. It can be hard to find product alternatives sometimes too but with a support network, you can share your finds and ask for recommendations!
Join my Eco-Friendly Facebook Group to connect with other people trying to make a difference! Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/158346382414044
Spread Awareness
Talk to people who don’t know how to live sustainably or don’t know why they should make more sustainable choices. By having simple conversations you could inspire someone to make a sustainable swap. Sometimes, we don’t think about how much waste we create until someone shines a light on it. Be that light! But remember to always speak positively about how someone could change rather than how awful it is that they haven’t made a change.
Positivity is key when encouraging others to join in sustainable decisions. You never want to make someone feel bad or uncomfortable about the waste they create. Living a sustainable lifestyle is a personal journey and it takes time to make changes. When you encourage someone to make a sustainable swap, they can begin to look at other areas of their life to make sustainable. Think of a sustainable swap as the first domino, once one falls into place successfully, there will be more to follow!
Volunteer in Your Community
Volunteering in your community can bring more connection into your life to people around you and your city. Some great opportunities exist for you to get out an help the environment while making more eco-minded friends! Think of trash pickup or community beautification as a way to find more people that care about the same things that you do! Volunteering is a great way to impact and grow a community!
A Final Note on Sustainable Living:
Finally, the most important part of living a sustainable lifestyle is reminding yourself that every little choice makes a difference. You truly have the ability to change the world for the better with the little decisions you make every day.
