. Cultivating Eco-Friendly Habits for a Greener Lifestyle
If you're anything like me, you don't want to be a "crazy environmentalist". After all, people have been living on this planet for thousands of years without all the modern technology that supposedly is destroying the earth.
That's why I'm going to give you some tips and tricks about how to incorporate eco-friendly habits into your life. You can do it gradually or in one fell swoop — it's up to you. The only thing I ask is that if you find yourself not liking any of these tips, just let them go! They work for me and countless others who care more about sustainability than they do stuff we buy!
1. Decluttering
2. Using reusable shopping bags
3. Drinking from a reusable water bottle
4. Turning off the lights when you leave a room
5. Making your clothes last longer by washing in cold water and hanging to dry instead of using the dryer
6. Eating less meat, more veggies, and eating less processed foods
7. Choosing environmentally-friendly modes of transportation, like biking or carpooling (or taking public transportation)
8. Composting organic waste for use in your garden or flower bed
9. Shower with a friend/family member to save water! It's fun too! And can double as quality bonding time that will cement friendships for years to come!
10. Making sure you buy eco-friendly cleaning products. We all know that we need to clean, but we also need to clean in a way that doesn't harm the earth. The easiest way is to just go natural with your cleaning supplies. Vinegar and baking soda are great alternatives. And while I'm on the topic of cleaning — here's another tip! Make sure you donate clothing and other items you no longer use or want, instead of throwing them away! There are so many charities out there that can repurpose those things for someone else who can use them!
11. Going green for your place of work
12. Creating eco-friendly "green" cleaning products
13. Taking a look at the labels on all of the items in your house to see what's 'green' and what's not
14. Buying more environmentally-friendly products and household items.
15. Bird feeders and birdbaths. Birds are incredible and they can add so much joy to any backyard! Plus, what better way to impress your friends?
16. Making your bed every morning
17. Using natural cleaners that don't contain harsh chemicals, like vinegar, instead of the industrial cleaners you used before (like bleach)
18. Recycling an empty plastic bottle into a new cleaning product
19. Choosing to eat out over driving somewhere for food several times a week
20. Switching your electric toothbrush for a rechargeable sonic one (like the one I use!)
21. Using reusable rags instead of paper towels
22. Organizing a neighborhood tree planting project. Planting trees can really benefit the environment and make your neighborhood look nicer!
23. Eating less meat, more veggies, and eating less processed foods.
24. Drinking from a reusable water bottle to reduce single use items. Also, not using Ziploc bags, instead using glass storage containers that can be used over and over again.
25. Turning out the lights when you're leaving a room or going to sleep
26. Buying clothes made from natural fibers and organic materials whenever possible. Also, using natural fiber products when buying other household items, like paper products and cleaning supplies.
27. Using a stainless steel straw when you juice or have smoothies. This is another way to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic straws!
28. Choosing eco-friendly modes of transportation, like biking or carpooling (or taking public transportation)
29. Be trap-free for your pet's sake! Don't let your pets outside to urinate because it can contribute to a lot of damage in the environment (see point 30). It also creates bad habits that pets will remember forever!
30. Choosing eco-friendly cleaning products. We all know that we need to clean, but we also need to clean in a way that doesn't harm the earth. The easiest way is to just go natural with your cleaning supplies. Vinegar and baking soda are great alternatives. And while I'm on the topic of cleaning — here's another tip! Make sure you donate clothing and other items you no longer use or want, instead of throwing them away! There are so many charities out there that can repurpose those things for someone else who can use them!
31. Using natural cleaners that don't contain harsh chemicals.
32. Recycling! Paper, plastic, glass, metal…whatever you can!
33. Encouraging your family, friends and neighbors to recycle as well!
34. Planting trees in your yard or creating a park in a vacant lot near your home. Trees are beautiful – it's such a simple thing to do that can have a huge impact on the earth!
35. Hiking instead of driving somewhere close by when you need some time to yourself
36. Growing an herb garden and using herbs for cooking and beauty products
37. Not wasting food
38. Purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products (like these ones!)
39. Being conscious of your plastic usage. You can commit to having one or two bags of trash picked up every week at home. Some people even set a shorter reminder on their phone that automatically opens the trash can!
40. Choosing environmentally-friendly modes of transportation, like biking or carpooling (or taking public transportation)
41. Using cloth as much as possible! Clothes last longer and require less resources to produce, so you're saving the planet by using less fabric!
42. Switching out disposable products for reusable ones
43. Using natural cleaners that don't contain harsh chemicals, like vinegar and baking soda instead of harsh chemical cleaners like bleach
44.
Conclusion
Being green is as simple as taking small steps, every day, every month. It's not all that difficult to do — you just need to be intentional and make the effort to change your behavior! And you'll soon realize how much of a difference it can make in your life and in the world around you.
But even if you don't have time or energy to actively make this change, try making a few changes! Show others how they can change their habits and inspire them to do the same – once someone starts going green by changing one habit at a time, they're more likely to start changing other things as well.
I hope that sharing these tips with you has helped make your commitment to being green easier.