We all know we should be more eco-friendly, but let’s be honest—doing what’s good for the planet is often inconvenient.
With our busy lives, we rarely choose the inconvenient option. It’s easier to stick with old habits, but in the back of our mind the guilt niggles…
And none of us needs more guilt. So what can we do?
We can adopt a greener lifestyle one small step at a time. We can choose to slowly and intentionally change our habits to become more eco-friendly.
Here are three areas where you can take small steps that will help the planet:
Send Less Stuff to Landfills
Recycle whenever possible. I know it’s obvious, but how often do we toss things because it’s easier? Or only bother to recycle the items the trash guys pick up? Every time we choose to recycle instead of trashing an item, we are making a difference. Keep up the good work.
Use fewer disposables. There are times when disposable tableware is the easiest and sanest option, but what about everyday consumption? Look for situations in your normal routine where a reusable product can replace a disposable one. Every substitution helps.
Discard thoughtfully. Don’t throw out what you can give away. Most of the stuff we no longer need can be used by someone else. Thrift stores, ministries, and other organizations will take your stuff and make good use of it. Some of them even come to your house to make pickups. The next time you purge your stuff, spend a few minutes researching where you can donate it. Every bagful counts.
Adopt greener cleaning strategies. Our homes are filled with cleaning and beauty products. Some of them are less eco-friendly than others. Some are unnecessary. Be a savvy consumer and switch to eco-friendly products whenever it makes sense. For example, I now use a microfiber mop and plain water for spot-cleaning the floor rather than grabbing a disposable cleaning wipe. No residue on the floor and nothing to throw away.
Conserve Natural Resources
Opt for high-efficiency replacements. When replacing items that use energy, such as appliances, light bulbs, lawn equipment, or vehicles, choose the most energy-efficient option you can. In this way you will slowly but steadily improve your energy consumption.
Consider buying second-hand. Save money and save the planet at the same time! Purchasing used items instead of newly made ones consumes fewer natural resources, because A) a new thing did not need to be fabricated and B) you’ve extended the useful life of the existing object.
Buy local produce. Or better yet, grow your own. Produce, flowers, and other foodstuffs are massive global industries that often involve shipping perishable products halfway around the world. (Not to mention the questionable ethical and environmental practices of the growers.) Every time you buy local produce you bypass the shipping costs, and get a fresher product to boot.
Consume Wisely
Buy Less Stuff. Everything we purchase “costs” natural resources. Everything we purchase will eventually need to be disposed of in one way or another. Therefore, the less stuff we buy, the fewer resources we use and the less trash we produce. Consider that the next time you are tempted to buy a random thing you don’t really need. Every wise choice makes a difference.
Wait for the right thing. This is a corollary of the concept above. Avoid unnecessary purchases by choosing to be a patient and picky shopper. Learn to wait until you find exactly what you want before buying. I admit I have sometimes bought something that is “good enough” because I didn’t feel like spending time looking for what I really wanted. I am trying to become a more intentional shopper. You can too.
Use things up before tossing. Our society loves to have the newest stuff—which often means replacing last year’s model even though it’s still perfectly fine. Resist that temptation as much as possible. Keeping things for their useful life is both eco-friendly and budget-friendly.
It’s easy to get intimidated by all the changes you should make to be a better steward of our planet. I hope these suggestions help you take small, manageable steps in the right direction without feeling overwhelmed.
