We’re in a time where convenience and hustle are prioritized above all. We’re fed this idea that we should always be in a state of want, constantly looking for more. That can add up quickly, both monetarily and spiritually. But therein lies the beauty of self-sufficiency – learning how to remove yourself from overreliance is in and of itself liberating.
Doing things yourself has many benefits and is easier to employ beyond just self-care habits. In fact, you might already be self-sufficient in many ways. But is self-sufficiency the key to sustainability? At its core, is a mindset that favors producing rather than consuming. In our era of overconsumption, this is huge. But, as with most things, there’s more to consider when talking about self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Self-sufficiency does have its benefits.
A lifestyle derived from self-sufficiency is one rooted in independence and growth. Through learning how to be self-sufficient, you can promote financial stability, become more eco-conscious, and build personal resilience. Doing more things for yourself promotes autonomy and is a great incentive to learn a diverse range of skills.
1. Promote financial stability
Doing things for yourself is a great way to save money. It cuts middlemen which is more affordable than always outsourcing the work. Yes, it is often more time-consuming but it’s worth it, especially in times of financial hardships or when you’re working towards a financial goal that warrants tightening the purse strings.
Creating instead of consuming often allows you to be picky with materials or methods you use and often leads to better quality results. Plus, if you focus on creating instead of consuming you’ll save money by not always searching for the next thing on your wish list and instead gain a greater appreciation for what you have already.
2. Become more eco-conscious
Self-sufficiency is also a great way to become environmentally friendly. First and foremost, finding ways to mend or repair items you already have is a great way to save resources compared to buying replacements or new things. It’s less environmentally costly because it closes the loop on our system that uses resources linearly. You’ll use less resources than you would to discard your previous item and manufacture then ship another.
Aside from being a more responsible use of resources, self-sufficiency pulls the focus from consuming and towards creating. This fosters a healthier relationship with the consumer culture we live in and lessens the environmental burden our lives have on the planet. Furthermore, doing things ourselves adds a new level of fixability to our lives that commercially made items or solutions often don’t have.
3. Build personal resilience
Doing things for yourself helps bring peace, confidence, and creativity into your life – all things that build personal resilience. Self-sufficiency adds a sense of control which is especially important in times of uncertainty, you build up your ability to respond appropriately and cope to things that come your way.
Resilience is such a valuable skill that helps keep you grounded in the present. This then allows space for greater contentment and fulfillment. When you’re able to do more for yourself, you gain a greater depth of accomplishment and have an easier time overcoming negative self-perceptions and obstacles that may be holding you back.
The nuance behind being self-sufficient.
Although it’s my belief that self-sufficiency is highly beneficial, that doesn’t mean it’s the end-all-be-all solution to our sustainability and social problems. We live in an interdependent world of convenience and commodified time. That can make it extremely hard to do things for yourself and it’s definitely a privilege to be able to do so.
Some things we just won’t be able to get away from for the time being and that’s okay. There are also tons of convenience items that make life more accessible for many people and I don’t want to undermine the importance of that either.
Despite there being inherent value in being self-sufficient, community is still so important. After all, the human experience is deeply rooted in connection. Community is the way forward, so this conversation isn’t about making the case for being overly independent. There is power in autonomy, but there is also power in collective action and looking out for each other.
However, I believe that if we build skills and learn how to do more for ourselves we’ll be able to help each other out more. Through self-sufficiency, we can help ourselves and our communities in ways that we would not be able to if we focused on just ourselves or commodities. While being 100% self-sufficient may be unrealistic and unattainable, it’s still a powerful way to add more to our lives and think about things in a more holistic and environmentally conscious way.
how to start becoming self-sufficient:
Mindfulness is key
We’re too mentally dependent on quick fixes and solutions, but it takes time to remove ourselves from this. This lack of agency hurts our ability to adapt to change and further perpetuates a lack of connection with nature, each other, and our own creativity.
Developing personal resilience takes time and awareness which is why mindfulness is key. Finding gaps in our needs allows us to hone in on our capabilities and direct them toward our desired sufficiency. By being mindful you’ll be able to contribute appropriately to yourself and community. The more connected we are the more capable we’ll feel to tackle problems, create, and do more things ourselves.
Lean into independence
Self-sufficiency means being emotionally and intellectually independent, with the resources to do more for yourself. So, if your goal is to be more self-reliant, get comfortable with leaning into independence to learn how to provide more for yourself. Embrace time alone as an opportunity to connect with yourself and the skills you want to learn or get better at. The sky is the limit when brainstorming ways you can show up for yourself!
Self-sufficiency doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself though, so please don’t hesitate to seek help when needed. Doing so still has the benefits of being self-sufficient without putting 100% of the burden on yourself. After all, balance in everything is key! Independence is all about being able to make your own decisions and asking for help doesn’t undermine independence, it enhances it. So, keep value in collaboration and community support when needed.
Rinse and repeat
Rome wasn’t built in a day and a self-sufficient life won’t be either. Dedicate time and continuity to yourself and the life you want to build. The more you do something, the better you’ll get at it then, eventually, it’ll become second nature and you won’t need to put that much thought into it.
Examples of ways you can do things for yourself:
- Create a garden with whatever space you have. Start small by trying to grow some herbs or microgreens, then go from there! Use resources online or at your local library for help and inspiration. If you don’t have any space, consider looking into community gardens.
- Learn how to mend clothes. For me, fixing holes in shirts and pants was the easiest and where I started. With more practice comes greater skill, after some time, you’ll be able to fix anything! If mending isn’t your thing, look into other ways to repurpose old clothes as a way to be self-sufficient.
- Try cooking more homemade meals. This will vary depending on your skill level and comfort in the kitchen, but cooking more things at home is a rewarding way to build self-sufficiency. Find a recipe that looks good and try it out! Even just cooking one more thing yourself a week can have a big impact and lead to more self-sufficiency down the road.
- Start composting. A great way to sustainably deal with food waste on an individual level while also giving new life to unused food or yard waste is to compost. Invest in a home composter or utilize green waste bins in your area to lessen the burden of this type of waste while also creating something good from it.
- Properly store food. Storing food the right way increases the longevity of those items and fights waste. It’s also a great way to stretch your groceries and money out!
- Repurpose things in your home. For example, I like to repurpose food containers as storage or to start seeds. Get creative and find new uses for what you have!
- Eat seasonally. Choosing to abide by nature and eat seasonally removes a certain amount of dependence on the food system. Either grow some produce yourself (if able!) or support local farmers – it’s more sustainable and cost-effective which allows you to be more self-sufficient.
- Collect rainwater. Or shower water or even the water you wash your produce in! This is a great way to conserve water while also utilizing water more strategically. Use this water to water your plants, clean outside windows, flush the toilet, and more.
- Tackle debt. If able, tackling debt is a great way to become more independent. It’s freeing to not have to worry about debt and allows you to make choices for yourself without other considerations weighing you down.
- Exercise. Moving your body is a great way to increase longevity and quality of life, which I believe are two components of living a self-sufficient life! Do what feels good and reap the benefits.
- Continue to learn. Educating yourself has many benefits but one of them is an increased ability to tackle problems independently. Before reacting or searching for help or quick fixes, try to learn about the problem to see if there is any solution you can implement yourself first. If you can’t come to a solution on your own, you’ll a least be an informed consumer who can choose the best options available.
Becoming more self-sufficient is valuable, so try to find ways you can devote time to building yourself up.
The bottom line is that being skillful is so useful and fulfilling. The more things you can do yourself, the easier it is to make choices about how and where you live sustainably. Romanticize doing things yourself and allow yourself to grow. We’re in desperate need of a cultural shift away from taking things at face value and instead deepening our understanding. In this type of world, we’ll be able to develop creative and equitable solutions to problems we face.