Every day we are gaining new information about the good and the bad surrounding the activities we partake in and the products we use in our day-to-day. It’s amazing that there are so many intelligent people discovering and teaching the world about their findings, but honestly, things can get overwhelming.
It can be especially overwhelming trying to understand and act accordingly when dealing with the onslaught of climate news. Daunting headlines and overwhelming information can lead to climate anxiety and inaction. But, don’t let that put a damper on your goals! It’s critical we continue to discuss and problem-solve.
We have the power to contribute positively. Our ability to demonstrate our values through our actions is a powerful tool to solve environmental problems. But living sustainably requires us to find balance within our own lives and not just through production and consumption. It requires personal sustainability.
So, what is personal sustainability?
Personal sustainability is aligning your actions with your ethics and being conscientious about the effects of your actions. It is being accountable and critically thinking about if you are contributing positively or negatively. Living sustainably requires balance, awareness, motivation, and intentional personal growth.
Anyone can demonstrate their values through their actions, anyone can demonstrate personal sustainability. But this task can be daunting and hindered by personal, career, psychological, or even financial issues. To minimize stress and simplify things, here are some tips on how to be intentional, take back control, and level up your personal sustainability.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You can still live your life in an eco-friendly way without driving yourself crazy trying to be “perfect”. Let’s face it, no one is perfect anyways! Focusing too hard on being perfect can take your passion for environmentalism and turn it into a fear of living.
Instead of hyper-focusing on every little thing you do, give yourself some grace. Realize that this is a journey and as such it will take time, patience, and intention to reach your goals. Try your best but don’t get bogged down.
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
When I first started trying to be more intentionally eco-conscious, I wanted to do it all. I felt I needed to shift my entire lifestyle because I was so worried about the negative impacts I had on the world. This is unsustainable though and can lead quickly to burnout! I learned that it’s better to uncomplicate things to take the pressure off. Doing so let me continue this journey of stewardship instead of making me want to just give up.
It’s best to set manageable and intentional goals. There is a myriad of things a person can do to contribute positively to climate issues. We have control over our lives and actions, and any contribution or positive change, no matter how big or small, should be celebrated!
Find easy ways to live a more sustainable life.
Embracing imperfection and uncomplicating things is the best way to find balance and improve personal sustainability. Therefore, being more deliberate by implementing everyday efforts into your life is critical. Here are some manageable ways to make a big impact in your everyday life:
Cut down on single-use plastic.
One of the greatest issues our planet is facing is the plastic problem. The increasing demand for disposable products has created an endless loop of plastic consumption. The UNEP estimates that the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our ocean every minute. As terrifying as that is, it doesn’t stop there. Plastic never decomposes, meaning it never breaks down, so every bit of plastic that has ever been created is still in the environment in some form.
This creates a huge problem not only for us but for everything else on the planet. So, cutting down on plastic use is a must! Luckily, cutting down on single-use plastic is one of the easiest ways you can improve your personal sustainability.
Get your cute tote bags out and bring those to the grocery store! Or, save bags you get from the store and reuse them. Bring your own coffee cup when hitting up your local coffee shop. Use refillable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones. Use reusable containers to buy food from your grocery store’s bulk section. Reuse boxes or gift bags for moving, organizing, or giving gifts. Make more snacks at home instead of buying them from the store. Use bar soap instead of soap that comes in a plastic bottle.
These ideas not only cut down on plastic use but can also save you money without too much effort. Just these simple swaps can amount to a lot less plastic waste.
Shop less and shop local.
Another huge climate issue we’re facing is due to overconsumption. The amount of waste and emissions that are created through overconsumption is enormous. In order to address these problems, an easy solution is to be more thoughtful with your shopping.
In the instant gratification era, it’s even more important to be mindful of what you’re buying and consuming. Just being aware of the companies we support and how we spend our money can have a profound impact.
Next time something catches your eye, think about if the purchase will actually benefit you. It’s also helpful to get more into the mindset of repairing what you have instead of throwing it away and buying new.
If you do decide you really need something then try to go to local shops. Shopping locally helps cut down on emissions from shipping and driving. Furthermore, supporting small businesses helps keep local economies thriving. Utilizing thrift stores is another great option to help divert waste from landfills.
Reduce meat and dairy consumption.
Lastly, another easy way to improve your personal sustainability is by eating more plant-based foods. The animal agriculture industry has an enormous impact on our planet. So, a simple way to lessen the impact of this is to simply choose alternatives.
Make things easy and start by slowly incorporating more plant-based food. If you eat animal products every meal that can seem intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! You can start by just having one meal a week be plant-based then slowly work up to more frequent plant-based meals. For me, breakfast was the easiest place to do this but you can do whatever works best for you!
Find some recipe ideas and get creative! Reducing your animal product consumption isn’t as hard as many people think. Plus, you may be surprised by how delicious it is!
Improving your personal sustainability can drive measurable change.
Personal sustainability and shared efforts are the keys to a sustainable and equitable future. Finding a balanced way to live your life will help you live more conscientiously and sustainably. Align your values with your actions and use my tips to help improve your personal sustainability without getting discouraged.