Sustainability in Everyday Life

Making a conscious choice to choose sustainability seems like an impossible dream—what is the point of trying to make “green” decisions? But it's essential to live sustainably if you want to enjoy the many advantages that come with living more sustainably. Here are some easy ways to incorporate environmentally friendly practices into your daily life:

1) Choose items made from recycled or renewable materials. It may seem obvious, but when was the last time you went shopping with the intention to buy items from manufacturers who did their part to reduce overall waste? Make it a priority this season to shop with companies who have pledged to do its part to protect the environment by recycling and reusing material.

2) Use reusable bags. Whether you use them to store your groceries, carry over your lunch bag or just keep track of where everything goes throughout the week, we all know how much effort it takes to throw something away. Save water by using reusable shopping bags whenever possible—and get creative! Try adding paper towels to the mix, too.

3) Get outside when you can. Do your research on whether public transportation systems are running at capacity or not, as well as what local parks have accessible green space that could serve as a walking trail. Remember there is no shame in asking someone for a ride, even if they're already busy. You'll benefit from a dose of nature without polluting the air with your fumes.

4) Rely less on single-use plastics. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that Americans discard approximately 500 million tons of trash per year—how can you be sure that one ton of plastic isn't being used once? Don't feel pressure to eliminate every single plastic bottle, package or straw; instead, make sure each item serves a purpose—for example, plastic bottles take up valuable shelf space. If shopping in bulk, ask for refillable containers, which are designed to accommodate small quantities of multiple products.

5) Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances. Lighting and heating can cause power consumption and pollution, so take steps to ensure the light switches are set to turn these off during times of darkness when natural sources of sunlight may not be available. A simple touch of organization makes all the difference, as well.

6) Change out any rugs you've purchased with traditional fabric. Not only does fiber absorb heat better than other types of flooring, it also provides support for plants growing in hot climates. Look for fabrics made from hemp, wool or cotton.

7) Take shorter showers. Showering more frequently means more humidity in your home, both of which can contribute to mold growth. If you don't have access to outdoor spaces, turn off hot water appliances before leaving a room—and when you return, clean surfaces with warm water.

8) Keep food at a lower temperature than you eat. This might sound counterintuitive, considering you'd be eating something while standing in front of the stove. However, high temperatures increase the rate at which bacteria grows, and in turn, lead to food poisoning. Consider opening cabinets that may be stored above the stove space.

9) Go meatless if you can. Many animals are raised on factory farms that provide little or no nutritional value. Opt for buying pasture-raised products instead, which are grown locally.

10) Buy organic. When your grocery list looks pretty similar to ones I suggest selling online, try to look past labels and purchase ingredients that weren't produced with pesticides, animal testing or antibiotics. There are several websites offering information on farming methods, and many are free to browse. These include FarmToGo and Soil Health Institute.

11) Start a compost pile. Composting regularly creates useful soil amendments that break down organic matter that would otherwise rot. For those interested in learning about different ways to start a compost pile, check out my article "How To Build Your Own Beginners' Garden"

12) Learn about solar energy. Solar panels convert light into electricity. Depending on where you live, how tall your roof is and how far your roof extends towards the sun, you can determine if it's possible to install solar panels as well.

13) Swap things. Instead of saying goodbye to anything old, consider trading in your phone, laptop, game console or coffee maker for something newer and more energy efficient.

14) Be mindful of the amount of garbage you generate. Are they collecting dust around the house? Is the litter bin overflowing with garbage that needs sorting? Does anyone else in the household know how to sort through it properly?

15) Create a system for taking care of the recyclables at least weekly. Recycling is important but often feels a little overwhelming. Check out our post on why cleaning and organizing your recycling is important to learn tricks to help pick up extra bits of paper and aluminum cans before they end up in the dumpster.

16) Volunteer at local charities. Participating in community actions gives us the opportunity to see how others are doing so they don't need to rely on government assistance.

17) Spend money wisely. Even though purchasing items doesn't always have a direct impact on your environmental footprint, purchasing secondhand helps keep some costs down long term and allows you to buy durable items that will last longer than new.

18) Let go of expectations. Every day, people expect our environment to be pristine and pristine, and sometimes they can get very excited with this vision. But that’s easier said than done. Set realistic goals and know that it won't all happen right away.

19) Celebrate all the good things happening in the world today. We all have bad days when we fail to leave enough money at the office to donate, let alone spend time helping family members.

20) Avoid social media sites that encourage wasteful behavior. Using hashtags related to sustainability may seem innocuous, but beware of sharing images of foods that are considered healthy, for example, when you can change the focus to a hashtag such as #plantsoflife.

21) Say “no” to impulse purchases. Sometimes, we simply need to think about it—and that means we need to say 'no.' 22) Give yourself grace when it comes to spending money. Have an emergency fund of three to six months worth of salary to cover everyday expenses and unexpected events that can derail your plans.

23) Invest in sustainability education. Educating yourself will give you the knowledge needed to make wise decision that reflect current conditions.

24) Join your local chapter of Green Business Council (GBC), a network of certified business leaders committed to investing their skills and funds into creating jobs in local communities.

25) Visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website and sign the agency's pledge to conserve resources and advocate for legislation protecting workers from hazardous chemicals.

26) Pay attention to laws. Understand the regulations governing recycling, dispositive disposal and mining.

27) Clean out the garage. Often overlooked is the negative effects left behind by garbage. That could mean starting up a lawnmower again, mowing the lawn, replacing windows, working on fixing gutters, etc.

28) Shop small. Buying big is usually more expensive as compared to shipping directly from suppliers.

30) Cut back your use of plastics. Think about using items such as dish soap, shampoo, toothpaste and cosmetics that don’t require disposable packaging.

31) Eat dinner with friends outside. Eating outdoors provides fresh air and reduces carbon emissions because plants collect oxygen to keep themselves alive, whereas humans breathe in air that contains carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases.

32) Pack responsibly. Carry items that don’t add to your landfill if possible and stick to produce that doesn’t require refrigeration.

33) Watch your credit score. Too often, consumers fall prey to impulse purchases they can’t afford.

35) Find the balance between saving and enjoying your limited dollar budget by stocking up on discounted brands.

36) Put sustainability first and follow the tips outlined above. Enjoy more quality, cheaper and healthier food, use reusable utensils to make your morning cup of coffee, stop spending dollars on luxury items and put your feet up when picking your plant.

37) Stop wasting money. Save your money so it’s last—that way, you’ll have plenty of disposable income to save for retirement, vacations, the home remodel and gifts for loved ones.

38) Know when to cancel. Canceling services, canceling subscriptions and putting off payments could really save you money.

39) Plan ahead and plan smart. Planning ahead means knowing and understanding how your monthly bills will affect your financial goals.

40) Practice empathy. Appreciate what you have, then think about how your actions and reactions can benefit the greater ecosystem.

41) Recognize when you have been helpful to those around you. Show your appreciation by giving thanks for everyday purchases and acknowledging the people in your lives who make sacrifices to improve your life or environment.

42) Help the organizations that are most affected by your lifestyle choices. By supporting sustainable food vendors with your meals, contributing to tree planting initiatives, donating to disaster relief efforts and supporting nonprofits that fight poverty alleviation, you're doing your part to combat environmental issues.

43) Embrace your creativity. Focus on doing things that resonate with your conscience.

44) Reduce your emotional attachment to possessions and experiences. Taking action now, rather than waiting for the future, can change your situation for the better.

45) Move forward. Take pride in moving forward through challenges that arise, and having the courage to adapt to changing circumstances.

46) Work together. Organistically collaborating with partners toward common objectives ensures everyone gets a fair shake.