The Little Choices We Make Adds Up To One Big Sustainable Lifestyle Impact

If you’re interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, you’re not alone. The way in which we live our lives every day may seem inconsequential, but the reality is that the little choices we make add up to one big overall impact. 

By making small changes to your daily routine, you can make a big difference in preserving the health of the planet.

Not sure where to start? Here are some eco-friendly lifestyle changes you can make - starting today!

Bring Reusables

There are all kinds of ways that corporations, marketing departments, and even social media influencers try to convince people to “go green.” The problem with many of these solutions is that they not only do not save you money, but they require you to make a huge upfront purchase in the meantime (such as going out and buying an electric car).

One easy way to save money and help the planet at the same time is to start using reusable products. In many states, there is now a fee for receiving plastic shopping bags at the grocery store or other retailers. Save money by bringing your own!

The same goes for reusable products like coffee cups and water bottles.

Most people own at least one reusable water bottle, coffee mug, or tote bag. Just make it a habit to bring these things with you. Designate a spot near your front door where you can stash these items - that way, you won’t forget them when you leave the house.

There are a few out-of-the-box ways you can start incorporating more reusables, too. It’s not just about the beverage holders.

You can repurpose old cutlery into travel cutlery for when you are eating a meal at the office. Old food jars make excellent food containers, while tea towels are perfect to-go napkins. Get creative - you’ll be amazed at the fresh life you can breathe into old products!

Reduce Plastic Use

We are overly reliant on plastics, and this is an issue that’s causing more than a handful of problems.

For one, plastic pollution sits in landfills for centuries. It contaminates waterways, kills off sea life, and leads to a myriad of health problems in humans.

Reduce your contribution to this massive problem by taking simple steps. 

For example, stop using single-use plastic bags. Avoid using plastic straws and stop using products in plastic containers. Something as simple as using bar soap rather than liquid soap can reduce plastic waste while also saving you lots of money.

Whenever possible, look for items that can be refilled rather than those that are meant to be tossed.

Reduce Your Energy Consumption

Think carefully about how much energy you use on a daily basis - are there ways to lower your consumption?

Many of these sustainable lifestyle choices can have positive impacts outside of the contribution you’ll be making to the planet.

For example, turning down the thermostat could reduce your heating costs by 10% - per degree. Many of us keep our homes far too warm anyway, as studies show that lower home temperatures are conducive to better sleep and even an improved immune response.

Turn off any appliances or lights you aren’t using. You’ll see a huge reduction in your energy bills. You can also turn your water heater down from 140 degrees (the standard preset) to 120 degrees. Most people won’t notice the difference and it saves a lot of money and energy.

Can you walk or ride your bike to run errands rather than drive your car? Could you carpool with someone to work or take public transportation? Again, these are all switches that can save you money (and in some cases, time that you might otherwise spend sitting in traffic).

Cook Leftovers

Rather than running to the grocery store each time you’re stuck for dinner ideas, do an inventory of your refrigerator and freezer to see what you might already have hanging around. Sounds like common sense, but many of us are quick to order take-out or just buy fresh ingredients when we can’t figure out what to eat.

Did you know that, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, about one-third of all food that is produced around the world is wasted? With food scarcity and hunger becoming increasingly prominent issues around the globe, it seems downright silly to be throwing out that much food.

Do your part by eating up those leftovers. There are plenty of websites (hello, Pinterest!) that can give you creative ideas on how to repurpose old leftovers into fresh dinner ideas.

For example, a roasted chicken can easily become a week’s worth of meals. You can eat the leftover chicken in sandwiches or salads and turn the bones into a nourishing bone broth for soup. Even something as basic as leftover mashed potatoes can be spun into a new dish - have you ever had mashed potato pancakes? They’re to die for!

Learn How To Sew and Repair Clothing

In the United States especially, we have a tragedy that most of us have fallen victim to - it’s something known as “fast fashion.”

The reality is that it is often faster to buy brand new, cheaper clothing than it is to repair or mend it. This disposable attitude in relation to our clothing isn’t good for the planet - and although it seems less expensive, it can hurt your wallet, too.

The solution? Learn how to repair your own clothing. Most clothing damages are actually quite easy to fix. You can find Youtube videos for just about every fix, from hemming pants to repairing holes in tee shirts. You can even repair your own broken zippers.

For damages that you just can’t tackle yourself, why not call upon the services of a professional? Although it can be admittedly tough to find professionals like cobblers and professional seamstresses these days, they do still exist. They can breathe new life into your favorite garments.

Consider spending a little bit more money on quality clothing items that will last longer. It might seem more expensive up front, but you’ll gain tenfold in convenience and money saved later on when you aren’t constantly having to replace your clothes.

If that’s not an option, start frequenting thrift stores. You can still fill your closet with plenty of fresh finds, but since new items aren’t being produced, you won’t be putting any of that fashionable burden back on the planet.

Borrow a Book on Sustainability

Educating yourself on sustainability and the environment is a great way to be a more conscientious consumer and activist. If you want to boost your knowledge on sustainability, don’t buy a brand new book - instead, borrow one.

There are countless free online courses on sites like FutureLearn that cover these subjects. You can, of course, also watch YouTube videos and interact with other free online resources to help get your knowledge up to snuff.

Another great option? Borrow a book on sustainability from the local library (or from a friend). These books, which cover everything from climate change to ethical fashion, will save you money and reduce clutter. Plus, you won’t have to worry about harming the planet with your purchase, either.

Regrow from Food Scraps

Gardening and growing your own food is a wonderful way to start living a more sustainable lifestyle. However, many beginners find themselves daunted by the prospect - they just aren’t sure where to start!

If that’s the case, you may want to consider growing your own food from food scraps. You won’t have to buy any seeds, and while some vegetables take longer to grow from scraps than others, this is a super fun way to cut down on waste, produce fresh food, and interact with the planet all at the same time.

Not all fruits and vegetables can be regrown from scraps, but there are lots that can. Some easy veggies,f fruits, and herbs to start with include onions, potatoes, spring onion, pineapples, bok choy, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, leeks, avocado, ginger, and basil.

Most of the time, all it takes is a bit of water and sunlight to get started!

Shop Your Closet

Here’s another tip to upgrade your fashion game without degrading the planet - start shopping for your own closet.

Keeping an organized closet can help, since it’s common to become overwhelmed by the clutter in your closet and, not being able to find what you want, to go out and just buy a brand-new item.

However, the fashion industry is infamous for its contributions to numerous environmental and social problems. From forced slave and child labor to unfair pay - not to mention environmental pollution and excessive carbon emissions - there are lots of problems with how the global fashion industry operates.

Why contribute to that? Shop your own closet and wear what you already own instead of buying more clothing. Get creative! Learn how to mix and match the various wardrobe items you have instead of shopping for new items. You’ll reduce the demand for raw materials and help limit the amount of fashion waste that you generate, too.

Visit a Local State Park

If you were stuck inside your house for the entire COVID-19 pandemic, there's probably nothing you appreciate more now than an escape into nature.

There are so many reasons for that urge. For one, being in nature helps to improve your mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. You’ll feel reinvigorated and refreshed - it’s a great way to spend your time.

You don’t have to trek the Appalachian Trail in order to get that kind of boost, either. Whether you like to swim, bike, walk, birdwatch, camp, or even simply sit and relax in nature, doing so is an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle choice you can easily make.

Best yet, it costs no money. Even if you choose to visit a local state park (some of which, though certainly not all, charge admissions fees to help preserve the park and keep conservation efforts up and running), the costs are minimal. That’s especially true when you stack those fees up against what it would cost to go to the movies or go on a shopping trip!

Travel WIsely

Not traveling is by far the best way to improve the health of the planet - but that’s not realistic for many people. You can, however, change your travel habits.

If you regularly travel by plane, consider buying carbon offsets when you book your tickets. If you drive, bundle tasks together that you spend less time driving around and using gas. As a side benefit, you’ll also save time - more time to grow that garden or hang out in nature, perhaps?

Consume Less

Ultimately, the bst change you can make when it comes to making your lifestyle more sustainable is to simply consume less.

Our current way of thinking about the environment is to reduce, reuse, and recycle - many of us focus heavily on the “reuse” and “recycle” parts without paying much thought to “reduce.”

Even if you purchase the most sustainable clothing brands or even spring for a hybrid car, you’d still be better off not buying these items to begin with.

The tech industry, for one, has a major role in the degradation of the environment. Limit the number of new devices you buy. Instead, buy pre-owned and make a conscious effort to repair your older laptops, phones, and other devices.

These sound like simple switches - and they are - but they have a major impact. Even something as simple as cutting back on your online shopping (and, in particular, expedited shipping) can make a huge difference in the health of the planet.

Start Today and Adopt Some Of These Sustainable Lifestyle Choices

When it comes to sustainable living, the only way to go is up. Although it can seem difficult at times, with these simple sustainable lifestyle choices and tips, you’ll be well on your way to making the world a better place.

Start today by implementing just one of these ideas into your daily life. Some might be easier than others, but each small change will bring about big rewards.

So Which sustainable switch will you make first?

Shana Thompson is a full time professional writer and editor. Shana has worked extensively in the fields of content marketing, on-page and off-page SEO (guest posts, backlink acquisition), and creative writing. As an experienced pro content writer, Shana has worked on several magazines, publishing companies and marketing agencies. Many recent projects have included everything from nutrition and health services, where a lot of research and citations were needed, to writing about health, sustainable, eco-friendly products.

Follow Shana at Shana Thompson

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