Learning to live sustainably can seem like such a daunting transition from your current lifestyle. There are countless definitions of this and more titles are popping up everyday; zero waste, plastic free, non toxic, minimalistic, crunchy, holistic, etc. It can be so confusing upon learning about all of these lifestyles and almost guilt-inducing when you realize how far your current lifestyle may be from those metrics, at least it was for me. Over the past 2 years I have slowly and sustainable (*wink*) been building habits and routines that work for me and eliminate a lot of the guilt associated with realizing your participation in overconsumption. As you embark on the journey to be more eco-friendly, here are 5 things I wish I knew when I first started down this road that would have saved me a lot of frustration.
Just like most other things in life, learning to lead a more sustainable lifestyle will take some trial and error
Think about it for a second, learning ANYTHING new requires some time and effort and mistakes. The important thing is that you learn from those mistakes so you can continue to grow. The same applies for learning to live more eco-friendly. Some habits and products simply will not work for you, and that’s okay. It is not a fair expectation to put on yourself to overhaul your entire lifestyle in a short amount of time, especially when you are probably surrounded with other people and cultures and businesses that may not be participating in this lifestyle change. You do not have to abide by every tip and buy every “sustainable” product in order to create this change. Find what works for you over time.
One of the most sustainable things you can do is use what you have
This tip is one of my all-time favorites. Even the eco-friendly sphere is not immune to business and marketing schemes, meaning just like any other product, a lot of “sustainable” alternatives are also being pushed down our throats. The ironic part is that a big part of this journey, at least from me, stemmed from not wanting to have more stuff and instead streamline things for myself.
From both an environmental and an economic standpoint, using things you already own is the most sustainable thing you can do. It does not cost you any more money as you already own the item, and it does not contribute to the demand and production of more commercial goods.
Some examples of this could be:
Use and reuse the ziploc bags you have before switching to silicone or other reusable containers
Wash and reuse containers from takeaway food before going out and buying a more aesthetic version
Use up the shampoo and conditioner you already have before switching to a more eco brand
It’s okay to throw that random thing away
Upon revamping any aspect of your lifestyle, it’s common to start with taking inventory of what you have and what you would like to get rid of. During my journey I would do everything I could to donate, repurpose, rehome, recycle, or gift away things I no longer needed so that nothing would go to waste. This is absolutely phenomenal, don't get me wrong, but what do you do with that random trinket in your junk drawer, or the shoes that are too worn out to give away? I had an immense amount of guilt and stress built up around what to do with the odds and ends items that were no longer serving me, and still do if I’m being fully transparent.
The unfortunate reality of the situation is that you have the item already and it will take up the same amount of space whether it is in your home or in a landfill. That sounds harsh, I know. Even typing it out makes me wince but it’s the truth. So donate and repurpose what you can, but before you dig yourself into a hole of questioning your values and if you’re a fake environmentalist and end up storing unused and unwanted items in questionable condition, just toss it, learn from it, and move on. The next time you’re looking to impulse buy something, think of that moment and discern whether you will use that item until the end of its life so you won’t have to keep repeating this cycle.
Transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle should take time
If you are able to wake up one morning and all of a sudden your house is a sustainable machine, no waste, no plastic, organic etc. chances are you didn’t set yourself up for long-term success. Building any habit takes time, as does breaking them. We have already discussed that using what you have is a great starting point and as such, there is no need to flip your life around overnight. The goal of living sustainably is to live more in harmony with the environment but also build sustainable habits that serve you and can be maintained for a long time. Embrace the trial and error, practice your patience, and make this transition one that lasts instead of just a quick fad. After all, the world is counting on us.
You will have moments of being at odds with yourself
I touched on this briefly during tip number 3, but going from participating in the hustle and consumption of many modern cultures to slowing down and reducing your waste can be quite the jump and may have you second guessing things (i.e am I a bad environmentalist if i throw this thing away?). This is a sign that your new values are sticking and your old ones are being challenged, otherwise, there would be no question. Take this as a sign you are making progress and use those moments to put everything you have learned into action to make what you deem to be the more environmentally friendly, and sustainable choice.
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