5 Ideas for a More Sustainable Lifestyle

Tips for Living an Environmentally Mindful Life

The difference in the world tomorrow begins with how we choose to treat it today. Our consistent decisions eventually compound so much that we can lose sight of the bigger picture. But when the bigger picture is the natural environment that surrounds and supports us daily, it's easy to find a reason to work towards leaving a more positive ecological footprint. So in the name of future generations, we have compiled a short list of ways you can strengthen your sustainability habits.

1. Start Cooking At Home More Frequently

When it comes to living a sustainable lifestyle, one of the best decisions you can make is to start cooking at home as often as possible. Take the time to plan weekly meals and follow through by throwing on your chef's hat. If you are busy, it would be great to do some meal prep ahead of time so that you won't have to cook new meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Planning also makes keeping the house stocked with food necessities easier, which is another great way to enhance your sustainability. .

2. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

When you recycle used products, you actively participate in alchemy. To choose to recycle in your home is the mindful decision to convert your waste into reusable material. The first thought that pops into most people's minds is when you rinse out your used bottles and cans and dispose of them separately from other non-salvageable waste. To add even more intention to recycling, you can repurpose different containers, glass bottles, and other materials without them ever leaving your home. The big tip to follow here is if you can reuse it in any way, you had better get creative and start your own at-home recycling process.

3. Ditch Plastic as Often as Possible

It's old news by now that the amount of plastic waste left behind by humans has grown to alarming levels. Because our oceans have accumulated almost equal parts of plastic waste to marine life, and plastic waste has quite literally begun to rain down on us, let's start ditching plastic like our lives depend on it. If not for yourself, then do it for the survival of future generations because plastic waste is THAT serious.

4. Grow Your Own Veggies

What's more self-sustainable than learning how to produce your own food? You can learn to compost your unused vegetation, organically feed the soil, enhance the environment, and get some quality produce out of the whole situation. Sustainability is not meant to be difficult, but we are often taught to take the easy road rather than the most fruitful path. It's time to go against the pull for comfort and acknowledge that, more often than not, overly processed foods are not good for your body, not good for the environment, and not worth validating with your hard-earned money.

5. Simplify Your Way of Living

Look at your life, determine anything that does not add to your survival or goodwill, and start removing it. Not only will this be one of the most empowering experiences you will have on your path towards a more sustainable life, but you will grow to understand and value more what you do have.

It's easy to become materialistic in a society that offers up almost anything we want for a price. It's time to realize the price you have been paying is much too high. Often, it reaches beyond monetary value. It influences your health and the health of the environment we all need to survive.