As the summer heats up, we all like to go out, enjoy the warm weather and be enveloped in the beauty that is nature. Ever wonder about your individual impact on said nature? It can be a bit overwhelming to think about how our consumerism is having an effect on the planet. From climate change to packed landfills, that effect can’t be good. We consume more plastic than ever before, more electricity, more natural resources, and when you factor in overpopulation, the planet is crumbling under our collective weight.
With that doomsday assessment, you may throw up your hands and give up on actually doing anything to improve these conditions, but don’t quit before you get started. If I can commit to reducing my global footprint, so can you! Start small, be an example for those in your circle, and then work your way up. Here are a few changes you can incorporate into your life right now to live greener.
1. Reduce your consumption of plastic. This is tough. Plastic is literally everywhere. Can you imagine a time when there was no plastic? Fascinating. What I do is bring my own fold up reusable bag when I shop so I don’t take home another plastic bag. If I’m buying fruit at the grocery store such as apples, bananas, or veggies like cucumbers, I pass on the small plastic bags. If I do use the small bag for items like cherries, grapes or mushrooms, I reuse the bag at home as a liner for small garbage cans or my juicer. Reusable bottles and containers are your friends; unfriend plastic water bottles.
Once you’re ready to graduate to using even less plastic, read this book.
2. Don’t litter. Nothing chaps me more than seeing people throw trash, no matter how small, out of their car window or drop something while walking down the street. Really? You couldn’t wait the extra minute to find a garbage can to toss that in? It was that critical to throw it on the ground? This is an easy one to adopt and I do support public shaming of a friend or loved one who might be a casual litterer.
3. Eat less meat and dairy. Not only is this tip healthy for you in so many ways, but less consumption of meat equals less demand which equals less greenhouse gas emissions and waste from the factory farming system going into our ecosystem. I’m not saying you need to go straight to drastic and become a vegetarian as I aspire to be, but consider at least one or two days in your week going meat and dairy free. Your body will thank you and the planet will benefit. Once you are ready to learn more about factory farming, check out this website. Enter at your own risk though; it is lifechanging.
4. Walk more and park the car. This doesn’t require that much explanation. Less gas, less demand, less noxious air in our atmosphere. I try to walk to places, even though my current neighborhood
isn’t the most walkable. I also ride my bike to get to places like a nearby farmers market, instead of cranking up my car which costs me $70 to fill up. So save your money and get exercise at the same time.
5. Conserve water and lights. Turn the electricity off if you aren’t in the room. Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth and don’t let the water run in the shower if you aren’t in it. Use power strips and switch them off when the items aren’t in use. This is also a money saver.
6. Unplug overall. This is more about conservation of your mental state and reducing your mind’s footprint, if that makes sense. Take a break from all electronics from time to time. Turn off the television reruns, leave the video games alone, put the cell phone away…Jeepers! What to do now? Meditate. Read. Nap. Sudoku. Catch up with an old friend in person – preferably by bike. Unplugging will also allow your mind some space and freedom to think more about how to further reduce your global footprint and treat our planet better.
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