Did you listen to Julie Pointer Adams podcast episode about Wabi-Sabi and how it has impacted her life, lifestyle, mindset and even the way she navigates motherhood? Wabi-sabi is a beautiful Japanese concept of seeking beauty in all of life’s imperfections and living life with simplicity, sustainability and ease without the pressures of perfection.
If you missed Julie’s inspiring interview, you can listen to it here.
Julie’s interview sparked further conversations around sustainability and lifestyle changes that not only benefit us but also the world around us. Lately, there are a lot of stories in the news about climate anomalies and how many places around the world are seeing dramatic and drastic climate related disasters. From rapidly melting ice sheets in Greenland to extreme drought in India, the world seems waiting and watching for when the next climate disaster is going to hit. Meanwhile huge amounts of plastic continues to pollute our oceans, and new toxins are being found in our food systems. The Earth just isn’t as healthy as it used to be. In fact, it’s never been more urgent for each and every individual to lead an eco-friendly life. Those who choose to travel, eat, shop, commute, and live sustainably are doing their part but still, we need more people to take on this challenge.
Often we, as humans, feel overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem at hand and feel like one person cannot possibly make a difference. But this is not true. Every little bit counts and here are some ways you can begin to live a more sustainable lifestyle. It is never too late to start making small changes that can lead to big impacts in the long run.
#1 Be mindful of food choices
Whenever possible, it’s best to eat organic foods which growers produce without using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and locally grown produce which doesn’t require emissions-heavy, long-distance transportation. Not only will this allow you to live more sustainably, but it will also make your diet healthier and support family farmers in your area. Especially in summer, farmers markets are a great way to eat local and support the local economy.
Another option is to switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet that will improve your own health and place less strain on the planet’s resources. But this choice isn’t for everyone, so if you’re not quite willing to give up meat and other animal byproducts, you could opt for a simpler change, like implementing Meatless Monday.
#2 Be mindful of consumption practices
There are plenty of ways to become a savvy shopper, including buying local products and frequenting farmers’ markets. You don’t need to buy the latest and greatest as soon as it comes out on the market if you really don’t need it. ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ is a real problem in society today with global consumerism at an all time high. Try and get out of the ‘buy new’ mindset and instead really ask yourself if you ‘need‘ something verses ‘want‘ something before buying it.
#4 Become a mindful traveler
Mindful and slow travel is a way to meaningfully engage with communities and landscapes. It emphasizes the importance of taking the time needed to really explore, venturing off the beaten path, and connecting with locals. Essentially traveling mindfully is about savoring experiences instead of rushing through them — a philosophy that encourages sustainability in all its forms.
Slow travel also aims to minimize the impact that visitors have on the environments they encounter by making educated decisions about sustainable options. Using alternative modes of transportation, like walking and taking the subway, taking the train instead of long-distance flights, bike rides over car rentals, and choosing local establishments over nation and international chains are choices toward more mindful travel.
Another thing we can actively do is have a staycation right in our own local town or city – a great way to get to know our own environments before jet setting off to exotic locations. We don’t need to stop exploring the world; we just need to rethink how we chase our adventures.
#5 Master DIY wherever possible
Plenty of common household items, including beauty products and cleaning supplies, are actually made with very harmful products and chemicals. Whether the manufacturers use harmful ingredients, test on animals, or go overboard on packaging, the resulting products aren’t exactly environmentally friendly. Some products like household cleaners, simple toiletries and body care products are really quite easy to make. For some all your need are empty containers and ingredients that you already have around the house such as honey, olive oil, and brown sugar. It’s probably easiest to begin with something simple, like body scrub or lip balm, but as you become more comfortable and confident in your DIY abilities, you can move on and tackle more complex mixtures.
#6 Say no to single use plastics
The world’s population uses and throws away a lot of single-use products every day. The next time you go to the grocery story look around and see how many people use plastic bags and the number of bags a person on average uses to carry their stuff. Now try and estimate how many people are shopping at that store using plastic products. Unfortunately, the actual number is probably higher than you think, since we tend to forget about our trash as soon as we discard it.
You can easily phase single-use products out of your daily routine by replacing them with their eco-friendly counterparts. From canvas bags to reusable bottles, bamboo utensils, and more, there are so many options to say no to single use plastics.
#7 Reuse whenever possible
On a similar note, it’s important to consider your options before dropping something into a trash can. Now not every object has a long lifespan, but all too often, we discard usable items just because we’ve outgrown them. So try and reuse whenever possible and if you have to trash it, trash appropriately – reusable or landfill.
One of the most common things that people trash is furniture and clothes. The average American throws out about 80 pounds (36 kilograms) of fabric every year, and 85 percent of used clothing goes straight to the landfill. Perfectly good furniture also makes it way to landfills. Whenever possible, donate, sell, or give away your unwanted items, and purchase with quality in mind.
#8 Be mindful of electricity and water consumption
This year, set a goal to shave a couple minutes off of your shower time, and remember to turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or washing dishes. Along the same lines, turn off lights and unplug devices when you are not using them. For families with small kids, try and limit the number of tub baths and opt for showers instead. While kids splashing in the bath tub is a lot of fun and absolutely adorable, it does consume a lot of water.
Rain barrels or rain water harvesting is also a great way to go eco-friendly with your water usability. This rain water can be used to water the plants or even clean your car. These changes are so small that you almost won’t notice them, but they’ll add up in a significant way.
#9 Get outdoors in nature
Nothing motivates sustainability quite like a passion for the great outdoors. People who love nature are usually the ones who care the most about conservation, climate change, and other related issues. So when ever possible take a break, step outside and smell the fresh air. There are so many benefits to an outdoorsy lifestyle. There is actual science behind the benefits of spending time in the outdoors. Practices like forest bathing or Japanese shinrin-yoku help with anxiety and concentration. So, if you’ve ever marveled at a snow-capped mountain, sprawling desert, white-sand beach, or towering forest, it’s time to tap into that feeling of awe and wonder.
#10 Stay informed about local and global policies
It is always a good idea to be informed of the latest environmental news. Follow organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, subscribe to relevant newsletters, or watching a documentary about wildlife. After all, the more you know about the planet and its current bill of health, the better a steward you can be.
Also look around your community and see if you can connect with people and organizations that are focused on sustainability at a local level. Whether you participate in local beach cleanups or pitch in at a community garden, you’ll quickly realize the power of working together. No one can tackle a major issue alone, but with a little bit of collaboration and hard work, we can bring about the large-scale changes that we want to see.
All too often, we believe that as an individual we cannot make a difference especially for a problem that is much bigger and larger than anything we have ever dealt with. But it is important to remember your actions matter and have the power to motivate others to do the same. Pretty soon families, friends, neighbors and co-workers begin to follow your efforts and footsteps and together can make a bigger impact for the greater good.
What actions to do you take everyday to live sustainably. Remember no step is ever too small and every single action matters.
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