Beginners’ Guide to Sustainable Living: 10 Easy Eco-Conscious Tips You Can Do Today
Wondering how to live a simple sustainable lifestyle? Being mindful of the environment doesn’t have to be complicated: In fact, there are many easy eco-conscious tips you can do today!
I’m here to show you super easy changes that actually add to your life while being good for our planet. Keep reading for this super simple beginners’ guide to sustainable living.
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In a way, the definition of sustainable living is making more educated and mindful choices regarding what we consume and how we live.
Why is sustainable living important?
Sustainable living is of course very important for the planet and future generations, but it also has concrete benefits for you, today.
Here are some of the benefits of sustainable living:
Saving money and simplifying your life: you’ll be making mindful choices and rethinking your consumption
Better quality of life: the planet is our home, it is more enjoyable to live on it when it’s not polluted and full of waste
Being healthier: a lot of products have very harmful chemicals, protect yourself and your family by being a better eco-conscious consumer
How to get started living a sustainable lifestyle
Being more environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be complicated! Here are simple strategies to make the switch:
1. Research
Educate yourself on why it is important to make the switch to a sustainable way of life. Here is a playlist by Vox that will help you understand the climate issue better. You can also research concrete ways to have an impact on the world from brainstorming eco-conscious business ideas to eco-friendly gift ideas for your loved ones. No step is too small!
2. Know that you have an impact
I often hear “I’m not going to change things on my own”. Sure, you probably won’t, but you are not on your own. Your impact is massive. Maybe you start making small changes and encouraging your friends to do the same, which in turn impacts their community and so on.
3. Become conscious of your consumption
Every time you spend money on something you are encouraging the company to create more of this thing. As a consumer, you have a big impact on companies. Before buying something, ask yourself “Is this product in line with my values?”, “Am I creating the world I want for myself and others?”. If you are not finding a sustainable option for the product you want, you can also write to the company on social or tell them in a review.
By doing that you’ll not only have a positive impact on the planet but also save a lot of money.
4. Get your loved ones on board
You are more likely to stick to a habit when others are doing it with you! Maybe it could be getting a reusable water bottle for the whole family or cooking a plant-based meal for your friends.
Meet them where they are, and, make it fun as not everyone is ready for a full lifestyle overhaul: small steps are better than nothing!
5. Start small
Focus on the long term, not on being perfect (that doesn’t exist!). By making conscious small changes, and starting with simple sustainable practices at home, you will keep your sustainable habits for the years to come.
Ditch the all-or-nothing mentality and just do your best!
Here are a few simple ideas for sustainable living I do regularly:
Easy sustainable living tips: 10 easy things I do every day to be more ecofriendly
1. Buying second-hand clothing or from B corps and keeping my stuff longer
I love thrift-shopping or buying from B-corps (certified responsible companies), like All Birds or Athleta and I shop items that I’m sure to like in a few years. Eco-conscious clothing is a must as fast fashion has a terrible impact on our planet.
2. Eating less meat, but better
A plant-based diet is good for you and the environment. This doesn’t mean you have to go vegan (unless you want to!), you can also eat meat less often and buy higher quality organic meat.
3. Being mindful about take-out or delivery
This is a tough one when you work from home, but cooking your own meals is so much better for the environment. Plus it also saves me a lot of money and is a way of making sure I’m eating healthier as I know what’s in my food.
4. Wearing a sweater at home before turning on the heat, not turning on AC when it’s possible
Dress for the weather you have, not the weather you want, this is a key rule for being sustainable at home. This one is so easy for me as I’ve grown up in Europe, where AC is non-existent. It takes a bit more willpower to do when I’m in the US.
5. Being mindful of my water consumption
Not taking massive showers or doing excessive laundry when I don’t need to is the easiest eco-friendly house idea to implement as it saves me time.
6. Using eco-conscious cleaning products
Traditional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that are dangerous for you, the people you live with, or your pets.
Buy eco-friendly products or clean most things with white vinegar, the cheapest and most efficient all-purpose cleaning products. Sustainable living at home just got easier!
7. Riding my bike everywhere or using public transport as much as I can
A fun urban sustainable living tip here: ride your bike. You’ll be more fit without noticing it, discover new parts of the city, and avoid paying for public transport or taxis.
If you can’t bike, ditch the Uber rides, and take public transport instead when you can, it’s often faster in most cities and will save you so much money.
If you have your own car, consider sharing a ride with a neighbor
8. Taking my own bags for groceries
An easy way to ditch single-use plastic. Use reusable fabric bags both for carrying your groceries and bulk items.
9. Not drinking from plastic
Drinking from plastic is bad for you and tastes awful, I always make sure I have my reusable water bottle with me in my backpack and refill it throughout the day.
10. Having a green beauty routine
Switching to organic, toxic-free beauty products has made a big difference on my skin (no more breakouts!), and on my wallet (it’s so much cheaper!).
Here is my minimalist sustainable self-care routine: I use a DIY hydrating oil and an organic rosewater toner before doing Gua Sha on my face and only wear a nontoxic foundation with an SPF. I also buy soap and shampoo in bulk to refill the reusable dispensers I have. That’s all!
Other Simple Sustainable living examples
There are so many ways to be more eco-conscious, and it is better to take small steps in the right direction constantly and ditch the all or nothing mentality. Here are a few different sustainable living ideas and movements that might inspire you to take the next step:
The Zero-waste movement
Sustainable home movements like the Tiny Homes, Container Homes or off-grid sustainable living movements...
Staycations and local travel: check out my guide here
Conscious consumption: 1% for the planet (I’m a member!), B-corps, you are voting with your dollars
Eco-minimalism: reconsider what you own, simplify your life, help the planet (and your wallet + your peace of mind)
I hope you enjoyed this sustainable living blog post! You now know that sustainable living for beginners is incredibly easy.