There are many simple things that we can do to create a more natural lifestyle. Have a look at the 5 tips below and see if you can work them into your life.
Reduce waste
The United Nations has identified food waste as one of the most pressing problems for sustainable development. In the U.S. 150,000 pounds of food per second is thrown away, and globally, one-third of all food goes uneaten each year.
Use meal planners and inventory logs to plan your meals and reduce the amount of food that gets chucked out. This will help the environment and your pocket.
Reduce Disposables
It is estimated that in the U.S. alone, more than 27 million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean each year. The amount of plastics being dumped into the ocean, combined with the increasing number of people on our planet, means that in 2050 there will be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the oceans if we don’t change these trends.
There are alternatives to disposable products and they are easy to find as well.
For example, you can use reusable straws instead of plastic ones; a safety razor instead of a disposable razor; and a muslin cleansing cloth instead of single-use cotton pads.
Unplug from devices
We often find ourselves in a state of “near-constant connectedness” with our devices. Technology has become so ingrained in our lives that we are constantly checking for updates and news, and the never-ending stream of content is increasingly making us feel more isolated from one another.
In order to combat this, try to turn your phone off for at least an hour or two a day. If you don’t have a way to disconnect, consider getting a simple alarm clock that doesn’t have internet access. You might be surprised at how much better you feel when you take some time away from your device.
Recycle
Recycling items that would otherwise go to landfill not only reduces the environmental damage caused by mining, but it also saves on the cost of raw materials. You can make a bit of money by selling the things you no longer want on eBay. You can also list things and get stuff for free on places like Facebook, Gumtree and Ilovefreegle.org to avoid things getting binned unnecessarily.
Recycling your household waste can feel confusing at times with all the different labels but it’s such a worthwhile cause. Check out this article if you need some pointers on what the recycling symbols mean.
Walk and Cycle More
Currently, the best way to reduce your carbon footprint is walking and cycling.
The reason why walking and cycling is the best option is that they emit the least amount of greenhouse gases. One study found out that car driving emits six times as much as walking does for each mile traveled.
It’s important to note that these do not just benefit the environment. They also have a huge impact on your health, too. The more people switch from cars to bikes, the lower proportion of toxic fumes that are released into the air we breathe every day. Not to mention that exercise is a great way to increase your energy levels so you’ll feel much healthier than driving everywhere.
