“Live with more Intention
Less buying, more doing
Less wanting, more enjoying“
Jen Chillingsworth, Live Green
2023 is finally here, and I always enjoy the new year! The months and years are going by quicker and quicker these days. I love switching my mindset to something new every year, focusing on bettering myself and my life. This year I am excited to focus on creating a more sustainable and eco-friendlier Lifestyle.
It can seem a bit overwhelming to try and completely change your lifestyle. When I first thought of how to change my lifestyle to be eco-friendlier and more sustainable, I was definitely overwhelmed! There are so many products, ideas, and things to do differently.
What I found to be the easiest was to pick one thing to focus on and start working towards making that a habit. You don’t have to change your entire lifestyle overnight! Just choose one thing to change and work towards it. Before you know it, you will be doing it without thinking. Then, you can choose something else to work towards. Each small step is one big step towards changing your lifestyle.
Below, I have made a list of ideas for living a more sustainable and eco-friendlier lifestyle. Pick a few of these ideas to work on for the year 2023. Work on forming habits and changing your mindset to be more sustainable and eco-friendly!
- Use fewer plastic bags
- Use reusable bags when buying groceries
- Drink more tap water (or filtered)
- Avoid using single use plastic bottles
- Always bring a reusable cup or mug when leaving the house
- Choose conscious consumption of animal based products
- Eat at home to create less food waste
- Sign up for paperless billing to create less paper waste
- Cancel magazines or see if they have an online version
- Use the calendar and notes section on your phone to avoid using paper calendars and notepads
- Use a reusable straw (There are a lot of options- silicone, stainless steel, glass, paper, bamboo)
- If you don’t have a reusable straw, drink straight from the glass
- Think twice before shopping- buy less to create less waste
- Make your own beauty products (hand cream, face cream, etc.)
- Use reusable make-up remover pads instead of cotton pads
- Shop at consignment shops for new to you clothes
- Instead of throwing away old clothes, find ways to upcycle or re-purpose them
- Learn to sew so that you can fix clothing items
- Use cloth diapers
- Use reusable nursing pads
- Buy secondhand toys or wooden toys
- Donate clothes to a local homeless shelter or thrift store
- Make your own cleaning products to avoid harsh toxins
- Use a shampoo and conditioner bar to cut down on plastic
- Use a shave bar in place of shaving cream
- Use plastic free loofahs and wash cloths
- Try gifting experiences, repurposed items, or something handmade or homemade
- Start an herb garden
- Start a vegetable garden
- Cook at home more to create less food waste
- Start composting
- Use compost for your herb and vegetable garden
- Don’t use pesticides and herbicides in your garden
- Learn to can and preserve the food you grow
- Use rechargeable batteries
- Buy energy efficient appliances and technology
- Use reusable produce bags at the supermarket
- Avoid plastic wrapped items at the store
- Stop using single use items
- Get a reusable cutlery set
- Use recyclable wrapping paper or kraft paper for wrapping gifts
- Save gift bags and boxes for future use
- Re-purpose old furniture
- Use old pots, jugs, and mugs for plants or in your garden
- Choose email receipts over printed paper ones
- Buy organic products at the supermarket
- Switch to organic cotton, linen, sisal, or hemp fibers for clothing or bed linens
- Use natural scents for your home (essential oils, soy candles, herbs, simmer pots)
- Plant some trees, flowers, or shrubbery around your home
- Plant a wildflower garden for pollinators
- Plant native species (flowers and trees) around your home instead of invasive non-native plants
- Let your grass grow. Bees love the clover, dandelions, and daisies.
- Recycle cardboard, plastic, and glass.
- Use cotton cloths (or a Swedish dishcloth) over paper towels
I hope all of these sustainalbe and eco-friendly ideas give you some inspiration and motivation for living a more sustainable and eco-friendlier lifestyle in 2023. If you have other ideas, I would love to know about them! If you have questions or need help with any of these ideas, please reach out to me. I would love to help you!
I hope you have a blessed and happy new year.
Until Next Time,
Catherine
The post 365 Days to a more Sustainable & eco-friendlier Lifestyle first appeared on KISS Expedition.
