Benjamin CombsBesides seeing plastic bags as a crisis, it’s really one of today’s invisible issues we face. It is the slow, but steady deterioration of our environment. At first glance, this may seem like an overwhelming issue to tackle, but in fact, change comes in small steps. There’s always power in numbers – in the number of steps we take in order to protect the environment and in the number of people becoming more eco-conscious and willing to be part of the change. This is why we’ve prepared a list of twelve easy steps you can take to gradually make that shift towards more mindful living, with benefits both for yourself and the environment:
1. Consider Giving Up Meat at Least One Day Per Week
step you can make for the environment– it trumps canceling one flight or choosing to go by bus from time to time.
2. Refuse Plastic Bags
That’s right, there is still so much we can do for the planet by simply refusing plastic bags in the supermarket. As well as not using plastic bags when shopping with our own reusable bags is better. You may forget it at home once or twice, but you’ll soon forget plastic bags were ever an option.
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3. Be Mindful of Your Water Use
It’s amazing how much you can do for the environment and how much money you can save if every time you brush your teeth, for example, you turn the faucet off. Additionally, you can make sure you properly fill-up the washing machine every time you put a new load in. If you’re washing the dishes manually, you can lather them with detergent and only then start washing them, in order to avoid unnecessary water waste.
4. Properly Look After Your Garden and Lawn
A well taken care of lawn does wonders for the air you breathe. Also the quality of your garden produce and ultimately for the environment. Great thick grass that absorbs airborne pollutants and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. Additionally, make sure your soil doesn’t become packed down and pressed together. It’s a condition otherwise known as a compacted lawn. If untreated, this will lead to the appearance of weeds and possible diseases.
5. Throw Out Less, Repurpose More
We’ve become so accustomed to buying new things in plastic bags as we walk out the store. So whenever something breaks down or is damaged or, sometimes, we simply don’t like that thing anymore. An alternative to this would be to look at items of clothing, appliances, furniture and other objects we want to throw out and think about how we could improve them. Maybe they could do with clever repurposing or with a fresh and funky coat of paint – whatever it is, remember, creativity is key.
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6. Switch to a Reusable Water Bottle Once and For All
If we stopped and thought about how many small bottles of water we use over one year, we’d actually be terrified. All that plastic is, unfortunately, going into the oceans, directly impacting and killing aquatic life and drastically affecting the ecosystem. What’s more, before ending up in the ocean, so much plastic will end up not being recycled and littering. So things to help the environment would be reusable or not plastic and or biodegradable into ocean food. To this end, consider switching to a quality refillable water bottle and you’ll never worry about buying water on your trips outside ever again.
7. Start Supporting Producers That Have Eliminated Plastic
This wave of replacing or eliminating plastic altogether from commercial everyday items is relatively new, but more and more companies are getting on board. Think about getting hygiene items that have replaced plastic with wood or cardboard and avoid buying grocery items that are individually wrapped. By getting less demand for their items, these companies will soon need to change their approach as well.
8. Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances and Light bulbs
Another step you can take is to choose Energy Star-rated appliances when replacing new ones, to ensure you reduce your energy use in your home. An amazing idea is to also replace your regular light bulbs with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) that use less electricity and can last for years on end.
Source: Riccardo Annandale
9. Switch Off Electrical Appliances When Not In Use
If you want to change your habits and do something to improve the environment you can start by switching off your electrical appliances whenever you’re not using them. Don’t just leave them on standby, take a few extra seconds to make sure you’ve turned them off.
All in all, improving the environment is not a job for movie superheroes, but rather a task for all of us to easily accomplish through our daily routines. Like any other change, you ensure you thoroughly implement it in your life by repeating the same actions over and over again. Of course, once you manage to change your lifestyle, you can educate others as well on how they can easily shift their mindset and contribute to the healing of the environment.
About the Author:
Sofia is a passionate writer from Sydney. She also enjoys decorating houses and engaging in home renovation projects. That is why she loves sharing her experience and advice with other people through her writing. Besides this, she loves technology and gadgets which can help us get through a busy workday.
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