11 Easy Steps to An Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle

Global warming and climate change bring fossil fuels and deforestation into mind! The big issues! Being environmentally conscious is not just about avoiding plastic bags or disposable cups. It’s a lifestyle that leads to a better future and mindset!

Do you ever wonder how your day-to-day life affects the planet?

Quite literally, our daily choices, very small ones, affect our success as a species. Whether we fail our home planet or not!

Every bit counts, every bit helps, and bit by bit, we can bring change!

In this article, we will discuss the 11 steps to an environmentally conscious lifestyle that actually work.

What is Environmentally Conscious?

Being environmentally conscious is about being aware of the consequences. We, as humans, have a responsibility towards the Earth. An environmentally conscious person understands that responsibility and helps protect the environment.

How Do You Live Environmentally Conscious?

Our daily lives involve various ventures like travel, meals, shopping, etc. To live environmentally conscious, you need to make a lot of small (and big) changes.

Let’s take a look at a few simple ways to live environmentally conscious.

1. Small Changes in Day-to-Day Activities

Do you know how much you can help the environment by making a few small changes in your everyday life?

Your day-to-day activities are responsible for a lot of waste that can be avoided.

Let’s begin with small good habits for a big change!

• Avoid disposable items:it’s easy but damaging in the long term.
• Turn down plastic bags: get a reusable bag instead.
• Take the stairs: instead of an elevator or escalator, and conserve energy.
• Avoid bottled water: keep reusable water bottles handy to avoid waste.
• Go easy on the cleaning products: Harmful chemicals are washed into the rivers and streams and add to water pollution.

2. Recycle, Compost, and Reuse

Recycling is an excellent way to reduce pollution, conserve energy, and resources. The process involves cleaning and sorting your daily trash into various categories. The trash is then either recycled at home or sent to a recycling facility.

Most communities have recycling centers to recycle plastics, pacers, metal, and glass. Extra clothes, appliances, etc can be donated to a nearby charity. You can also donate old computers rather than recycling, but make sure to dispose of the old Li-ion batteries properly.

The leftovers from your food can be used to make compost. It prevents you from wasting organic matter and provides a natural fertilizer for your garden. Compost may include leaves, fruits, and vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells.

If you don’t have a home garden, then donate the compost materials to a school or community garden nearby!

3. Buy Less but Better!

With the rise of fast fashion in the late 1900s, people have started to buy more. The clothes are inexpensive, are not produced responsibly, and eventually, end up in landfills.

Treat yourself to something expensive that will last. You deserve better and so does the planet!

There are several ways to reduce your fashion footprint. Here are a few to get you started:

• Buy from eco-friendly brands
• Buy expensiveand long-lasting
• Donate your old wardrobe
• Buy Products With Less Packaging
• Buy second hand

4. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

A discussion on climate change is incomplete without your carbon footprint!

Reducing your carbon footprint is the first step towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle.

To reduce your carbon footprint, here are a few simple things that you can do:

• Take public transport:that way, you can spend your time doing something productive and cut down the carbon on the run!
• Use a bike:it’s environmentally friendly and a good way to exercise too!
• Driver slower: Slowing down speed by 10km/hr can cut down your car’s fuel consumption by 25%.
• Inflate your tires:having the right air pressure means less maintenance and smaller environmental impact.
• Cut down air travel:it’s responsible for most air pollution.
• Buy locally: it reduces your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of fuel used in transportation. Buying locally grown fruits and vegetables show your support for organic farming and the community at large.
• Get an electric car:a fuel-efficient or electric car is an excellent way to cut down your carbon footprint.

5. Reduce Your Electricity Usage

Globally, almost 78% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are from the production and use of energy.

You can’t stop using energy, but you can cut down your electricity usage and the electric bill!

It’s very easy to save energy. Here are a few simple and effective ways:

• Unplug appliances:we’re used to leaving appliances plugged when not using them. Electricity consumed by idle electronics equals 12 power plants’ yearly output!
• Switch off light:it doesn’t sound like a lot of energy, but switching off the lights can reduce your carbon footprint and electricity bill.
• Turn off the TV or Computer:try not to fall asleep in front of the TV or leaving the computer running while doing something else.
• Rein in cooling or heating:house cooling and heating account for nearly half of household energy consumption. Conserve energy by getting a programmable thermostat or house insulation.
• Air Dry clothes: it can reduce an average household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds annually.
• Use an LED bulb:it consumes about 75% less energy than incandescents and last 25 times longer.

6. Environmentally Conscious Digital Footprint

Your impact on the environment goes beyond the real world and into the digital one! Use technology but leave an environmentally conscious digital footprint.

Let’s discuss a few ways to be environmentally conscious of your digital footprint:

• Switch to a laptop from a desktop: laptops consume less energy compared to desktops. They are portable, easy to use, and reduce energy consumption!
• Donate old computers:instead of recycling, donate your old devices if they’re in good working condition.
• Reuse Electronics: the components in your computer or smartphone do not biodegrade and can be reused.
• Go Paperless:get an ebook instead of a paper book. They’re cheaper and environmentally conscious.
• Cut down Cloud usage:if your data is stored on a cloud system, then that system is continuously running. Storing unnecessary data on the loud means using excess energy and you can cut that by deleting excess files.

7. Eat Healthier

Sounds weird, right?

It’s good to eat healthier, but what does it have to do with being environmentally conscious?

Healthier eating habits can help the environment in various ways. Here are a few changes to your plate for an environmentally conscious lifestyle:

• Eat less meat: 20% of total carbon emissions in the world are linked to the food industry.
• Add more colors to your plate:growing the same crops over and over drains nutrients from the soil. Having a variety of food on your plate helps regenerate soil and the ecosystem.
• Less cheese is equal to more milk: It takes a whole lot of milk to create a small portion of cheese.
• Don’t throw away the food:it’s not only bad for the environment but also not ethical. Take only as much as you can and compost the leftovers (if possible).
• No chewing gum:it's basically flavored plastic!

8. Save Water

Water is an invaluable resource. One that we (think that we) have in abundance.

Only a few simple changes in your water usage routine can save a lot:

• Use a low flow showerhead:it can cut down about 50% of water usage.
• Fix leaking pipes:why waste the water and create a mess!
• Close the tap while you’re brushing:takes a couple of seconds and saves a lot of water.
• Recycle water at home:if you want to take a step further the recycling water is the way to go!
• Collect rainwater for the garden:if you live in a place where it rains a lot, leave a rain barrel to collect rainwater and use it for the plants (and more).

9. Environmentally Conscious Beauty Routine

Looking beautiful is your right, but don’t forget about the planet in the process. Go for a green brand to get the most out of your money, beauty, and duty!

• Use natural makeup:it’s good for the skin, shows support to green brands, and likely plastic-free.
• Refill your makeup containers:instead of throwing away the container, refill them, and avoid water.
• Avoid glitter and microbeads:small plastic particles that are used once but contaminate the environment especially the waters forever.

10. Use Renewable Energy

Solar energy is another great step towards an environmentally conscious life. In most places, solar energy is abundant. You can install a solar system to conserve energy and reduce your electricity bill at the same time.

It’s a bit expensive, to begin with, but efficient in the long run!

11. Gardening and The Environment

Gardening is the best part of being environmentally conscious. Not only does it help clean the air and help the planet, but it also helps you. Spending time with plants is excellent for your mental health.

• Join a community garden:spending some time with plants can have amazing effects on your mental health and the environment.
• Guerilla garden:if you find an unused patch of land, then toss a few seeds there and start a guerilla garden.
• Get a houseplant:an excellent way to get acquainted with plants!

Why is it Important to be Environmentally Conscious?

Do you know how much solid waste we generate each year?

2.01 billion tonnes!

Yes, we generate a whopping 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste globally, each year.

• 37% of that waste is disposed of in some sort of landfill.
• 8% of waste is disposed of in a sanitary landfill
• Open waste dump account for 31%
• 19% of waste is recovered through recycling and composting
• 11% is incinerated for final disposal

Garbage that goes into the landfills takes years to decompose. Something as small as styrofoam can take up to 500 years. Based on the composition and volume of the overall garbage, about 1.6 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent GHG emissions were generated in 2016.

It’s important to be environmentally conscious because that’s the natural way to be. It’s our ethical responsibility as citizens of the Earth to preserve the environment.

Being environmentally conscious may sound too much at first. But, once you get used to it, there’s nothing more natural!

What are Some Eco-Friendly Activities?

Being environmentally conscious doesn’t mean all work and no fun!

There are various healthy activities that you can engage in, and have a great time!

What’s great about eco-friendly activities is that they’re also great for your physical and mental health.

Here are a few fun eco-friendly activities ideas:

• Go on a hike:it’s the best way to connect with nature.
• Start sustainable Cooking:what’s better than the delicious aroma of fresh food?
• Make DIY products: there’s so much you can make from recycled materials.
• Junk mail crafts:get creative and have fun with the junk paper.
• Mudbrick houses:create architectural wonders with mud.
• Plant a garden: maybe a guerilla garden or get a plot in the nearby community garden.
• Get a pet: connect with a new soul and enjoy a lasting friendship.
• Make a birdfeeder:simple, and easy to maintain.

Take Your First Step Towards An Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle!

It’s never too late to be environmentally conscious. Whether you’re 9 or 90, start a lifestyle that makes you proud of yourself. This is bigger than all of us.

The first step towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle is by choosing to stay informed. As you become more environmentally conscious, choose to sign a petition, it only takes a few minutes. Additionally, donating to a charity can change someone’s life (and yours!).

Choose one simple tip from this list and add it to your routine. We know it’s not exactly easy, but nothing worth fighting for ever is! A healthier and happier Earth awaits on the other side!