Have you ever thought about wanting to live a little greener, but you aren’t sure where to start? Maybe your New Year's resolution is to find small ways to be a little more sustainable, or you’re feeling inspired to become greener for the upcoming Earth Day. Whatever your reasoning, going green can sometimes feel overwhelming and you’re left wondering how to even go about it. But living a greener lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard, and it doesn’t mean you have to completely change your lifestyle overnight.
When considering making some sustainable swaps in your life to help you live a little greener, it is important to keep in mind that even the small things can make a huge difference. When starting out, you don’t have to jump head first and get rid of everything plastic and feel bad about using a straw. It might even feel like the steps you are taking aren’t even making a difference. But living a greener lifestyle isn’t a competition, and every little bit helps. Whether this means making small changes at work, home, or just changing your everyday habits. So if you’re interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, then keep reading for some tips that are so easy you won’t even have to think about them!
One place that is easy to go green is in the kitchen. Oftentimes we use a lot of single-use products in the kitchen that aren’t great for the environment. Whether it’s paper towels, paper plates, plastic silverware, or even the cleaning products we use, there are a lot of swaps we can make in the kitchen. The kitchen is also one place where you can make a lot of sustainable swaps, and you might not even realize the difference because they’re so easy.
Small things like using reusable paper towels instead of paper ones is an easy swap to make. It might not seem like a big sacrifice, but switching to washable, reusable towels instead can make a big difference when you consider how many paper towels you might use a day. Similarly, staying away from plastic and disposable dishware in general and opting for glassware or reusable is an easy change. As annoying as it is to do dishes on the days you definitely don’t want to, making this small swap from plastic to sustainable will go a long way.
Another way to go greener in your kitchen is to consider swapping out your tea and coffee choices for some more eco friendly ones. If you’re a tea drinker, using loose-leaf tea is a simple swap from bag tea. Bag tea might not seem like that big of a deal, but switching it out for tea without packaging is something easy to do and will count in the long run. If coffee is more your thing, consider buying from a sustainable coffee brand instead of your usual K-Cup choice. Using a reusable coffee filter instead of a single-use one is also an easy option!
Whether it’s cleaning, your laundry, or your household essentials, it is easy to make sustainable swaps! There are so many eco-friendly options for everyday household items, that finding one that fits your needs is simple! An eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner is an easy way to switch from a cleaner with harmful chemicals and plastic packaging. A lot of household cleaners come in glass containers now to help cut back on plastic waste. If you don’t have a sustainable store near you where you can get these products, consider keeping the empty plastic cleaning bottles and either recycling, reusing, or refilling them!
When it comes to cleaning your home, you might own a Swifter or a similar mopping/sweeping device. Instead of purchasing the single-use pads to go on the bottom, consider using old t-shirts or towel pieces that can be washed and reused. This will not only help by using a reusable option instead of a single-use one, but it will also help you be greener because you are recycling old shirts and towels instead of just throwing them away. The less waste the better!
Another great way to make your home more sustainable is in your laundry room! Dryer balls are an easy alternative to dryer sheets. They’re reusable, make your clothes smell great, and do the same things traditional, single-use sheets do! Washing your clothes in cold water is also an easy habit to start. You wash your clothes anyway, so pushing the cold button instead of the hot can help save energy while still getting the job done.
One area you might have never thought you could go greener is your beauty routine. More and more beauty companies today are doing their part to make sustainable products more accessible! Garnier is one company that has been active in making sustainable beauty, and choosing to use these products instead of ones that don’t promote greener living is an easy way to make a more sustainable choice in our beauty routines!
Another way to make your beauty routine greener is by switching from the traditional makeup wipes to a reusable option. Whether you choose to go with using a face towel and some good old fashioned water, or you need something stronger to take your makeup off, there are so many options out there that finding one that fits your needs is simple.
One of the most popular, greener choices in health and beauty in today’s society is the swap from pads and tampons to a more sustainable option. With so many different options to choose from in the reusable period products, there is a perfect fit for everyone to be able to make their period more sustainable! Not only will making the swap from the traditional pad and tampon to a sustainable choice make you feel better about the environment, but it might also help you feel better about your period!
Going green and making sustainable choices in your life is about more than just switching out your paper towels. While it might not feel like you are making a difference, every bit helps and doing our part to help the environment is important! Anyone can do it, and living a greener lifestyle doesn’t have to be something we dread or have to spend every minute of our lives working on. The smallest changes we make in our lives can have a big impact!
So when considering going greener in your life, try not to bite off more than you can chew to start. Begin slow and work your way up, and don’t compare yourselves to the way others live their lives. Just making small changes in your lifestyle habits can be just as helpful to the environment as someone who dedicates their lives to making the world a greener place!
