Being aware of our impact on the environment becomes harder and harder each day in the contemporary consumerist society. Pollution is inherent and its causes vary from the frozen prepackaged meals to the car you use on your daily commute. So how do we control it if we’re bound to be a contributor by default?
Well, first and foremost by avoiding the billboards that scream in big block letters that the end of the world is near because we may never recover from the planet’s decay due to all the pollution we create. Although no one here is Captain Planet, no one’s asking us to be. The little things count the most and that’s what we need to work on.
Some people just go to town – see the lady using only jars she washes daily. But there are other, less radical ways to make your work count. In my daily routine, I don’t have a lot of time to spare. However, I try to add as many reuse able products as possible.
This way, I’m saving up a little (on my personal finance) and a lot (on “saving the planet”). Apart from that, I also like to use a bike around the city, because using my car only takes my money and turns it into stress – in traffic or when hunting down a parking space. Moreover, the bike actually aids my with my health while the car, although comfortable, doesn’t improve my stamina or my strength. I started carrying plastic bags with me instead of buying new ones each time I shop.
This way I stay organized – I always have some plastic bags to spare around the house – and I also save money on bags I’d otherwise throw away once I got home. I use chargers instead of one-use batteries and I like to cook my own food instead of buying frozen food or ordering take out as it creates mess – I always end up with plastic containers all over the house. I also bought an electric string trimmer instead of a lawnmower. Although it takes more time, I save loads on fuel and I also work out my arms while enjoying the smell of freshly cut grass and clean air.
All in all, it’s all about small changes so we may adjust our daily life to an eco-friendly approach that improves our routine as well as our effect on the environment. If you decide to cut back on useless purchases or take a stroll through the park instead of driving to the mall for a day, that’s more than enough. Nobody’s saying you should turn your house into a solar-powered engine that uses rain water and denies store-bought meals entirely, but switching up your meal once a week for a vegetarian soirée can help you avoid the effects of the meat-processing industry while giving your organism a kick for the better. In the end, baby steps will get you through the day and unto a better life for you, your kids and your surrounding environment.
