The choices we make today to offset climate change and reduce the damage being done to the environment will help to impact the planet tomorrow. Choosing to have a sustainable lifestyle is when we strive to reduce our individual and shared environmental impact. There are many ways we can implement these changes into our lives daily.

Sustainable Living Through Diet

Making healthier choices for our food may sound unappetizing for some. Still, when you think about the preservatives and additives that go into most of the food that we buy, you quickly realize how genuinely unhealthy many foods are. Sustainable lifestyle eating is all about choosing foods that are not only good for our bodies but also good for the environment. This is also known as a plant-based diet.

Getting enough protein is easier than it sounds for a sustainable lifestyle, thanks to many nutritious choices. Deciding which protein-packed vegetarian meal to pick may even be a challenge.

Simply by incorporating more healthy fiber in the form of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds and reducing the amount of animal products you consume, you can achieve a higher quality of life.

Studies have shown that adopting a plant-based diet as part of a sustainable lifestyle can reduce the risk of heart disease and other illnesses and, at the same time, help to save the planet. This lifestyle change helps reduce inflammation, protects against developing type 2 diabetes, and may be able to help prevent up to a third of all cancer cases. Where the environment is concerned, far less land, water, and fertilizer are required to produce protein from bean sources than beef sources. Using fewer resources helps to preserve our world, rather than draining it.

This is only one way to live more sustainably; there are many more subtle changes we can make each day that will make a difference to both our health and the planet.

Sustainable Living Through Everyday Changes

Every single day, we can make a difference by choosing sustainable lifestyle changes, such as recycling. When we recycle, we help prevent the emissions of many greenhouse gases as well as water pollutants. Even the products we use every day can be eco-friendly and deliver natural health benefits when you choose items such as botanical hair products and organic skincare products that avoid harmful chemicals and use recyclable packaging.

Get outside and start growing your own herbs and vegetables. Gardening is a great way to bring healthier foods into your home while getting fresh air and exercise, but make sure to use sunscreen. Look for a mineral sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium oxide with the words “reef safe” on the label. Many sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which account for 6,000 tons of sunscreens that damage the coral reefs.

Again, it’s the little things that make up a sustainable lifestyle; for example, the next time you boil water for pasta, let it cool down and use it to water your plants.

Teaching sustainable health habits to your family keeps everyone on board when getting healthier naturally and helping the planet thrive. Even how we travel can make a difference.

Sustainable Living Through Transportation

Our automobiles give us a convenient mode of transportation but not necessarily a very sustainable lifestyle choice unless you own an electric or hybrid vehicle. Instead, try walking or riding a bicycle. You reap the health benefits of exercise, save money, and reduce air pollution, which ultimately helps our planet.

Another mode of transportation to consider is public transportation or carpooling. Even if it is just one day a week, it helps reduce the number of cars on the road and lowers your carbon footprint on the road. The carbon footprint can also be reduced by checking to make sure your tires are sufficiently inflated because if they aren’t, it can take more fuel to move your vehicle.

E-scooters can be a surprisingly negative sustainable lifestyle choice. The fuel-inefficient trucks and vans that charge and distribute the scooters have a hefty carbon footprint that can be double that of a city bus. Try and find scooters with solar-powered docking stations, which is the best choice.

The transportation process can sometimes cause high levels of stress, especially if we are stuck in traffic. Stress puts strain on our bodies and can negatively affect us both physically and mentally. Taking care of our mental health is essential, and sustainable living can play a valuable role in enriching that vital component of our lives.

Sustainable Living and Mental Health

A better approach to transportation isn’t the only way a sustainable lifestyle can significantly improve our mental health. One of the ways mental health improves is by reducing air pollution. According to the UN Environment Programme, there is a clear link between mental illness and air pollution.

Engaging in more specific activities that involve nature can drastically improve our outlook on life. We feel empowered and accomplished because we know we are contributing and helping make a positive difference in the world.

When we live sustainably, we contribute to the earth and give back, which gives us a sense of belonging, and that feeling can help manage depression and anxiety. Living a simpler life means you waste less and consume less, which is a life-changing feeling. Your mind feels less cluttered and overwhelmed, leaving you more connected to your emotions and with a more precise focus. A sustainable lifestyle means our minds are more centered. We become more mindful of the things around us, which means we will be more aware of the products we buy, including how they are packaged and the ingredients in the products.

Conclusion

A sustainable lifestyle brings unparalleled benefits to us and everyone around us, as well as the earth itself. We have the power to make a positive change in our lives, and in doing so, we also empower Mother Earth. Consider these different options, and see if you can start making a few changes to live more sustainably.

About the Author

Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion for home décor and maintenance. She can often be found re-painting and updating the furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.

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