How to Live Sustainably in 2020

What is your New Year’s Resolution for this year? Maybe it’s to actually study for school, or to travel more often, or like 97% of the world’s population it’s to eat healthier/work out more.  Well, my resolution is to live my life with more love and compassion – compassion for others, for animals, and for the planet.

One of my main goals is to try to live sustainably this year in more ways than just reducing my plastic use.  I’m also changing my diet!  Since October I’ve been plant-based, but this year I’m going to try to go fully vegan.  (Don’t worry…I’m not going to push you to change your diet too!)

Wikipedia describes sustainable living as, “a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources.  It is often called “earth harmony living” or “net zero living”.  Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their ecological footprint (including their carbon footprint) by altering their methods of transportation, energy consumption, and/or diet.”

I know it can be overwhelming for those who are wondering where to start.  Baby steps are important to get going, and I hope you don’t give up!

I decided to put a list together with tips on living sustainably to help those of you who might want to try it out!

1. Bring reusable bags when you go shopping.
2. Purchase reusable straws. Actually, why stop there? Go crazy and buy reusable cups/thermoses. They keep your cold drinks cold and your hot drinks hot (unlike plastic, styrofoam, and paper cups).
3. Grow your own fruits and veggies! You feed yourself, save money, and you add more trees to the planet.
4. Don’t want to grow your own food? Try buying from a farmer’s market instead! Believe it or not, it’s better for the environment than buying from your local grocery store.
5. Replace plastic resealable bags with silicone resealable bags. Or, wash and reuse the plastic ones you already have at home.
6. Bring home any plastic utensils/containers you get while out to eat. You can wash and reuse them.
7. Try reducing your meat intake. Better yet, try vegan! (Want in on a secret? It’s not as expensive as people want you to believe if it’s done properly.)
8. Avid reader? Try borrowing books from a library instead of buying them at bookstores. You’ll save a tree!
9. Save gift bags for future use.
10. Try to walk or bike a few times during the week instead of driving.
11. Turn off your faucet when brushing your teeth and while scrubbing dishes.
12. Reduce waste in the shower. Buy shampoo bars! You can find them at any store that sells mainly natural and organic items, such as Whole Foods or LUSH.
13. Try avoiding beauty and cleaning products that consist of harmful, toxic chemicals. It will be better for you, as well as for the environment.
14. Plant flowers and trees! It’s simple, but very effective.
15. Carpool!
16. Buy more whole foods instead of packaged foods.
17. When buying fruits/veggies, don’t use the little produce plastic bags stores provide. Just place the produce into your reusable shopping bag at checkout. There’s no need for it to be in a plastic bag just to go into another bag.
18. Switch to bamboo toothbrushes! I love bamboo toothbrushes and I just bought another pack of 10! Make sure to pull the bristles out with tweezers before throwing them away.
19. Don’t overbuy perishable items. It’s wasteful having to throw out food that goes bad.
20. Buy cruelty free beauty products!

Try some of these tips or try them all, but doing something is better than doing nothing! Living sustainably is great for you, for others, for animals, and for the planet, so why not give it a try? I promise you that you’ll mood will even become more positive when you try to live with more compassion and love.

Here are some links for products I currently have or will be buying soon:

• Bamboo Toothbrushes
• Resealable, Reusable Bags
• LUSH Shampoo Bars, Chagrin Valley Soap
• Reusable Straws w/ cleaners and carry pouch
• Reusable Shopping Bags
• Multi-Purpose Cleaning Product
• Reusable Thermos

Let me know in the comments which tip you’re going to try! Or leave a tip I don’t have listed that you would like to add. You can also ask any questions you have in the comments below as well.

With love,

Karina xx

Make sure you check out my very first blog post here (especially if you’re planning to visit Pennsylvania in the future)!