Why Bother With Eco Friendly Living Anyway?

Before I even get into the specifics, you need to decide if greening your lifestyle is right for you. I’ll answer it for you: yes. If you think it’s totally lame, just do it and don’t talk about it. We’re behind the times and it’s strange because the results of eco friendly living will save you money and simplify your lifestyle immensely.

Recycling has a huge impact…really it does!

Ever notice that when you really make an effort to separate your materials between trash, lawn waste, and recycling that your trash is the smallest piles Now multiply that by every household in the US to get an idea of the magnitude we’re talking. Exactly. Unfortunately that is not the end of the process.

Here’s the funny part, I’ll be the first to remind you that just because you put your materials in the blue bin, doesn’t mean they get recycled. They’ve only been given a chance to potentially be recycled. I sincerely hope that this fact becomes more common knowledge over time…I don’t want the average citizen to think that recycling is the high point of their societal contributions. Simply put, just because material is collected and separated, doesn’t mean that industry needs to buy it back and use it. There will most likely always be a market for aluminum cans, but glass and most plastics aren’t seen as important. Obviously this is a shame considering the harm caused by plastics that is going to continually confront us from here on out.

It’s a great dialogue to have with our children.

I don’t know what your childhood was like, but mine was one of avoiding my parents as much as possible. I think it’s natural for kids to want to separate from their parents as much as they can, but assigning them to oversee recycling efforts in the house can be huge. Challenge them to think how to repurpose materials that would otherwise be tossed out.

Kids can feel like they own up to something important, and they can earn their allowance this way…if you give them one! Chances are, they’re learning about sustainability and their duty for the future in school, so this is a great bridge to cross. Bring out the artistic side in them and challenge them to come up with ways to reuse items that would otherwise be thrown away. This is also a good opportunity to talk to your kids about the importance of donating excess material such as clothing, shoes, and really anything for that matter. Having a sustainable mindset makes for a better person.

Increased satisfaction from consuming less.

Whether it’s turning off the tap until you’re done brushing your teeth, or taking your backpack to the grocery store with you, the little things add up and make a huge difference. Culture change is contagious, so do your part and watch it spread.

Try to add a new habit or change on a daily (or near-daily) basis and observe what happens. You’re probably noticing that it’s not uncommon anymore in the daily lifestyle and it’s constantly in the news. It seems that businesses are constantly going green and making it just a little bit easier for the consumer to move through our daily routines that much more efficiently. Become more conscious of what exactly you’re buying and what the end results will be. This thought process isn’t going away anytime soon and it’s going to get easier as it becomes natural to do so. People inherently want to do the right thing, and luckily the movement is in the right direction.

By simplifying your lifestyle you will notice the benefits it has on your pocketbook, your family and friends, your overall demeanor. Don’t believe mes I challenge you to try a few things out and see what happens. If you think being green and minimizing your impact on the planet is lame, then start writing about it and tell everyone you know. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to help point you in the right direction.

Keep in mind that it’s up to you what you do with your life, but that greening your behaviors is a respectable and satisfying endeavor that will change your perspectives a bit. You’ll save money, engage in new conversations with your children, and be doing the right thing.

Tagged as: anyway., Bother, Friendly, Living