Lessons from 5 years of sustainable living
Five years ago, in 2020, the world stood still. A pandemic hit, people panicked, and the world was never the same. It was around this time that I decided to pursue a sustainable lifestyle and never looked back. Here are 6 of the most important lessons I learned in 5 years of sustainable living.
Lessons from 5 years of sustainable living
1. Perfection is unrealistic – don’t even bother
When I get into something, I don’t do it halfway. I jump in head-first. Learn from me: if you do this, you will burn out or give up entirely.
The world is not built to be sustainable. It’s built to be convenient and, quite frankly, lazy. This is why we have single-use, disposable products and a new generation relying entirely on AI instead of their brains. All of these things are harming our planet, and when pursuing a sustainable lifestyle, we may think we can quit these things cold turkey or never have to rely on them again. I hate to break it to you, but this will not be the case.
You will create waste, and you will rely on convenient, single-use items from time to time. You may even use Chatgpt occasionally. (Please try not to, though!)
Just because we may contribute to unsustainable practices doesn’t mean you’re not living a sustainable lifestyle, and doesn’t mean you should give up. You’re doing more than most by trying to do better.
2. Some sustainable swaps won’t work for you
Lists of sustainable swaps are fun to read and fun to make as a blogger! They can be extremely helpful guides and resources to people wanting to pursue a sustainable lifestyle. But let’s be real, not every sustainable swap will work for you. And that’s ok.
I used bamboo toothbrushes for years and loved them! Until one day, my dentist strongly recommended an electric toothbrush. And while an electric toothbrush does minimize plastic waste compared to a traditional toothbrush, I was devastated. (Dramatic, much?)
Just because one area of your life involves waste doesn’t mean you’re not an environmentalist.
3. You alone cannot save the planet
Sometimes, sustainable living can feel like a shout into the void when our governments and corporations are actively making decisions that are accelerating climate change. It can feel like it’s all up to you to save the planet and that the one time you forgot your reusable bags and had to use plastic was enough to damn the world.
I promise it’s not. And it’s not on you to save the planet. But it is up to you to do your best and do your part.
4. Thrifting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
Listen, you can almost always catch me at the thrift store. 9 times out of 10, if you ask me where I got something, I will say the thrift store. But I recognize this as a privilege. And how hard it can be for some people to access a thrift store, afford thrift store prices these days and even find exactly what you need. Relying on Walmart or Target for your clothing needs is a very real and understandable thing for the majority of people.
5. It can feel impossible
I know that skipping a straw, bringing your reusable bags and eating less meat can feel like it’s doing nothing. You’re just one person after all, and it can feel impossible that you’re making a difference. But sustainable habits are a ripple effect. Keep going, you are making a difference.
6. You’ll have to sacrifice your morals occasionally
When I started my sustainable living journey, I was on my high and mighty horse. You would not catch me dead using single-use plastic. But as I mentioned before, the world was not built for sustainability, and you may need to sacrifice your morals from time to time. Like when you forget your reusable water bottle or reusable bags. Or you forget to ask for no straw in the drive-through. It happens and will continue to happen. You need to learn to be ok with it.
These lessons helped form and encourage my sustainable living journey. I hope they can resonate with anyone struggling on their’s as well. Thank you so much for reading. Please don’t forget to save and share this post!
