How can you do your part for the planet?

How can you do your bit for the planet as someone who is super busy? We often struggle to find time to do things that we think are going to make a real impact because we are busy with our lives, and are just ‘one person’. There is nothing wrong with being busy, and nobody is judging you for this, you may well be doing your bit without really thinking about it.

Keep reading:

Recycling at home

Are you recycling everything that CAN be recycled at home? Simply getting into the habit of checking the packaging, there should be informattion as to whether or not it’s recyclable and then you can put it in the right place. If the packaging isn’t clear, and you’re in doubt, then you can always conduct a two minute search to get the answer. 

Recycling is one of those things that should become a subconscious habit if you do it often enough. If you do this as much as you can, you will eventually start doing it automatically , and doing something positive to contribute towards the health of the environment.

Depending on where you live, you may have mixed recycling or your area may separate the recycling even further. Make sure that you are looking up what you need to do, and following the rules that are set. This way, all of the items that you recycle can go towards creating something new, rather than being sent to a landfill dump to decompose when they still have use. Recycling is quite literally one of the easiest things that you can do, so if you are looking to remember something simple that doesn’t take up your time, then this is it.

Buy Eco Friendly Items

You should also take the time to ensure that you are buying eco-friendly products as much as possible. If you do your research before you purchase, you should be able to find a more eco-friendly alternative to what you were going to purchase. There are eco-friendly versions of many household products now, so think about the planet, the water systems, and the potential pollution that chemicals may cause.

Now, you might have noticed that a lot of the time the eco-friendly version is a little more expensive than the regular version. It’s annoying, but true, and it’s something that you have to decide if you can afford. If you are struggling and on a budget, then perhaps make some more eco friendly swaps, and make your normal purchases for the rest. At least you’re doing your best, doing something to move towards becoming more eco friendly.

Upcycle and repair things

Instead of getting rid of things as they get old, try upcycling or repair them instead. You can do this with clothes, with pieces of furniture, or even a hairbrush and with pretty much anything that you can think of. If you can think about improving it in your head, and you have the right tools or equipment to do so, then you should do your best to upcycle or repair as much as you can. Even if you don’t want to keep the item, you could even sell it to make some extra cash.

This decreases the need for more products to be made, helping the environment by not clogging up the world with more stuff. You might think that the few things that you are recycling or upcycling are not going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but they will, especially if every single person decided to do this.

Walk as much as you can

The level of pollution caused everyday by cars is insane. There are so many cars on the road that we are killing our atmosphere each and every day. Try to walk as much as you can rather than using your car. Walking, exploring greenspaces by foot, is so good for your mental health too. And have you heard of plogging, a rewarding and healthy way to collect litter?

Whatever alternative form of transportation you decide to use, if you are not using a petrol or diesel car, it’s got to be better for the environment. So, if you cut down to using your car four days per week rather than seven, this is a great start.

There are obviously PLENTY of other day to day ideas and options when it comes to doing your part for the planet. The most important thing is that you are doing something to help make the world a better, and more eco friendly place. If you struggle with things like this, then just make one change at a time. When you are then comfortable with what you are doing, you can move onto making another one. Continue this pattern, and you will make more change than you ever thought you were capable of.

There is a phrase: “Living more sustainably isn’t a hippie thing, it’s a survival thing”. Sustainability is not just a niche lifestyle choice; it is essential for our planet’s survival.

This is a guest collaborative post.