21 Sustainable Habits to try in 2021
It’s already March now and most of the new years resolutions have faded away, but that doesn’t mean that if you had intentions to make some sustainable habits that it’s too late! I have been reading about habit change for over a year now and I find the conversation so interesting, and I wanted to find a way to relate it to sustainability.
If you’re reading this blog post and feel like the state of the environment is so overwhelming and you don’t even know where to start to help, believe me, I’ve been there too. And whatever sustainable/low waste habits you start shouldn’t feel like work, overtime they should feel like a normal part of life. So I thought of 21 different habits you can build to be 1% better for the planet. Writing this post I do not intend for you to try them all- just try ONE. As James Clear states in Atomic Habits:
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous”
So the goal here isn’t to change everything overnight. These all-or-nothing attempts usually fail and leave us right where we started. The goal is to change ONE thing- even though it might be small. And as one habit sticks, you can add another, and over time you have completely different habits than where you started at the beginning of 2021. So here are some ideas to get started!
Turn the thermostat off when you leave for an extended amount of time
This is an easy way to save energy and also save money.
Carry a reusable water bottle
This habit alone saves so much waste. Why are we spending money on water when water is free? Also, people who teach about habits say that carrying a water bottle is one of the easiest ways to start drinking the amount of water we need!
Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
Yes Americans, I’m talking to you. I was so surprised when I found out a lot of people don’t do this!
Buy your books used
I’m talking to you as much as I’m talking to myself. Barnes and Noble is a magical place, but you can save lots of money by buying used, and also lessen the demand for new books being printed. Buying anything used is great, but since books give the exact same value used, I think buying second-hand books is a great way to start. I recommend buying from Thrift Books or If you buy your books from Amazon, go to the “used” tab.
Donate to an organization monthly
It seems like a common theme is when there’s an environmental disaster like the Australian fires or another horrible hurricane, that’s when we remember to donate $20 once to an environmental organization. Donating at all is great, but setting up a monthly payment of even $5 helps donate more money over time. Here are some great organizations to set up a subscription to:
Whales.Org (where I donate)
Start Recycling One Material
Where I live in Arkansas, recycling is so uncommon it’s almost unheard of. If it’s like that in your area, know that you’re not alone. When people ask me how to start recycling, I always say to start with one material so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. My favorite material to start with is aluminum because this material is SO valuable and can be recycled over and over and over again. This habit of recycling one material might give you the confidence to keep recycling as time goes on.
Have Reusable Grocery Bags in Convenient Locations
Since I started talking about sustainability online years ago, friends and family have told me that shopping with reusable bags is harder than they realized because they always forget to bring them to the grocery store.
With building new habits, you always need a cue. You need something that will remind you to do this new habit. I like to have mine on a hook by my door and another common one is to have them in your car. Anywhere is a good place as long as it reminds you to grab them when it’s time to go grocery shopping.
Implement a buying rule
Overconsumption is one of our biggest problems when it comes to waste, so simply buying less can have a positive impact on the planet. Implementing a buying rule is one of the simplest ways to help overconsumption by avoiding impulse purchases. Some people’s buying rule is as disciplined as waiting 30 days before buying something they want, others are as simple as waiting 24 hours.
DIY your own cleaners
Marketing has fooled us by making us believe that we need a different cleaner for every aspect of our home. The truth is, everything can be cleaned with just 4 or 5 household ingredients, and making these products yourself can save waste and money. I recommend using this website for any DIY household recipes!
Only do large loads of laundry
Avoiding small loads of laundry where we can save energy and water! Every wash consumes water, so washing only large loads of laundry uses water more efficiently.
Meal plan at the beginning of the week
30% of household waste in the US is food, and an easy way to waste less is to plan your meals before you hit the grocery store. This also helps reduce stress because you’re taking the decision fatigue out of grocery shopping and out of the dreaded “what are we eating tonight” question.
Start composting
Composting is one of my favorite sustainable habits to mention because food doesn’t break down in landfills. There are MANY ways to compost and you can do it in just about any living situation. Here’s a great article for what might work for you!
Go outside :)
I think the best way to want to care for the environment is to connect with it. My love for conservation came through going to national parks, going to the beach, and camping. During COVID obviously, these things are happening less, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get outside and connect with nature. Go on neighborhood walks, walk your dog, have lunch outside, bike- there are so many ways to just get outside. Also, this Harvard Health article says that getting outside is an effective way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Have an “Eat First” box
Another way to prevent food waste is to have a system where you eat your most ripe fruits and vegetables first- hence the “Eat First Box.” It’s simple, just have a box or Tupperware dedicated in your fridge to the fruits and vegetables that are the closest to going bad, so you remember to eat those first.
Make veggie scrap stock
This is something I tried in 2020 and I honestly don’t know why this isn’t common in our culture. Save your scraps like celery, onions, carrots, corn, bell peppers, and more to make your own stock for later. I used this recipe and it tasted amazing for my soup while preventing waste in the process.
Try the 30-day Minimalism challenge
I’ve seen many people try out this challenge and have amazing results. The 30-Day Minimalism Challenge is in one month, you get rid of 1 item the first day, 2 items the second, 3 the third, and so on until you give up 30 items on the 30th day- giving up 465 items at the end of the month. Considering many Americans have a storage unit, a basement, and a garage overflowing with junk, this is a great exercise to let go of the unnecessary and start to realize our wasteful buying habits.
Read an environmental book!
You don’t have to be a scientist to care about the environment, and there are so many books coming out now that make information on climate change/conservation and what we can do to help. Here some books I recommend:
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Watch a documentary
Documentaries are near and dear to my heart, and there are SO many documentaries that changed my perspective on the environment. If you’re overwhelmed by how much there is to learn: go to my Instagram post about my favorite docus and just pick one documentary to watch with your friends or family!
Freeze overripe fruits for later
There are so many different recipes that can use overripe fruits. Frozen tomatoes are great for salsa, overripe bananas for banana bread or banana pancakes, and leftover berries for smoothies. This is an easy way to save that fruit from going bad and use it for something useful.
Implement a paperless (or less paper) Kitchen
Having a paperless kitchen is easy to do as long as you implement a system. And if getting rid of allll the paper plates, napkins, and paper towels freaks you out, try this system but still keep some paper products around. Using less is so much better than doing nothing at all. Remember you’re not striving for perfection here, only progress.
Talk to your friends and family about what you’re doing
No matter what your influence ALWAYS goes farther than you think. There are so many changes happening all around us relating to environmental conservation and this is due to conversations happening all around the world. Simply talking about why you care about conservation and what you’re doing to help be a part of the solution with friends and family is one of the best things you can do for the planet.