Living life greener is more than just a trend. The way you live your life and your daily habits and rituals significantly impact your health, happiness, and the well-being of the world around you. A more sustainable lifestyle has positive effects on a personal and an environmental level. If you habitually participate in unhealthy patterns, switching to an eco-friendly way of life may come as a challenge. But the advantages and benefits you’ll find from making the shift will make the challenge all the more rewarding.

What are the benefits of making the switch?

A healthier planet makes for a healthier life for all of mankind. When it comes to the way you’re living, there’s a lot at stake both individually and globally. Minimizing your waste and carbon footprint make for cleaner living for you and the world. You will simply be able to breathe better. With eco-friendly living, you’ll make for a healthier life for yourself and for the environment around you.

Though it’s often thought that eco-friendly is equivalent to higher prices, you actually end up saving that hole in your pocket in the long run. With a sustainable lifestyle, you’ll be saving money by using fewer resources. Using less heat, water, gasoline, etc. will lower your bills significantly.

With all that saved money, splurging the extra change on eco-friendly products will come at literally no cost. Eco-friendly products are not only good for the environment, but they’re better for you, too. You’ll be using natural ingredients and higher-quality products that your body will thank you for.

Consuming healthier, more natural products and produce will improve the health of your body. That, paired with exercise, will keep you in shape and release endorphins that make you happier.

Making the shift to eco-friendly living will provide you with a new sense of purpose. As you feel improvements in your mind and body, you’ll be making a difference to the world and future generations. The change you’ll be making wholistically will improve your quality of life overall.

What changes can I make for an eco-friendlier lifestyle?

1. Use fewer resources.
   Be mindful of your heat, electricity, and how much water you go through. Small habits like turning off the sink while you’re brushing your teeth and turning off lights and electronics can make a difference. Lessening your car usage lessens the amount of fuel you go through. All of these are saving you money and helping your environment.     
2. Instead of opting to drive (when possible), cycling or even walking are viable and sustainable options for transportation. You’ll produce less pollution to the environment, and the health benefits range from physical to mental as well. Exercise is important for both the body and the mind. Deciding to walk or cycle will keep you in shape and keep your mental health well, too. Though the hustle and bustle of modern life tempts us to take the faster route by driving, sometimes it’s important to slow down, smell the flowers, and take the scenic route.

3. Compost
   Recycling food and other organic waste into compost provides a range of environmental benefits, including improving soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling nutrients, and mitigating the impact of droughts. Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter (like leaves and food scraps) into a fertilizer. Anything that grows decomposes eventually, and composting simply speeds up the process. Composting might sound like such a chore – but with a little research composting can be made as simple as you need it to be.

4. Recycle more than just your recycling.
   Instead of throwing away things that you don’t need anymore, find a new use for them. Repurposing old items not only keeps it out of a landfill, but it makes for fun DIY projects for you. If you’re unable to, there are a plethora of apps and online sites nowadays where you can sell used clothes, products, furniture, or virtually anything you no longer have use for. Not only will this find new purpose for them, but it’ll wrack up even more money for your pockets.

5. Use natural, organic, eco-friendly products.
   Eco-friendly products are better for you, better for the environment, and generally more luxurious overall. Being conscientious of what ingredients are in your products and what materials are used in the making of your products is a great habit to get into to be more eco and health-conscious.

6. Eat locally grown produce.
   Choosing locally grown produce benefits you, the environment, and the local producer you’re supporting. By buying locally, you’re reducing the carbon footprint related to packaging and transportation of outsourced foods. You’re also putting money in the pocket of somebody who likely needs it more than larger corporations or grocery stores that you’re used to purchasing your produce from. Everybody wins!

7. Opt for eco-friendly home upgrades.
   This could be solar paneling, using gas lanterns, or creating your own home garden to grow your very own produce from. It saves the environment, saves on your bills, and makes for a great statement piece to have in your home.

The possibilities are endless and the benefits limitless when you make the switch to eco-friendly living. If you’re considering making the switch – the decision should be easy. Eco-friendly living is the best way to live.

Written by: Marley Decker