Over the past several years, I have been slowly changing my lifestyle to be more eco-friendly. I try my best each day, but there are still ups and downs. However, once we are conscious of the effects that our decisions have on the planet, we begin to change small aspects of our lives to help with the well-being of our earth, and in the moment, we don’t always realize how important these decisions are. 

For example, when I first became aware of the fast fashion industry's effects on the world, I started paying more attention to where I was buying my clothes and how many of my clothes I wore. Over time, as my knowledge grew, I began to make even more eco-friendly decisions, such as buying from thrift stores and donating my clothes rather than throwing them out. But it all started with that first decision not to buy from particular companies. 

Many people (including myself at one time) think that being eco-friendly means changing your lifestyle drastically over a short period. This is so far from the truth! Being eco-friendly all starts with being eco-conscious and slowly changing your daily routines and habits as you go. When I started my journey, I began by paying more attention to what I needed in my home and how it made me feel. Over time, I progressed into allowing myself to take more time while shopping and figuring out what was essential to my life, rather than just buying because I wanted it. After that, I began paying more attention to the eco-friendly alternatives when I needed something new for my home, or if I could thrift the item.

Here is a list of a few more habits that I slowly changed over time: 

The first year

1. I stopped buying clothes from Forever 21, H&M, Walmart, and other fast-fashion companies. 

2. I began thrifting most of my clothing and found it way more fun!

3. I became more aware of what I was putting into my body and began making healthier decisions. 

4. I stopped drinking milk and ate less meat and dairy than ever. 

5. I started spending much more time outside again and appreciating how the Earth changes in small steps.

6. I stopped buying perfumes and lotions from companies that didn’t use natural ingredients. 

7. I switched to a bamboo toothbrush rather than a plastic one. 

   The second year. 

1. I began wearing much less makeup, stopped buying new makeup, and used what I already had.

2. I stopped using the small plastic bags for produce at grocery stores and started using my own bags, which I bought at thrift stores, for shopping. 

3. I also started focusing on trying to buy groceries that didn’t come in plastic packaging. 

4. I started taking more time to decide to buy things, and began donating items cluttering my life. 

5. I stopped buying harsh chemical cleaning products and began making my own. 

6. I became more aware of what I could recycle and how to recycle items properly. 

7. I cleaned my house using rags made from old clothes and towels rather than paper towels, which I washed and reused. 

   The third year. 

1. I stopped being so hard on myself when I wasn’t living up to expectations I thought were necessary to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. 

2. I realized that I am not the one killing the planet, and that the responsibility still mostly lies with large corporations. 

3. I learned not to fall for greenwashing and to reuse what I already own rather than buying items that are more “eco-friendly.” I also continue to shop at local thrift stores rather than buying brand new. 

4. I started growing the courage to talk to others about being eco-friendly and sharing the story of my journey. 

Over time, as I became more conscious about my carbon footprint on the world, I slowly became more eco-friendly. All of these different steps I have taken have helped me reduce the amount of waste I put out into the world, stop supporting companies that have large negative impacts on the environment, and reconnect with the nature around me. 

I wanted to write this blog post mainly to show you that transitioning into a zero-waste life takes a long time and that no one should expect you to change overnight. It all starts with being aware of our current climate situation, and from there, you will learn what you can do to help as you go. I still have a long way to go to reach my eco-friendly goals, but I look forward to the journey! Here is a list of my current goals for the following year. 

Things I still need to do: 

1. Figure out a composting system. 

2. I need to find more affordable ways to buy zero-waste grocery items in my community, or at least better ways to budget for them. 

3. Order less on Amazon and buy more from my community or companies in my country. 

4. Continue to find ways to create less waste. 

So don’t stress throughout your journey to become more eco-friendly. Just remember that you are at least trying to make a difference and that being conscious and aware of our current global crisis is one of the best things you can do to help our planet.