It’s been about a year now since I first started making changes in my life toward a “greener”, healthier and more mindful life. While I often focus on how much more I could be doing differently, as this little milestone approaches, I’ve been thinking about how different things really are for me now. It’s pretty crazy. So, I figured I’d list out some of the changes I’ve made. And who knows, maybe help someone else who’s looking to make changes as well.
At Home:
- No more paper towels. I think this was my first change, any easy one. I use old cotton dish towels for cleaning and cloth napkins for snacks. It’s just as convenient and I feel much better about not being so wasteful and saving some money while I’m at it.
- Switched to natural “shampoo” and bar soap (wrapped in paper). I really like it. I think I’m getting really comfortable with the whole “unshampoo” thing.
- Switched to baking soda as a deoderant.
- Switched to natural household cleaners and dish soap. Here’s a recent post with recipes.
- I try to recycle everything I can. (Look here for tips if you live in Whatcom County.)
- I’m constantly looking for ways to reuse - anything from produce and ziploc bags to applesauce jars.
- Switched to cloth diapering. Now that I think about it, I can’t imagine going back.
- Switched to natural baby wash
- Unplug things like phone/computer chargers, the coffee maker, etc.
- Only run full loads of laundry, wash on cold and use natural laundry detergent.
- I definitely use the dryer way less. There are some things that I still feel like need to go in the dryer or they don’t fit right/are too wrinkled. and things take forever to dry here in Bellingham, especially in the summer when the heater isn’t on to help out.
- I have fairly successfully weaned myself from my addiction to long showers and hot baths. I would like to work on taking shorter, cooler showers, though. I like my showers abnormally scorchingly hot, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.
- I turn off the water when I brush my teeth, try to be mindful at the kitchen sink, etc.
- I’m much more mindful of what lights are on and turn them off when not in use. We do have lots of natural light in our apartment, so this is pretty easy.
- I reuse clothes that aren’t dirty, rather than throwing them in the laundry after wearing.
- Bring my own bags to the grocery store (and other stores) or just say no if I don’t need a bag.
When I’m out and about:
- Bring my own bags to the grocery store (and other stores) or just say no if I don’t need a bag.
- I carry a little cloth napkin with me so that I don’t use paper towels in public restrooms or paper napkins to clean up messes or my baby’s face. When I forget, I wipe my hands on my pants
- I bring my own mug to coffee shops and I love my Sigg for drinking water (I haven’t bought bottled water in a year!) I bring my own plates and forks to Mosaic and other potluck, BBQ situations.
- Generally try to stay away from disposables.
Diet/Health:
- I haven’t eaten meat since sometime in June 2007 (except for that one time at Mosaic when I didn’t notice the bacon in my broccoli salad until it was in my mouth. that was pretty funny
- I’ve cut way back on dairy (no cow milk, except in lattes, no yogurt, no creamy dressings and sauces and waay less cheese, if any, when I cook, etc.)
- I eat a salad for lunch every day and I love love LOVE it! I also incorporate more raw food in general.
- Stopped eating processed packaged cereals and cut way back on packaged foods of all sorts (I still have a way to go on this one)
- Stopped purchasing packaged drinks for myself and recently stopped drinking soda.
- Stopped chewing gum/mints. Too much packaging and artificial sweeteners and I used to have it all the time.
- Switched to this bread.
Goals:
- Compost! I need to figure out a way to do this while living in an apartment and not having extra money…
- De-clutter and donate on a continual basis.
- Shop at thrift stores (more).
- Buy more in bulk to reduce packaging. (Note to self: buy loose-leaf tea and dry beans)
- Replace all Teflon and similar cookware with cast iron and stainless steel.
- Buy locally grown foods when possible.
- Walk more, drive less.
- Make progress in the living with less plastic category.
- Cut back/cut out refined sugar. But, this is difficult. it’s more addictive than cocaine.
Overall, I think I’ve realized that the biggest change is not in all of my actions, it is the change in how I think about things. I’m so much more aware of being wasteful and the implications of my actions. It changes the way I approach just about everything. So, even though there’s so much more I could be doing, I know that I’ll get there eventually because the biggest change is the one IN me.
