Being environmentally sustainable is one of the things this blog will teach you. However, that means you would believe the people writing these blogs are equally sustainable, but I am not the most environmentally conscious person. Because I am a fast-paced person, it doesn’t necessarily cross my mind. But, that will change this week as I embark on this journey to becoming more environmentally sustainable!
Monday: Ditch Disposables
One of the easiest switches myself and others can do is using a reusable water bottle! I was once a person who would buy a case of water each month because it was more convenient. But now I carry my 32oz. Nalgene water bottle around campus! I’ve decorated it and just carry it around in my backpack. And since my school is very eco-friendly, I am able to find refillable stations all around campus. I have definitely ditched the disposable water bottles!
Tuesday: Reuse Bags
Today was my shopping day. And I have the worst habit of having an abundant amount of reusable bags but never using them. You get them for free in conventions or you are guilt-tripped into buying them at your local retail store. However, I have made it my mission to bring my reusable bags to the store. That is why I started to keep a handy amount of reusable bags in my car, so when the time comes I won’t be mad at myself for leaving them at home I am also encouraged by the City of Austin to bring my bags since stores only supply us with very unreliable paper bags. At the end of the day, I would prefer my sturdy reusable bags over a paper or plastic bag any day!
Wednesday: Saving Water
You hear it everywhere, “turn off the water when you shower!”. But have you actually ever done it? Well, you’re in luck because I’m going to try it for you. It was the day in the week when I would be washing my hair, so I thought I would use this opportunity to try to turn off my shower while I shampooed and conditioned. Was it weird? Yes. Did I feel like my neighbors were judging me for turning the water on and off? Extra Yes. Did I save money and help conserve water? 100% YES. I felt uncomfortable turning the water on and off, but if I make this into a routine I think it’ll be a good habit to pick up. Plus you get to save on your water bill.
Thursday: Saving Energy
Going into this I thought I was already conserving energy, but turns out there was more to just turning off your lights. There are so many ways to conserve energy. Some were super expensive, and some did not cost anything at all. One thing I did to save energy was unplugging my phone charger when I wasn’t using it. Sometimes even unplugging my TV because I don’t use it every day. There are also many more ways to save energy. Some include buying sealing products for windows and door when heating or AC is on. Or installing solar panels on your roof.
Friday: Going Vegetarian
This was a tough one! Being a Latinx woman who’s grown up eating meat, being vegetarian was hard…even if it was just for a day. But there are so many studies showing that cutting meat from your diet not only helps your health but also the environment. Which is why I gave it a try. In the morning I was eating yogurt and fruit with a coffee on the side. For lunch, I ate an orange salad with a peach dressing. In the evening, I cooked sweet potatoes and a tomato basil vegan pasta recipe that I got from Fit Foodie Finds. Making this change was easier than I expected, and tasted better than I thought.
What I Learned
I found out that being eco-friendly is actually really easy. It all has to do with creating a routine. For example, I felt weird about turning off the shower. But if I do this more than once, I believe it would become a daily habit. It’s all about changing perspective and routines, and it will allow you to become sustainable.