This year as my New year's resolution, I decided I wanted to create less waste and be more eco-friendly in general. I've done a lot of work figuring out what things in my life I can do without to create less waste, and finding less wasteful products for things I absolutely do need.
I feel that this is incredibly important, however, I've also realized that the more eco-friendly I've become, the less "simple" it feels. It's not like anyone task in general is unmanageable, but when they add up together, it makes my life more complicated.
For example: 1. Use cloth napkins instead of paper = doing more laundry 2. Using less plastic in groceries = ricing my own cauliflower, making my own almond milk, going to the farmers market instead of the grocery store 3. I found a bulk store to refill cleaning supplies without more packaging but it's in a part of the city I don't usually go to and the hours are weird 4. I wanted to reuse my face oil bottle so I had to find a local company that will reuse them for me 5. Finding a local grocery store that will refill my olive oil bottle 6. Using a local honey grower to refill jars instead of buying honey in plastic bottles 7. Shaving with an old school razor, not plastic ones 8. If I need something new (like work shoes or a comforter), I end up spending hours researching what companies are most ethical/eco-friendly and also which products last longest so I can consume less in the long run.
Again, I know that any one of these things individually isn't a big time commitment. But when they're added all together, it feels like a lot. I feel like I'm always having to go somewhere to get something refilled or having to think about the ethical/environmental implications. I know the answer overall is to consume less, but there are certain things I HAVE to consume, like food and cleaning supplies. I feel like Chidi in the Good Place, spending so much time and energy trying to make good decisions. Part of me wants to give it up because it would make life so much easier to just go to one grocery store for everything. But I also know that mindset is part of the reason the world is in the predicament we're in how.
How do you balance simple living with being less wasteful and more eco-friendly? How do you find mental balance between trying to be the most ethical consumer possible but also realizing you have your limits?
Submitted October 13, 2019 at 10:03PM by poodlenancy https://ift.tt/2MGHzP4
