Lowering your impact on the environment is a lofty goal that takes time.

It takes A LOT of time.

As a result, it might be hard to stay motivated. And what better way to keep yourself excited about the journey than a couple of quick wins?

Below, you’ll find a bunch of easy actions you can take to lower your impact on the environment. Some of them can be repeated in a way that will create a new habit for you. Another win!

1. Buy an item you want second hand
   • Books can be bought from resellers
   • Clothes can be bought from thrift stores
   • Furniture can be bought from antique stores or second-hand stores
   • Phones or other electronics can be bought second hand
2. Walk or ride a bike instead of taking a car
3. Take a tram or a bus instead of driving to work
4. Plan and make a meal without meat
5. Refuse a plastic bag in a store
6. Buy a pantry staple in bulk
7. Take a reusable water bottle with you when you leave the house
8. Refuse a straw
9. Buy your tea loose instead of bagged
10. Don’t wrap your gifts
11. Return egg containers to the farmers at your local market so they can reuse them
12. Don’t throw out your old T-shirt, instead turn it into a cleaning rag
13. Unplug your charger when you’re done using it
14. Wash your laundry in cold water
15. Hang dry your clothes
16. If you have to print out something, do it in black and white.
17. When grocery shopping, find one alternative for your item that’s not packaged in plastic
18. Make your own cleaning product
19. Close your curtains on hot days and use less AC
20. Switch off monitors when not using them.

What other easy actions can you think of for a quick win or a way to start a new habit? Let me know in the comments below!

Sharing is caring!