Eco Living: Your First Step Towards Sustainability

Where do we start. Step 1

We know that most CO2 emissions come from energy, agriculture, and transport, but what can we do to reduce the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere? Where do we begin...

24 February 2022 Teodora Ghenciu

There are many habits, some deeply ingrained, so it's hard to decide where to start making changes towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

I propose a three-step action plan. And in this video, I will detail STEP 1.

You've probably seen all sorts of studies showing where most greenhouse gases come from: energy, transport, buildings, agriculture, and so on.

But it's very hard to simply integrate this information into your life, isn't it? I mean, yes, we know we should recycle, walk more, change our light bulbs, buy less plastic, but what has the most impact? And especially, what can we do, considering the specifics of our lives? Can I give up meat if I have children to feed and pediatricians and nutritionists recommend giving them meat? Can I give up my car if there's no public transport nearby? And so on...

I have always said that before actually taking action, before deciding what measures I want and can take, the first step I should take if I want to change my lifestyle to a greener one is OBSERVATION.

First and foremost, we need to understand what our lives actually look like. From when we open our eyes in the morning and get out of bed until we get back in at night. And if we've never done this before, if we haven't consciously, mindfully looked at our lives, we can even help ourselves by taking notes. In a journal. Like a researcher.

What do I mean by taking notes? I mean this: Let's say I decide to do this exercise for a week. I've made this decision and I plan to start on Monday, right? And I wake up Monday morning, my alarm rings or my children wake me up, and I start my usual day, just as it is. With hustle and bustle, with shouts, crying, or on the contrary, peacefully, with a coffee before anything else, going to the office or working from home. We do what we usually do, with the mention that this time, on this day, we try to keep this intention of observation throughout the day. And maybe at lunchtime, if we have 5 free minutes, if not in the evening, at the end of the day, we make time to go back to our journal.

And we try to answer these 5 questions:

1. What did I eat and drink today?

2. How did I travel today?

3. Did I buy anything today?

4. What did I throw in the trash today and how?

5. What other products, besides food and drink, did I use today?

It might be boring. It might be difficult. You definitely need discipline to be able to do this for seven days.

However, there are only five questions. Five questions, five minutes. Which we can steal from our time on Facebook, for example. Maybe at first it will take you more than five minutes, it's true, but try this exercise for a week! And at the end, see what conclusions you draw!

I confess that this will be a pure mindfulness exercise. If you didn't know what mindfulness is and you ever wanted to find out, here's a good opportunity!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step to adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle?

The first recommended step to adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle is observation. It is important to understand what our daily life looks like through a conscious analysis of our habits and activities.

What questions should we ask ourselves to assess our ecological impact?

To assess our ecological impact, we can ask ourselves five questions: What did I eat and drink today? How did I get around? Did I buy anything? What did I throw away? What other products did I use? These questions help us better understand our behaviors.

How can I observe my daily habits to make ecological changes?

To observe daily habits, it is helpful to keep a journal for a week. Each day, we note our activities, food choices, and how we get around, to have a clear picture of our lifestyle.

What benefits does the observation exercise on an ecological lifestyle bring?

The observation exercise helps us become more aware of our choices and their impact on the environment. Through this mindfulness practice, we can identify areas where we can make improvements and act more effectively towards sustainability.

How can I integrate mindfulness into the lifestyle change process?

Mindfulness can be integrated into the lifestyle change process through exercises that observe our daily habits. Practicing awareness helps us focus on the choices we make and take responsibility for their impact.