What I Find Hard About Sustainable Living
Slimy composts, poo-stained nappies, and waxy hair,
…sustainable living isn't all Instagram pretty pictures.
In fact it's often the opposite.
As much as I admire people who can keep their plastic waste in a jar, maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle can be hard and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise (unless you’re rich and don’t have kids, in which case crack on).
I’m not even talking about the many lifestyle changes, or the inconvenience that avoiding single-use items sometimes brings.
This I’m fine with. This I (happily) chose.
No, what’s difficult is that you’re in the minority. I’m going to expand on this point before I share 10 things I find hard about sustainable living. Because I love a good list.
Why is being the minority difficult?
It’s no good taking your mesh bag to the store if there’s no plastic-free produce to put in it. What use is having a reusable water bottle if you have nowhere to fill it?
With a lack of demand comes a lack of sustainable options.
It’s not too hard though, the whole point of stepping away from consumerism is that you stop buying items you don’t need.
You buy second hand, you buy less, and you buy better.
Simple, right? Uhh…
It’s those tough days. When you’re sleep deprived and all you want to do is hide from the world (that’s a normal part of motherhood, right?), but you can’t because you’re supposed to walk to the refill shop in the rain… you’ve got to cook… and your kid is very close to growing out of his clothes.
I sometimes think, why am I putting myself through this? What would it be like if I gave up and opted for unethical convenience? Could I?
The answer is no (but it also doesn’t mean I forced myself to go to the zero waste shop either).
It’s no because I can’t go back in time… I can’t forget what I know.
Instead I tell myself it’s okay to fail sometimes, and I’ll do better tomorrow. When I face an obstacle (whether it’s a teething baby, a severe hangover, or overtime at work), I learn from it and try to be more prepared next time.
I don’t let myself feel guilty because I’m in the minority. ‘
If I wasn’t, the shop at the end of my road would sell plastic-free fruit and veg, the takeaway next door would sell a vegan option, and I could ask my next door neighbour if I’d forgotten to refill my white vinegar.
So I keep plodding on and being positive most of the time because I like to think:
…one day I won’t be the minority anymore. And I can be proud to have helped make the world a better place.
Psssst - pin this on your Pinterest:
10 things I find hard about sustainable living
Some days I kick ass, other days it all goes wrong. It would be a lot easier if I didn't have to look after an 18 month old… but what would be the fun in that?
I thought I'd share some of the areas I find challenging just to remind people that it's normal to struggle.
1. Drying nappies
I’ve used cloth nappies almost since the beginning so it’s a normal part of life now. But with winter approaching, I can’t help get rid of this feeling of dread when it comes to the nappies.
There’s a reason why I have 5 night nappies and it’s the speed of which bamboo dries.
If you have any tips for destructive-toddler-friendly indoor driers (bonus points if it’s handmade and doesn’t use electricity) then please share in the comments and I’ll love you forever.
2. Remembering stuff
Remembering to refill my food and cleaning products on time.
Remembering to do the laundry so we don’t run out of clean nappies.
Remembering to buy second hand clothes for my son in the next size up before he grows out of his current ones.
Remembering to water the vegetables in the garden.
Remembering to take everybody’s water bottles, snacks and cutlery wherever we go.
I could go on all day… you forget one thing and it can all go down the toilet.
3. Fear of offending people
My home and lifestyle is quite different to a lot of my friends and family, but that doesn't mean I'm judging them or anyone else who isn't on the same path as me.
I wasn’t always like this, I had no idea how bad plastic is for our bodies and the environment. I had no idea that air pollution was impacting my asthma. There were probably lots of warnings about ethical issues that I just didn’t take in or understand, who knows.
Either way, I’m still the same person and I want my friends to feel comfortable showing me their new Topshop dress or invite me to their home full of plastic toys. I'm perfectly aware that I'm the odd one and I don't want it to affect my relationships.
READ - FAQ about fast fashion, sustainability and the environment
4. Squashing impulses
Resisting that mad urge to go on a spending spree when you’re feeling weak, to eat a burger (I've been veggie for over a year but I’m not gonna pretend I don’t miss bacon burgers), or to buy lots of shiny new toys for my son.
These feelings are a result of growing up in a consumerist world where you can basically have anything you want at any time, regardless of the consequences.
Unfortunately, for our cheap or luxury conveniences, someone else in the world is paying the price - that’s what gives me motivation to squash the impulse.
5. Recycling headache
I’m sure I’m not the only one that finds recycling confusing. In the UK there are 58 different symbols. Ridiculous, isn’t it?
I have my recycling separated into FOUR different bins. That go to four different places. Which is so dumb – no wonder 90% of plastic hasn't been recycled.
6 Home composting
Now this one might just be me, but I’m not enjoying composting at all. I seriously hate bugs and home composts just attract them all. My black bin in the garden was second hand and it’s not the most secure (my cat actually fell in it the other day).
It’s less the fact I don’t know what I’m doing and more that I don’t like to get my hands dirty… I’ve got no plans to quit because the benefits are huge.
Maybe when (or if) I have loads of beautiful fluffy compost I will change my mind and enjoy composting.
7. Knowing who to trust
I'm well up for a bit of research, I'm a geek at heart and I enjoy learning new things. But with a destructive toddler, there is often no time to look up companies when out and about.
On top of that, the lack of regulations around terms like “eco-friendly” and “natural” mean that anyone can call their product sustainable even if it’s not.
The best bet is to go by third party certifications because this will often ensure that the people in the supply chain aren’t being exploited.
It’s also important to ask the company (when you have 5 minutes)… the more people that ask what they’re doing to reduce their carbon footprint, the more likely they are to act on it.
8. Mental health
Many people struggle with eco-anxiety when they realise the extent of the trouble we’re in. Climate change anxiety is very real and it can be very isolating.
It is already lonely enough when you don’t know anyone else trying to live sustainably - not helped by the fact that motherhood is pretty lonely in general.
Many people have found a lot of comfort from joining a zero waste community - whether that is a local Extinction Rebellion group, or a Facebook group.
9. Trial and error
Your teeth don’t feel clean enough after using your new plastic-free toothpaste. You can’t handle the “transition phase” of any shampoo bar that every company says is normal (is it though?). Then your deodorant gives you a rash.
All you want to buy is a product you need with compostable packaging (because otherwise how do you get those browns in your compost?!) and now you’re stuck with a bunch of pricey products that you either have to use up or give away.
With so many new zero waste products on the market with no reviews, it’s makes a low impact lifestyle seem expensive and risky.
10. The speed of society
Maybe it’s the lazy girl coming out in me, but sometimes life is a bit too much like London underground. Too fast, too crowded and too stressful.
There’s too much to do and too little time, it’s a race where you never reach the finish line. We work hard on little sleep to give our money to people who don’t deserve it.
Consequently, I do my very best to do less and live slowly. I am so much happier when I’m not rushing and can focus on one thing at a time. Even if that means the house is messier than I want it.
READ - Tired mum’s guide to simple living.
Although there are lots of challenges when you commit to a positive lifestyle change, the benefits make it worth it.
Not just for the planet but for yourself and human beings all around the world.
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Can you relate to this? Comment below what you find hardest about sustainable living.
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