I dream of being the perfect consumer, living an eco-friendly, healthy, environmentally-conscious life. I’d like to rid my own world of dangerous chemicals and food products that contribute to issues within the food industry AND my body, and find a way to do most actions just a little more care and information. I’d love to be one of those people who only eats local, organic, clean, paleo, antibiotic-free foods and buys products that support the local economy and are good for the environment and my body (I totally realize what a yuppie I sound like right now…)
But, as I reflect on my own habits I realize that there is a LOT of change needed, and I simply can’t do it all at once. As I’ve learned with my weight-loss efforts, change takes time and considering the sheer number of issues that a consumer must face, it really isn’t possible to do it all at once. So I’ve decided to compile a list of 52 habits I’d like to adopt each week for the next 52 weeks in order to make my personal universe just a little more healthful. I will tackle one habit a week and once I do I won’t go back to my old ways. Here I go (in no particular order and with corresponding money signs to denote whether the goal will require a financial investment):
- Begin going to the farmer’s market and purchasing only grass-fed, local, antibiotic-free and non-factory farmed meat.
- Buy only local (no more Mexican or Latin-American produce with the exception of certain tropical fruits).
- Build or buy a composting unit and begin composting. $
- Spend time researching the chemicals in ALL my makeup products and research eco-friendly, healthier alternatives.
- Spend time researching the chemicals in all of our beauty products (hair sprays, lotions, shampoos, etc.), research eco-friendly, healthier alternatives and compile a list for future purchases.
- Begin making my own deoderant!
- Invest in glass tuperware and recycle all of the plastic ones we have. $$
- Buy new, BPA-free water bottles (a few of them) and commit to never buying a plastic bottled water bottle again.
- Replace all Teflon pans with stainless steel or copper-coated pans. $$$
- Toss every product that has triclosan and replace with healthier alternative.
- Buy spray bottles and begin making my own cleaners, ditching the heavy chemical products found in stores.
- Spend time learning about seasonal farming, and committing myself to only purchasing food that is in-season.
- Clear pantry and stop buying any foods with synthetic preservatives or coloring.
- Invest in indoor plants for every room. $$
- I love candles BUT I don’t like that many contain dangerous chemicals. Research beeswax or soy-based alternatives.
- Research safe, eco-friendly, at-home dry cleaning alternatives.
- Switch to a biodegradable, fragrance-free, non-toxic detergent for clothes.
- Educate myself on the proper way to dispose of things such as batteries and toxic waste so I do so in the future.
- Find a more eco-friendly, healthful option to plastic wrap, ziplocks and foil.
- Take time to educate myself more about recycling and the list of items I may or may not be able to recycle.
- Switch to organic produce for all “dirty dozen” foods from here on out.
- Commit to buying all-organic dairy (right now we do organic milk and eggs, but are “ify” on butter, kefir, yogurt, etc.
- Plan out the most cost-effective way to get local, organic produce, dairy and meat.
- Become much more careful about wasting electricity. Spend time researching how to lessen my footprint when it comes to electricity use.
- Invest in a reusable cat litter-“filler-upper.” Our local petstore has a bin of litter, which you fill up with a bucket, reducing waste. $
- Finally ditch the paper towel habit (or at least set up specific rules for using them) and switch to using “bartender rags” for cleaning and dusting.
- Invest in paper napkins. $$
- Get rid of our microwave (put it outside in the garage and reserve it for rare occasions where I’ll need to reheat for a party).
- Educate myself on the fish industry and commit to buying sustainable, healthful fish.
- Make vegetarian, no-cook meals once a week.
- Invest in eco-friendly organic cotton and/or bamboo towels made with plant-based dyes. $$$
- Research accessible, cost-affordable recycled toilet paper.
- Get in the habit of turning off the water when brushing my teeth.
- Unplug electronics when they aren’t in use.
- Buy organic, sustainable sheets & pillow covers $$$
- Update our pillows with organic, non-chemical ones. $$$
- Make it a habit to carefully monitor towel-use (we tend to toss towels after only one or two uses) and invest in an outdoor towel rack so towels dry faster.
- Begin washing out own cars at home (instead of taking it to the car wash).
- Start prepping produce more efficiently to avoid unnecessary spoiling.
- Plan out my meals every Sunday, so less food and money is waste (and gas from unwanted trips to the store).
- Make sure every single bill is paperless and recycle all junk mail.
- Cut back to only indulging in added-sugar once a week in a small amount.
- Commit to buying less STUFF. For every one thing I buy, I need to get rid, giveaway or recycle something else.
- Get down to my healthy weight (long-term goal!) and eat much less food everyday.
- Wear a healthy, chemical-free sunblock everyday.
- Floss everyday and brush twice a day.
- Switch to a healthier, chemical-free toothpaste.
- Commit to eating vegetables at every meal (including breakfast).
- Purchase bicycles. $$$
- Use my hand-held earpiece instead of putting the cell phone directly against my head.
- Make the car a phone-free space, and yes, that means no fiddling with the iPhone to find a song, using it for navigation, etc. We survived (better) without these “useful tools” for decades, and we should do that again.
- Commit to everyday movement/exercise, at the very least adopting a regime for stretching.
