By: Catherine Daleo
Often, we feel that on our own, we can’t do much on our own regarding changing the world around us. We get the impression that we are just one person, and what can one person do to make a difference?
Well, I’m here to tell you that there is lots to be done! Whether it be for environmental, humanitarian, or charitable purposes, or because you just want to put more positivity out in the world, there are so many ways in which each and every one of us can be more involved in the world around us.
Bear with me, as there’s a lot I would like to cover! More than you may think is possible! And while I list many, this is not a definitive collection of ways to make a difference. Try to come up with your own as you go throughout your day!
Due to the number of things I’ve chosen to write about, they will be presented in a series of three different articles. To begin, I will cover way in which you can try to help the environment, in a couple specific areas, as well as in general. The second article will cover ways in which you can be mindful and make differences in the lives of other earthlings. And my final article will cover small ways to put more positivity in the world. Together, any assortment of the things you adopt in your attempt to be more involved in the world will make a tremendous difference!
Now, I don’t expect everyone to adopt, let alone agree with, every one of the things I recommend doing. I don’t even expect them of myself sometimes. Sometimes it’s not possible in your day or even your life, and sometimes you’re having a bad day and these suggestions will be far from your mind.
Does it make myself, or anyone else a hypocrite? No. It makes us human.
It’s up to us to make certain choices every day in our lives. And while we should make it a habit to be mindful of the little things, we are human beings, and it’s okay to be a little selfish about those little things sometimes. As long as we make it a point to be active and aware the rest of the time, we can still commit to making a difference!
In understand some of the suggestions I make will be asking a lot for some. Going against habit and norms formed over years are hard to break or change. If you feel up to the challenge, awesome! If not, I don’t want anyone to feel pressure to make any drastic lifestyle changes they’re not comfortable with.
I can attest to the difficulty of changing habits and pushing myself to remember some of these things. It is an ongoing personal struggle, truly, to actively try and make the world a better place. But, once it becomes habit, it becomes second nature. You just have to commit to what you want to do. And never give up on or second guess yourself!
So, without further ado, please enjoy my piece on some of the ways in which how you can help the environment, even from home!
Ways to Conserve Water
Turn Off the Sink Faucet While Brushing Your Teeth
According to the Glen Canyon Institute on their page regarding water conservation, they state that we waste about 5 gallons of water when we leave the faucet on while brushing your teeth. And while it does take some time to get used to changing up what most of us have done our entire lies, this is one small habit that can make a significant difference when you don’t do it anymore.
If you brush your teeth twice a day, every day, and leave the sink on every time, then in one year you will have wasted 3650 gallons of water. And that’s not including everyone else in your household. Especially if you live in a state with a bad drought problem, conserving water should be everyone’s priority.
Take Shorter and Colder Showers
Referring to the GCI page again, a ten-minute shower uses around 40 gallons of water! And while the average shower time is roughly 7-15 minutes, there are many people who take a 30, or even 45-minute shower, myself included. If you’re one of those people, you’re using roughly 120 to 180 gallons of water per shower. As such, you should consider ways to cut your shower routine time to save water, and money on your bill.
If you shower every day, see if you can stand showering every other day instead. Or, if that’s not possible, split your tasks up every other day. For instance, don’t shampoo your hair or shave every day. It’s not good for you in most cases anyways. If you don’t already, consider sharing a quick shower with your significant other. So long as you both don’t try to engage in other activities, showering together can keep you both on track to get out sooner, and you save water in the long run.
Also, take is a step further and try to shower in cool or cold water, if only for a minute. It does wonders for your skin, and you’ll be saving hot water, which saves on gas and electricity! For best results on your hair and skin, do this right before you get out. You’ll feel more refreshed, and your pores and hair follicles will be closed more. There’s also research on how it can help clear your skin and boost your immune system, among other things.
Whichever ways you can manage your shower routine differently, aim for less than 15 minutes, and use cold water before you get out.
Pee in The Shower (It’s Okay, No One Has to Know)
Perhaps for some this is a given, and for others this is gross, but if you don’t already do this, get into the habit of it. According to the USGS, depending on how old your toilet is, each time you flush it can use between 1.5-4 gallons of water. So, if you’re about to take a shower anyway and you get the urge, just pee in the shower. Save that couple gallons. It adds up fast. You’re showering anyways, so don’t worry about it being ‘gross’. Plus, you’ll also save toilet paper, too.
Use Desert Landscaping Instead of a Lawn in Your Front Yard
Having a lawn is often synonymous with suburban style living, where anyone with a well-tended lawn is the person to aspire to be. Obviously, it shows you’re financially comfortable to where you can totally spend that Saturday morning annoying the shit out of your neighbors at 9 a.m. with you mowing the grass. Right? But, alas, I think it’s time to challenge this norm. Besides, you can totally spend your time on more productive things instead of walking circles around your yard.
So, what can you do to make your yard look super nice, with low maintenance, and save lots of water? Do desert-style landscaping! There are lots of drought resistant plants that are eye catching. They don’t require a lot of water, and depending on what plants you choose, you don’t have to do much to maintain it.
Research the plants you want to get though. From personal experience, if you get a plant like the Palo Verde tree, which has pretty yellow flowers but drops needle-like leaves all year, put it as far from your house as possible without looking out of place in your yard. The roots of these kinds of plants are EXTENSIVE. We had two in our front yard, and one in the back. After about 25 years of them growing, their root system broke through the foundation and piping under the toilet and so caused an extremely costly repair. And, they make blankets of needles if not attended to which can be a fire hazard.
Or, you could just do it plain and simple; some river rocks going down the yard with some flowering cacti or small shrubs scattered throughout. As for the backyard, it makes more sense to have grass out back, especially if you have kids and/or pets. But, if you’re willing to switch things up back there too, consider installing fake grass in a specific area. Leave some space open for other outdoor activities, of course. But all in all, do whatever you think looks nice and works for your individual needs!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the first part of the first set of my three-part series on the small ways you can make a difference in the world! Stay tuned for the next part, where I discuss ways to conserve energy!
