Everyone's talking about it, but how many of us are living it? Sustainable living is the new way of life, and while many may make it sound like a huge lifestyle change, it's not. Moving towards a sustainable way of life is all about making little changes to our consumption patterns, which can help make the planet a better place.

You don't necessarily have to give up on your preferred items of luxury, but it would help to be conscious of your purchases. There's no easy way to say this but our planet is in crisis. A sustainable lifestyle is the first step towards trying to save the planet. Here are some tips to help you get started on your journey to sustainable living.

Reduce consumption

As we climb up the ladder and get ahead in life, we start accumulating material wealth. But the real question is, do we need everything we own? Look around you, there are at least a dozen things that you can easily live without. It’s a problem we all have. We hoard things that we don’t need and we are quick to replace damaged things instead of trying to fix them. So how do we make a difference?

Be mindful that the brands you’re buying from, care about the environment and are doing their bit to minimize waste. Questioning your true need of certain things would help in this matter. Before adding something to your cart, ask yourself if you really need it. We believe that if you have to ask the question at all, you probably don’t.

Stop buying fast fashion

Your fashionable clothes may look great in your closet, but the world is better off without them. Fast fashion might be cheap, but our planet pays the price for it. Most of these clothes are made using processes that are extremely toxic for the environment. The waste that is created while producing them is immense. What’s more, they even contain plastic which makes them non-biodegradable. Since the lifespan of these garments is very short, you end up buying more and causing more damage to the environment, without even knowing it.

So what’s the solution? You don’t have to entirely stop buying clothes that look great. All you need to do is look for brands that are conscious about the waste they generate and use sustainable fabrics. 

Eat less meat and dairy

Before you dismiss this point completely, hear this out. You don’t have to go fully vegan, but do consider limiting your consumption of meat and dairy. And if you’re vegan, before you pat yourself on your back, know that you could be doing more harm than good with your choices. 

How, you ask? Let’s explain this with an example. Almond milk might seem like a good substitute for regular milk since it’s not really dairy, but massive almond farms are negatively impacting the bee population, causing greater trouble for the planet.

Your choices might be healthy for you, but they may not be worth it, if they’re unhealthy for the environment and the future generations.

Apart from the above, you can also ensure that you are actively recycling, reusing, reducing waste and buying organic. Keep your knowledge refreshed with timely updates on issues that matter to you. The more you know, the better equipped you are to deal with a problem or figure out solutions. 

Got any more ideas that may help us all move towards sustainability? Do share with us. Drop your suggestions in the comments below and let’s save the Earth - after all, it’s our only home.