Sustainability: Why it’s Important and How to Implement Practices into your Daily Life

September 3

All, Environmental Awareness, Personal Health and Wellness, Sustainability

Sustainability is a set of actions aimed at conserving the integrity of the socio-physical resources on this planet. When sustainably oriented people get involved in actions, they generate conditions allowing a more adequate use of natural, economic, and social resources. Doing activities that are sustainably oriented shows motivation aimed at ensuring the well-being of others. Also, helping others helps your mental health by focusing on the good as a whole and having a purpose outside of yourself. Being a sustainably oriented person can support the values of being pro-ecological (behaviors aimed at protecting natural resources), frugal, altruistic, and equitable (fairly treating others). These components are all a part of the positive psychology of sustainability. These factors also play a role in improving your mental health due to looking at the big picture and helping others and society as a whole.

Why is Sustainability Important?
Sustainability is important to conserve renewable and nonrenewable resources. It is also important to stop further pollution. With unchecked resource depletion, we risk a global food crisis, energy crisis, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions that will lead to global warming crisis. These are all real fears and worries, but with living a sustainable lifestyle you can do your part in stopping the climate changes. This can be changed with action and doing your part to not over consume or create waste, which will help the planet if everyone does their part. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 committed the US to sustainability declaring it a national policy to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permits fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations. If everyone does their part to reduce their human footprint, future generations will exist longer with the ability to live happy and healthy.

Small examples of Sustainability in Daily Life:

  • Try to eliminate your use of plastic as much as possible (Using reusable water bottles and compostable or reusable containers and snack bags)
  • Recycle
  • Use refillable options for items like soap, cleaning supplies, etc.
  • Grow your own food and Compost OR buy from a local farmer’s market or co-op
  • Conserve water and energy in the home (mindful of turning off lights and water not in use)
  • Walking/biking when possible OR drive short distances OR buy hybrid/electric vehicles
  • Don’t overconsume, only buying when necessary (if something is broken, not just “older” items)
  • Use Dryer balls instead of Dryer sheets OR line dry
  • Buy Secondhand (Clothes, Furniture, and Décor – some research suggest you should not purchase more than 5 new items of clothing per year)
  • Eliminating food waste by not overconsuming (buying too many fruits or vegetables that become spoiled before use)
  • Eating leftovers (trying foods cold, sometimes surprisingly better than hot)

Interested in meeting up with like-minded folks?
Join our introductory Zoom session on Friday, September 20th from 1PM-2PM, Climate Consciousness. We will discuss various topics to help quell climate anxiety as well as practical strategies and support with climate compatriots.

 Email drkatrina@kkjpsych.com to sign up

References:

Spread this message:

Tags

You may also like