MNN - Mother Nature Network

"Sustainable lifestyle" and "eco-friendly" are trend phrases in the environmental realm. These once-fresh words are approaching their prime and moving towards ubiquity. Nowadays, when you hear or read about these commonplace ideas in the media, they come across as boring and somewhat annoying. It's time to breathe new life into the concept of 21st-century eco-living.

 

Here are some ways to put the simple concept of "think before you act" to work in your daily life.

 

Plan your day carefully and smartly. Everyone is guilty of kicking into auto-pilot mode; now is the time to disengage. Sit down and take a pen and pad in hand. Write down everything that must or should be done, whether it's urgent or merely comforting. Allow yourself one frivolous activity and delete anything else that's not "mission critical."

 

Go the extra mile. On this revised to-do list, plan your driving trip in a circular fashion. Stop as few times as possible to save gasoline and reduce emissions.

 

Less is always better. Reduce the amount of paper and disposable products you use daily. Start using that iPhone and reusable coffee cup more often.

 

Take time to enjoy. Dedicate some time to simply relax and forget about life's demands. Grow a garden, start composting, or simply sit after eating a meal.

 

People spend most of their lives hustling through life instead of stopping and smelling the flowers. Yes, professional life requires that we maintain a certain pace, but everyone needs time to reminisce. Take that time, and make this a better year.