Sustainable healthy living means sustaining healthy lifestyle choices over a long period of time to reap benefits to overall wellness. Healthy living includes everything from eating to regular physical activities, adequate rest and rejuvenation, and stress management techniques.
Sustainability from an environmental standpoint is all about preserving our natural resources to protect them for generations to come. It’s a way of reducing your impact on this planet and also generally means living a healthier life at the same time. Climate change and natural resource depletion are very real threats to our future here on this planet. It is up to each and every one of us to take action to sustain healthy life on this planet for thousands of years to come.
Healthy living that focuses on sustainability is a win-win for you and the environment.
What are some ways you can practice sustainable healthy living?
Eat a mostly plant-based diet. Cut back on meat or eliminate it from your diet completely. Eating more plants is better for you and the Earth. Whole food vegan meals are nutrient-dense meaning you get more nutritional bang for your buck. Learn how to cook at home and save restaurant meals for special occasions. Avoid heavily processed foods that are usually sprayed with pesticides and full of empty calories.
Grow food. Any food you produce will reduce your reliance on goods being transported thousands of miles to reach your home. The produce will be fresher and you’ll enjoy the health benefits of working in the garden as well. Once you have a productive garden, food shortages and increasing grocery prices are not as concerning. If you’ve never gardened before, start small and learn as you go. Add more plants each year and you’ll be a pro in no time.
Compost your food scraps and yard waste. Composting builds the soil and reduces your food waste at the same time. It’s also insanely easy to do. I use this compost bucket to collect my kitchen scraps and then dump them into this compost tumbler a few times a week. My soil in Central Florida is mostly sand, so I have been using compost to amend the soil for nearly a decade now. Each year the soil becomes more fertile, my plants are healthier, and I’m feeling good knowing I am fighting food waste.
Switch to reusables for single-use items such as water bottles, silverware, napkins, and straws. I always make sure to bring a full water bottle anytime I’m leaving the house, so I’m not tempted to stop somewhere along the way for a beverage. Making your own household cleaners is a great way to reduce toxic chemicals in your environment, while also reducing unnecessary packaging waste.
Buy less. We’ve become so used to clicking a button and having anything we need appear at our doorstep in a few hours (or faster). Overconsumption has become routine in our lives for too long now and it’s time to go back to a more intentional way of life. My motto is: “Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without!”. Buy less unhealthy food and unnecessary consumables. You know it’s not healthy, so why waste resources on something that is not benefiting you? Invest in quality durable goods that last longer. Be mindful of how you are spending your money and what businesses you are supporting.
Live simply. Focus on what makes you happy. This is a great way to reduce your stress and live life with intentionality. Simple foods, a simple daily routine, enjoying the simple pleasure of life. Make an effort to reprogram your bad habits and focus on promoting your own health while mindfully preserving our planets resources.
What are your favorite ways to live a sustainable healthy life?
