How to save nature by taking care of yourself

Taking care of the planet and ecology has become the trend of modern times. The media and social networks talk about the importance of conserving the planet’s resources and halting or at least reducing pollution. But this is always a disadvantage for us. Sorting out the garbage, saving electricity and water, abandoning plastic bags – all this takes effort. But there are ways to take care of the planet that do not require great effort. Moreover, when taking care of the environment we also can take care of ourselves at the same time. Here are some simple tips to help improve your life and save nature.

Start cycling

The whole world is cycling not just like that. According to Spanish scientists, more than two hundred thousand people in Europe die annually from diseases caused by exhaust gases. In the Ukrainian cities of millionaires, the situation is as deplorable as in European cities. The share of pollution by motor vehicles is 70-80% of the total emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. So city bikes can be a lifeline to our lungs. Of course, for this purpose, a noticeable part of citizens should ride on two wheels (riding on traffic jams does not add health), but we have to start with something.

By the way, you can burn more than 200 kcal in an hour on an average speed bike, and regular cycling will significantly strengthen your pelvic, hip, and calf muscles.

Quit smoking

Smoking is bad for health, it hits the wallet and remains an antisocial habit. But if all these arguments do not work, another aspect may be pointed out. Cigarettes cause significant damage to nature. Cigarette filters are made of acetyl cellulose, a material that can decompose in the environment. At the same time, about 4.3 trillion cigarettes are thrown annually in the world. It is about a quarter of all trash. Filters and cigarettes also account for about a quarter of all garbage collected on the coasts.

That’s not all: Chemicals retained by filters are toxic to living things. During the experiment, it was found that one cigarette requires only four days to contaminate a litre of water and kill all the fish in it. Filters are thrown outdoors often end up in sewage and may end up in lakes and rivers whose inhabitants perceive them as food.

Use reusable

The essence of this rule is to exclude the consumption of things with a short life cycle. Of course, not everything depends on the consumer: smart manufacturers have long learned to sell us items with limited resources, pre-programming our new journey to the store. But in our power, to give up everything one-time, if possible, remembering that practically everything, then we are offered to use only once, is multiple alternatives. Moreover, to understand, the reusable thing appeared even earlier than a single analogue. We just had time to forget it. Agree, a “package bag” would never get in your house, if you are in the habit of coming to the store with your reusable shopping bag.

Homemade food

There are many advantages to cooking at home compared to ordering delivery or going to a restaurant. First, it allows you to more consciously and carefully consider what you eat and control your calorie intake (in a study of 9500 people, those who regularly cooked at home ate significantly less fat and sugar than those who ate at cafes and restaurants). It also allows you to monitor the quality of the products and how they are prepared. But that’s not all: dinner at home will improve your eco-karma. For example, when ordering sushi you will have not only the long-awaited rolls but also a bunch of plastic containers (for soy sauce, ginger, sushi kits).

Another problem is throwing away food. According to some estimates, in developed countries, one person on average sends about 100 kg of finished products to the trash can per year. All in all, one-third of all calories produced in the world are thrown out. It is enough to feed ten billion people, three times the number of people starving. At home, if you have not calculated the amount of food, you can always leave the extra portion in the refrigerator for tomorrow or freeze for the future.

Give a second life to used items

This is much easier than it might seem at first glance. A jar of lemonade can become a pencil case, a shoebox can be turned into a place to store toys or spices, and rubber gloves become a puppet doll. When checking the closet, it is not necessary to throw the clothing in the trash. It can be handed over to the red cross or the needy.

As you can see, it is not difficult to combine the care of the planet with the care of yourself. It is enough to take a conscious approach to the organization of your life and make minimum efforts to realize it. Together we can do it!