Did you know today is International Happiness Day? Because of that I want to chat about something that has increased my family’s happiness. My family took on a challenge over the last few weeks. We decided to make a few changes so that our family could do our part to conserve resources and live a more renewable lifestyle, and ultimately make our world a better place. And you know what? It really wasn’t that much of a challenge because it ended up being SO easy! In fact, we found some ways to take it even farther than the original challenges.
So the basics of the challenge were these:
-When grocery shopping reach for food and beverage products with renewable packaging, like cartons
-Take shorter showers
-Bike or walk whenever possible
-Swap your paper coffee cup for a mug
Y’all – these were so easy to do. Cartons are great for food packaging. Food tastes great out of cartons, and if you have a small pantry like I do they take up less room! Shorter showers are the only way I can shower these days (a kid starts crying every time I step in I promise). We don’t live close to much so the biking/walking challenge is where I struggled. But we found some ways – I had been driving to the playground close to us but wearing Tripp and pulling MG in the wagon was a fun alternative to get there. We also love venturing into different areas of Atlanta and whereas we used to drive from one spot to another it’s so much easier to park in a central location and walk to our different destinations. I don’t drink coffee so no need for me to swap out a paper coffee cup for a mug, but my husband is a coffee guzzler. Since his birthday was during this challenge I got him a giant thermos so that he has just been refilling for coffee. Fun fact: most coffee spots will allow you to bring your own mug that they fill up!
Here are some further challenges we took on:
-Use reusable grocery bags
-Cloth diaper (and use cloth wipes) when we are at home
-Take public transportation
-Plant vegetables in our garden
-Open windows instead of turning on the air conditioning
Our world’s resources are limited and oh, so precious. There’s just no need to waste them! Being ‘green’ makes me happy because I know we are making the world a better place for my children. Our family loves spending time outdoors and want future generations to be able to also! Choosing products with renewable packaging has a far-reaching impact. Tetra Pak carton packages are made mostly from paper, a renewable resource that can be naturally replenished.
Great tips. I especially love "When grocery shopping reach for food and beverage products with renewable packaging". It's simple but makes a world of difference.
Great tips! I need to be better with grocery shopping. I shop at Trader Joe's and all of their lettuces, nuts, and seeds are in plastic. During the spring and summer months I do enjoy getting around on my bike. Not only are you saving energy but you are getting in shape at the same time. Thanks for sharing, I really like this!
Great tips! A lot of these changes can be easy, but we just need to remember to do them because they can have a big impact.
I love this so much! We are trying to lighten our impact this year. We just added solar panels to our house!
Those are all really great tips and I especially love the one with carrying your own coffee mug. I did that for Starbucks because I preferred mine anyway. I have to be a lot more vigilant about stuff like this, we recycle but we still have a long way to go.
I'm the worst about not taking my mug with me – I always forget to take it home, and it ends up staying at the office for DAYS – Gross! I def. need to get better about that! Great post!
These are great ideas, I need to get back in the habit of using reusable bags for shopping and I look forward to warmeeting weather do we can walk to school again.
Great ideas! Such easy concepts to switch to, its a shame more people don't do so many of these things. :/
Good for you! I wish we could have open windows but we all have such bad allergies. We try to minimize our use of paper goods.
I've been fascinated with renewable living so your post was amazing to read and see everything you do to live as renewable as possible.
We have been trying not to waste as much water in our home. Our sons now turn the water off while they are brushing their teeth instead of keeping it running the whole time.
Great tips! When I'm out I only allow myself a Starbucks treat if I have my reusable cup with me 😉
Incredible facts that I never knew – very interesting to know and for myself to make a change. Thanks for sharing this, great tips!
Omg so many fantastic tips!!! I have been doing better. Switched to reusable bags!!! I'm proud of my slef for that one!
I've been trying to do a few of these myself. I use my mugs and travel cups way more than paper now, and I try to always bring a big reuseable bag to the grocery store 🙂