10 Ways You Can Save the Planet Today

If the state of the planet has you concerned, you’re not alone. Environmental destruction is a weighted topic that feels very overwhelming when you speak about it. Rather than avoid the uncomfortable subject entirely, why not do something positive to counteract all the negativity?

Taking even the smallest action to help the planet is a step in the right direction. It could very well be the thing that inspires other people in your community to do the same. If each person could inspire one other person to change their habits and reduce their carbon footprint, the world would improve quickly and drastically.

How to save the planet?

Here are ten ways you can save the planet today:

1. Make a conscientious decision to do whatever it takes to reverse the impact of your habits. The first step in helping the planet is to decide to do what it takes to live an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. It’s investing in the right companies and products that minimize waste, use sustainable resources, and give to charities that are green.
2. Adopt a minimalist mindset. The less you buy, the better able you are to manage what you have. When you’re conscientious about your purchases and belongings, you become a better steward of them. You don’t waste things or allow them to fall apart. You spend money on experiences versus material possessions. You also don’t own things that you don’t enjoy or won’t use.
3. Try being waste-free. You may not be able to fit all your waste from the year in a glass container like some people, but you certainly can do your part to eliminate unnecessary packaging from your life. Buy reusable bottles, produce bags, and shopping bags. Recycle everything you can. Unsubscribe from mailing lists so you get less junk mail, catalogs, and magazines. Compost food waste and grow some of your own food. Wear things out, repair them when you can, and then responsibly recycle or dispose of them.
4. Start conserving water. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Use a timer to let you know when to get out of the shower. Fix your leaky toilet and save up to 200 gallons of water a day. Ditch the disposable water bottles and invest in a reusable water bottle Use a filter on your faucet so you can start drinking tap water. Fill a pitcher and then pour what you want to drink into your triple insulated water bottle to take with you to school, work, and your child’s soccer practice.
5. Rethink your automobile. If you live in a city that offers public transportation, why not take the bus or train instead? Think of all the money you’ll save by doing so. Owning a vehicle is expensive as you have to put a lot of time and money into it to keep it running year after year. If you live a short distance from the places you travel most to, buy a bike and cycle to work. Not only will you get more exercise each day, you’re also pedaling your way to a smaller carbon footprint.
6. Improve the energy efficiency of your home. Spend money to have all of your systems serviced by a professional at the start of the season. Replace air filters which get dirty and dusty over time. Buy energy-saving appliances and invest in compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) because they last ten times longer than your average light bulb. You’ll replace them less often which saves you money and keeps extra bulbs out of the landfill.
7. Be a caring consumer. Respect the things that you use on a daily basis. Turn off the light switches in rooms when you’re not in them. Power down electronic devices at night. Use automatic timing switches to turn appliances such as your coffee maker and toaster off. Even if you do use electricity, you can appreciate it more by being careful when using it. You’ll take account of the resources you have access to and be better about using them in a way that helps the planet not hurts it.
8. Go digital. Stop buying books and printing out documents. Instead, go digital. Use book reading apps to read purchased ebooks. Store manuals and other important documents in the cloud. Digitize paperwork such as contracts and receipts so you’re not forced to hold onto the originals. Save family photos to a disc or an external hard drive, so you don’t have to hold onto every picture you had printed at the drugstore.
9. Teach your children well. Even the youngest child learns by example. If you want them to have a deep appreciation for the Earth, its inhabitants, and its offerings, you’ll need to teach your children to respect the planet by modeling exemplary behavior. When you take time to pave the way for your sons and daughters, you can count on them to do the right thing when it comes to reducing, reusing, and recycling things. They’ll be apt to tell their friends and peers what they’ve learned, too, which widens the circle of knowledge. Other children will want to share with their families what your child taught them.
10. Spread the word. Let others know how you feel and what you’re up to. Share environmentally-friendly resources with them. Give them a chance to ask questions and provide them with the answers they need to make sound decisions. Remember, you were once in their shoes. It took time for you to make changes, too. Be a patient and kind teacher. You never know how much good you can do by serving as a role model to other parents and families in your community.

Saving the planet is easier than you ever imagined. There are things you and your family can do immediately to prevent environmental peril. Instead of putting your blinders on and ignoring the state Mother Earth is in, make some changes in your lifestyle, school, workplace, community, and country right away. Even the smallest action has a ripple effect that inspires larger, more impactful actions to follow.