Thriving Together Series: How to Live a More Environmentally Friendly Life

By: Sabriyyah Abdullah, a Mason student majoring in Art History

“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something.” – Carl Sagan

Since the beginning of time, our planet has provided humanity with a home and resources that keep us alive and supported. People have not cared well for our Earth in return, however. Over time, humans have overused our planet’s resources without replenishing those resources or supporting our natural environment well. The accumulation of waste, neglect, and greed has harmed Earth so much that the effects have resulted in global warming, climate change, and the associated environmental crises that are impacting many people around the world. The good news is that we all have the power to improve the well-being of our home planet. Environmental advocates have raised awareness about this crucial topic and are encouraging us as individuals and governments worldwide to practice sustainability. Let’s explore why it’s important to live more environmentally friendly lives, and how to do so.

Why is This Important?

Our natural world supplies us – and all other living things – with so many resources that we need to survive that we may not even realize how much our well-being depends on those resources. Being mindful of the specific natural resources we’re using regularly, as well as how much we’re using, is an important step in saving it and our future. Even making a few strategic, small choices to start can have a positive impact and motivate us and others around us to do more over time.

Well-Being Benefits

There are various significant well-being benefits of making sustainable and eco-friendly choices. We can improve our physical health by using products that are free of harmful chemicals. We can help reduce the amount of pollution and waste that we use and that the environment experiences. We can also find a sense of encouragement and enjoyment from helping our Earth, as well as a sense of purpose that can motivate us to encourage others to live more environmentally friendly lives.

Key Practices

Here are some key environmentally friendly practices to consider starting:

Using public transport more often
Using eco-cleaning products or making your own
Reusing items like water bottles, shopping bags, and cutlery
Opting for a reusable water canister or beeswax wraps for food storage
Buying more locally grown food and growing a garden
Reducing the amount of water you use
Composting leftover food and properly storing leftovers
Turning out lights when you leave a room to reduce the electricity you use

A Food Practice Example

When going to a grocery store, choose glass containers instead of plastic for food storage and cleaning supplies. Make a list of food items before entering the store to stick to what you truly want to buy rather than adding items on impulse. Choose products with clean ingredients over ones you don’t need and that may be more harmful. Go to a local farmers market instead of buying store produce. Support ethical and environmental-focused companies and brands.

Additional Resources

Write one of these Thriving Together Series features! We’re looking for contributions on all topics related to well-being. Read other Thriving Together Series articles here and contact us at cwb@gmu.edu for guidelines. Thank you for helping our Mason community thrive together online!