It is never easy to be mindful in a world that can sometimes seem mindless. Everything is automated and we function on autopilot. Sometimes the biggest decisions we make all day are what to watch on television. Being more intentional in small ways is like a wildfire. You start with a small flame and it slowly spreads to other areas of your life. Becoming an eco-friendly individual and living green is similar. You start out making deliberate choices. Once those actions become a habit, you deliberately take the next step.
Energy Conservation
It starts with simply making an effort to turn off lights that you are not using. That is the first step, but there are many other ways you can conserve energy. They all seem like minor changes, but they add up over time.
- Another good habit to form is unplugging devices, chargers and appliances when they are not in use.
- Shut down your computer at the end of the day. All of these electronics consume energy even when they are not in use.
Consuming energy in the form of fossil fuels is necessary in many instances but there are ways to conserve in this realm as well.
- Carpool or take public transportation when possible.
- If you live in a city, commuting by bike or walking might be an option as well. The benefit of commuting by foot or bike is that you get to enjoy the different seasons and the enjoy window shopping and people watching along the way.
Water Conservation
The enormity of the Cadiz Water Project reminds us of the importance to conserve water. It is easy to forget to be intentional when it comes to water consumption. This is especially true if you live in a water-rich region of the world. If you live in an area that regularly suffers from droughts or other water shortages, you may already be aware of your water usage. Regardless of your situation, start to be more mindful of the times you have the water running.
- It is easy to daydream while brushing your teeth while leaving the faucet running.
- Take shorter showers and water your lawn during cooler parts of the day.
- Rain barrels are a fun way to conserve water. You can harvest the runoff rainwater from your roof and use it to water your flowers, garden and yard. Some people even go as far as filter the water and using it as a supplementary water source. How far you wish to go with the experiment is up to you.
These simple intentional actions will help us conserve our precious resources. They come with the added bonus of reducing energy bills. When you make a deliberate effort to be more conservation-minded, you make a shift in your thinking. This shift can translate to other areas of your life. You may become more intentional in other actions you take during the day, heightening your awareness. Being more mindful helps you appreciate life’s little joys and making the effort take more steps to living green and eco-friendly to help create a better world for everyone. It is rewarding to make a difference, no matter how big or small.
Shared on HEALTHY HAPPY GREEN & NATURAL BLOG HOP!
Pingback: Little Ways to Become More Eco-Friendly
Pingback: Tips To Save Energy, Money, and the Planet This Summer
This article discusses a very important point to remember. Intentional conservation or being minful about saving energy is a behavior I wish more people would adopt. Thanks for planting that seed,
HI Nancy,
I agree with you totally. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!
Hi Marla, thanks for sharing this with us. The need to conserve energy is very critical. Rainwater harvesting is one of the oldest and most preferred method of saving water and using it later for different purposes. Apart from this, we can also replace the use of non-renewable energy with renewable energy generated from wind, water,etc.
HI David,
I agree conserving water and energy are both important. We have a rain barrel that we use throughout the summer months. I have seen a big change in people changing to renewable energy more every day. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!