Celebrity gossip, stock market updates, and expected shootings stretch across the headers of the news every day, snubbing a crisis that the whole planet will have to face: climate change. In a world where humanity’s last concern is the environment, time is running out. We have the ability to reverse the repercussions of our actions right at our fingertips, yet we choose to let the seconds tick away without acting. While we cannot alter the past, we can and should care about the health of our families, children, and wildlife. Here are five practical changes you can make to your life to help our world.

Reusable Products

Buying a reusable water bottle is the most simple and convenient change that can be made. Plastic water bottles are not only damaging to produce but are horrible for the environment as well. Think about every time you have disposed of a plastic water bottle. Every one of those bottles takes lifetimes to decompose. To be more specific, it takes about 450 years for a single bottle to completely break down. All of the buildup of waste from this consumer product itself in landfills will lead to the overaccumulation of plastic and slowly deteriorate the available space on Earth. If that isn’t convincing enough, plastic water bottles have a detrimental effect on human health from the toxic chemicals the plastic possesses leaching into the water and making their way into the bloodstream. 

Unplug Any Chargers

Energy consumption is extremely overlooked, as it is difficult to even realize at times. A lot of the time, it is unnecessary and can easily be taken care of. Forgetting to turn off the TV, leaving the lights on, and keeping chargers plugged into outlets while not using them are all examples of wasted energy. Keeping a reminder in the back of your head to remember to turn off and unplug these electronics and accessories before you leave a room will contribute greatly to reducing energy consumption.

“Hand-Me-Downs”

Instead of buying new outfits, wear some hand-me-downs or share clothing pieces with your family. Maintaining your clothes in good condition after you buy them is critical, as it prevents you from buying a surplus of clothes and having an overflowing closet. Fashion production has very negative effects on our planet. It emits carbon, pollutes the air and water sources, and even exudes microplastics into the ocean. By reusing and sharing clothing, you can reduce the overproduction and immorality that goes into the industry.

Conserve Water

Because fresh water is scarce, water conservation is arguably one of the most important aspects of saving our Earth. Instead of allowing the water to run while you brush your teeth, or taking hour-long showers, make sure to turn off the faucet and keep your showers reasonable. Overconsuming water slowly depletes the Earth of fresh water, the only type of water humans are able to survive on. If the rates of wasting water continue to grow, we will see an uptick in droughts all across the world, as well as deaths by starvation and dehydration. 

Eat Green

Not only does eating well save the planet, it saves money and one’s health. The common misconception people might have about eating organic are its expenses. It is important to realize that growing your own produce is free, and buying groceries from local farmers actually saves money. Furthermore, making your food from scratch costs much less than ordering food or eating at a restaurant. The food production industry utilizes pesticides, fertilizers, and all types of chemicals in its crops, leading the runoff and soil to become polluted. If we are able to transition into a more sustainable agriculture method, we would be able to nurture the Earth’s soil back into health, so much so it could serve as a carbon sink. 

These are only a few out of the many habits you can implement into your life to save the environment. All it takes is a few reminders and a little effort to start off with something small and turn it into a big difference.