Welcome to my new series: #HAIAE (otherwise known as Half-Ass is Ass Enough). I can't take any credit for this incredible catch phrase, it actually came from my mom. I'm stealing it though, and it's going to become a new feature on my blog.
It's a simple concept. Life is hard, and there are somethings you just can't dedicate 100% of your energy to. The thing is, you don't always need to give 100% to every single thing in your life. I think a lot of people either are 0 *or* 100. No in-between. You can't live your life that way!
Most things are better in moderation, and that's the motivation of this series. Don't be so overwhelmed by a huge task that you're paralyzed, unable to do anything at all. And don't spend all your time and energy giving 100% of yourself to something that would be better in moderation.
If you're still not following, stay tuned to this series to learn more about how to live your life with the #HAIAE mindset (I'll hashtag it for clarity from now on).
Welcome to Earth Day 2019
Today happens to be Earth Day. This is one of my favorite days, as I'm pretty passionate about the environment and the planet. I know there are still some people out there who are skeptics about climate change & whether or not it's caused by humans, so here's a few resources for you to learn more on #EarthDay:
Do you think we're more confident that smoking causes cancer, or that humans cause climate change? It's a trick question because we are actually just as confident in both.
A Skeptic's Guide to Climate Change - Here is a really great resource balancing fact & fiction in the conversation about climate change.
Causes & Effects of Climate Change from National Geographic - Read this for some of the effects of climate change we can already see & measure.
The UN has released a report giving us only 11 more years before we're out of time to reverse or limit a climate change catastrophe. It's scary to think about, but there are things we all can do in our everyday lives to help limit our negative impact on the environment & save the planet. Like everything in this series - #HAIAE.
Here are some of my favorite half-ass ways you can save the planet this Earth Day.
1. Recycle
Everyone has varying degrees of accessibility when it comes to recycling. If you're like my parents, the city will pick up your recycling from your home and sort it for you. If you're like me and my roommate, you have to do the sorting and transporting yourself. Either way it honestly is not that difficult! If you live with other people, try coming up with a schedule or divide up the work so that everyone can help recycle. If it's just you, pick a day to take your recycling and make it part of your routine. It's simple, and it cuts down on your waste which is a positive.
2. Try Not to Use Single-Use Products
I truly have to thank Emma, my roommate, for helping me (read: forcing me to) get on this train. Emma uses so many things that cut down on her waste + benefit our household. We have reusable paper towels, recycled toilet paper, wash cloths, reusable straws, chopsticks & so much more in our apartment right now. I'm sure Emma could tell you even more about it. Honestly, most of these products are more effective than single-use, and end up saving you money in the long run.
Personally, I used to go through so many plastic water bottles at work. They're available and easy to grab while working. I recently bought a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter, so I can grab water directly from the sink and feel good about the quality + the impact on the planet. It's simple changes like these that can really add up in the long run!
3. Find Balance
The whole point of #HAIAE is that you don't have to go crazy on one thing to make a real difference. There are some very minute ways you can balance your impact on the environment.
#ProTip: When you're shopping on Amazon, choose the delayed shipping option. Now, Amazon will usually offer you some kind of credit if you choose shipping 1 week or so after your order date. I know the appeal of Prime is to get things ASAP, but most of the time you probably don't need to get what you ordered the next day. When you have more flexibility, try delaying your shipping. The shipping method will be easier on the environment and you can feel better about your purchase.
Another great way to find a balance is when you're traveling. Try not to fly if you're able to drive or take a train. Choose direct flights when possible. Carpool with others. If you're making a particularly long trip, especially via airplane, try donating a portion of your flight cost to an organization or project designed to help the environment. Overall, just be conscious of your choices.
4. Eat Less Meat
You don't have to go full vegan to make an impact on the environment (although going vegan definitely helps, don't get me wrong). I was a devout vegetarian for 2 years, but now I opt for a balanced diet that doesn't rely on meat too much. Many people participate in #MeatlessMonday, where they cut out meat one day per week. Others (like myself) try to cut out red meat, only eat meat one meal per day at most, or just eat less meat overall.
With the Internet, it is so easy to find some delicious recipes that are meat-free. Challenge yourself to slowly eat less meat. Start with one meal, or one type of protein (extra points if it's red meat), or one day of the week and continue on from there as you can.
For more information on how cutting out meat can help the planet, click here.
5. Support Organizations Doing Good
There are a lot of organizations doing good things for the environment. Here are a few of my favorites, but feel free to do your own research and support what's important to you.
The Jane Goodall Institute (I couldn't write an article on the environment without a shoutout to my girl Jane)
As Jane Goodall says, "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."
Everything you do will impact the world around you in some way, whether for good or for bad. It's up to you to choose how you'll impact the world, and with a few small changes you can really do some serious good.
Now for the (more) fun part. In honor of Earth Day, I'll be doing a giveaway on my social media pages this week! More information will be coming soon, but to get a heads up on this exciting, eco-friendly giveaway be sure to follow me on Instagram, like me on Facebook, and sign up for my mailing list.
In the mean time, get entries by posting a picture on any social media sharing how you'll make a difference this Earth Day. Be sure to tag me and use the hashtag #HAIAE. Let me know how you'll do your part to save this planet, it's the only one we have.
For more tips here's a great article with more small ways to help the planet! Click here.
Thanks for reading & Happy Earth Day!
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