25 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle in 2024

Almost three years ago, I had just moved to Berlin, Germany from Seoul, South Korea and I shared my story of how I had become a minimalist. At that time, my friends and family suspected my enthusiasm for minimalism was a passing fad.

Their suspicions were wrong. I have consistently practised minimalism to this day. I try to practice minimalism in every part of my life. Living in Berlin, one of the greenest cities in Europe has helped. Berliners are passionate about keeping the Earth safe. There are so many completely organic stores and supermarkets here, where you can buy organic food, clothes, cosmetics, and a great variety of other products.

I have become much more thoughtful about how my lifestyle impacts the environment, and I try to reduce my carbon footprints every day.

I have made a list of 25 quick tips so anyone can contribute to preserving our environment and climate:-

1. Avoid impulse buying.

I avoid wholesale stores and clearance sales. In the past, I was fascinated with them.

2. If you buy something which you do not like, return it.

Returns are very easy in Berlin and are not looked down upon.

3. Give old things a new look with small changes rather than buying something new.

I did not change my furniture when I moved house recently. I brought everything from the old house and restyled it to meet our needs.

*The Same couch feels new with the new set up*

4. Do not cover every space in your house with things.

Most of the space in my house is empty. So, we have more place to exercise, to roam around and to live.

5. Do not over decorate as maintaining the decoration becomes a hassle

The only thing I did to decorate my house was getting plants. I have not bought any decorative items for the last 3 years. I was once a hoarder of decorative items and trinkets.

6. Donate what you no longer need.

I always donate things I no longer use to charity stores, so someone else can use them. There are many stores in Berlin like this.

7. Reuse your packaging to make something new.

I wash and reuse all our glass bottles and jars.

All tomato purée bottles that came for cooking workshops

8. Invest in a good shopping cart.

I always carry my shopping cart for grocery shopping so there is no need for single-use plastic bags.

9. Separate your garbage.

I separate my garbage into paper, plastic, and organic waste. I have separate bins for each and recycle anything else that I can.

10. Be thoughtful of what you can do with food leftovers.

I have planted onion, radish, and garlic leftovers in my garden and they grow into new plants that bring more food.

11. Try to replace paper with digital.

I use a kindle instead of buying books. I also have a digital diary. In workshops, I prefer to send e-recipes than handing print outs.

12. Try to curate your closet as per your lifestyle.

I have a set outfit for work, so I have fewer work clothes. My energy goes into the workshop and is not wasted on deciding what clothes to wear. It’s one less thing to worry about.

13. Have a mini herb garden. All you need is a sunny location on a balcony, kitchen counter or window sill.

I grow my own herbs — mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil and others on my small balcony.

My mini herb garden

14. Do not collect presents if you don’t actually like them.

I do not keep any presents that I do not need. I pass them on to someone who would appreciate them more. I appreciate gifts of experiences more than material gifts. I like to treat my friends with new experiences instead of material gifts.

15. Buy things which need less maintenance.

I no longer buy clothes which require dry cleaning.

16. Try to make your own products.

I make my own kitchen and surface cleaner with water and vinegar. It cleans my kitchen very well.

17. Read the labels to get to know the ingredients of your consumables.

All my cosmetics come from relatively cleaner brands. I mostly get organic food at home as it is easily available in Berlin and it’s more affordable than it was in Seoul.

18. Appreciate quality over quantity.

I do not update my possessions often. I buy things with an intent to keep them for a long time.

19. Value experiences more than things.

I have lost all patience with shopping as an activity. I like to spend that time doing new things and meeting new people.

20. You do not have to buy things in sets.

I buy one glass if I need one. Mixing and matching is fun and also trendy.

21. Be conscious of how and where your purchases are produced.

I prefer locally produced products.

22. Be aware of environmentally -friendly materials.

I prefer cotton, glass, ceramic, wood over plastic & polyester.

23. Try to think of a second use for your items before deciding to recycle or throw them away.

Sometimes we are surprised by how simple and creative it can be.

24. Try to apply similar ideas for sustainability at work.

In my cooking workshops, I make sure we use very few cookwares. We also use organic products that are local, fresh, and seasonal. I also offer vegan alternatives for everything.

And finally,
25. Spread the word of sustainability with others and make them think of it if they are not already.

Every tiny act makes a difference to mother Earth.

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Health and Lifestylefarheen fathimaFebruary 19, 2024