Here at Own Your Goals, we’re all about consistent habits that lead to sustainable results. Slow and steady definitely wins the race as far as we’re concerned – we’d never advocate setting unachievable goals that we know we could possibly ever stick to. Exercising and making healthy lifestyle choices is all about sustainability so that we stick to them! 

But what if we want to also live sustainably in terms of protecting the environment? We’re into that too and we also know that a lot of you are. It can be tricky navigating our way through ecologically sound ideas and products, especially in a world set up for convenience and waste. 

So here’s our top tips for living a greener, more sustainable lifestyle…

1. Food planning is key to avoiding food waste. Food sent to landfill creates methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas, so the less food we waste, the better. Planning our food on a weekly basis helps to reduce stress and wasted food, win win! 
2. Always carry an empty lunchbox with you, so that if you’re grabbing lunch on the go or you’re out for dinner and you can’t eat it all, you have somewhere to store leftovers. They then make the perfect meal or snack when you next need to eat, and you’re avoiding sending wasted food to landfill.
3. Bamboo your life. Bamboo is a great alternative to plastic as it’s a renewable, fast growing crop that biodegrades at the end of its useful life. It’s also become more affordable as plastic alternatives become more mainstream. Think toothbrushes, toilet roll, reusable coffee cups and even workout leggings! 
4. If you do one eco thing today, invest in a reusable water bottle. Then, when you’re out, refill from the nearest tap for free. Most coffee shops, bars and restaurants will happily refill for you and many towns and cities now have public water fountains. 
5. Think about the clothes you buy. Many cheaper, mass produced clothing brands add plastics to their clothing (anything with the word ‘poly’ in it is plastic) and these shed plastic microfibres into our waterways each time we wash them. Look for 100% cotton, bamboo, linen and hemp – invest in quality clothing and less of it.
6. Consider plastic free kids’ toys too, and opt for natural materials such as wood and plastic-free fabrics instead. If you do buy plastic toys (we get it, pester power is real!) make sure to donate them when your child has outgrown them.
7. Think about your cleaning products, too. What we use to clean our homes and our clothes all ends up down the drain and in the oceans. Eco-friendly cleaning products are just as good, even if they sometimes do require a little extra muscle – consider it a workout! 
8. What we use to clean ourselves with can also get a green makeover. Choosing bars of soap wrapped in paper over plastic bottles of liquid soap and shower gel is an easy eco swap. 

Give us your tips on living a more sustainable, greener lifestyle!