One of my Twitter pals, @elaan, recently tweeted, "I am producing less garbage and doing more recycling than I ever have, but I still have a long way to go. There's more I can be doing!"
I think we all get overwhelmed sometimes. Technically, she's right: we could all be doing more. Maybe we traded in a gas-guzzler for a car with better mileage. Wouldn't it be better to ride bikes around town? Just make sure that bike is made from sustainable materials! We can always go a little further, right?
The thing about that is, if we constantly focus on what we could or should be doing, I think we lose sight of all the positive changes we've made. While it's important to try to lower our impact and strive to be better and better, if that's our whole focus we're going to burn ourselves right out.
Chin up! Rather than let that happen, let's take some time to talk about the small things. Maybe even some of the things we're already doing. Here's some great advice from a few of my favorite eco-bloggers.
Adam Shake gets to the heart of how simple this can be in Do Nothing and Call it Green. He suggests, "Stop. Let’s take a deep breath and get back to basics," reminding us that "Hybrid cars are greener; bicycling is green and grass-fed beef is greener, but not eating meat is green. " Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing at all. If you're starting to feel overwhelmed, take some time to just do nothing...even if it's just a few minutes.
Of course it would be great if we could all have green roofs, solar panels, and fancy waste water recycling systems. It's not all going to happen at once, though, and sometimes the small changes make a big impact, too! The Good Human's Do One Thing series is full of great examples of those little things. Small changes like using the lid when you boil a pot of water or watering your plants in the morning or evening instead of the heat of the day really do add up.
Sometimes, I think we need a reminder that the "green" thing to do is often the fun thing! Bethe Almeras has this covered over at The Grass Stain Guru. She encourages you to unplug, play outdoors, and reconnect with nature. What better way to recharge and remember why we do all those green things in the first place?
Do you guys ever get overwhelmed with green fatigue? What do you do to find your center and move past it?
Image Credits:
Fatigue. Creative Commons photo by AnyaLogic
Tree. Creative Commons photo by beccag
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The best way to avoid green fatigue is to not be overly concerned about the little things. It’s the big things that really matter. Here’s a great presentation by Treehugger.com’s founder Graham Hill on 3 big things you can do…
http://www.vimeo.com/5734774
And be sure to spread the word! Talking openly about what you’re doing is a great way to motivate others.
I like to think of it as a continuum. It’s a slow process, but every habit I change is one step farther along it. And, like trying to lose weight, it’s okay to “cheat” sometimes if that’s what it takes to keep you going for the long haul.
I just love this idea! It really is just like a change to diet….a lifestyle change!
Don’t we all! Here’s a great post by Ian Kiernan AO, Clean Up the World chairman. Check it out – http://www.cleanuptheworld.wordpress.com
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. Im looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!