The concept of sustainability has once again gained momentum during this time of the pandemic. Sustainability is the ability to use the available resources so that future generations’ needs can be met and not compromised. The world is facing such pressing times that many people have lost their jobs and are forced to rethink their over-the-top lifestyle and are bound to cut their extravagance and resort to simplicity. However, if you are capable of maintaining your current lifestyle with God’s grace, the need of the hour is to help those who have been cornered by this pandemic.
In this time of crisis, where staying at home or working from home is the new normal, people are feeling stuck at home. Therefore, below mentioned are a few simple tips to engage yourself productively while adopting sustainability-
- Clean & Organize- In today’s fast-paced world, we often remain so caught up in the daily routines that we blame time for not cleaning up our household stuff like wardrobe, kitchen shelves, etc. Also, we purchase too many things that we forget to use the old ones when new items arrive. Therefore, utilize this time to clean and organize your wardrobe and storage rooms where you can find some old clothes/ utensils/ electronics which no longer fit your requirement, or you will not use them again and donate them to someone in need. Stack them all at a place, so that you remember to give it away later.
- Exercise without equipment- Exercise is vital for one to be in shape. But during the pandemic, where it is advised not to visit gyms, you can do your workout at home or anywhere else without any equipment. Some of the exercises are-
- Jumping Jack,
- Skipping Rope,
- Jog on the spot,
- Push-ups,
- Squats,
- Crunches,
- Plank,
- Sun salutation,
- Lunges,
- Stair workouts,
- Burpee
- Plant your own Garden- Utilize your time, pick up a spade, play with some soil to plant the seeds of fruits and vegetables like mint, coriander, aloe vera, basil, spinach, tomatoes, etc. Learn the gardening techniques, plant seasons and cycles, amount of water required, etc. Use these non-chemical-based foods from your garden while cooking.
- Re-use your Kitchen waste- Do not throw away your kitchen waste like peels of fruits and vegetables. You can create a compost that can be used as a fertilizer in your garden. Also, the water used to wash rice, pulses, and other eatables, etc. should be used to water your plants to avoid wastage of water.
- Give your books another life- Books are said to be the best friends of a man. Everyone has some books which, once read, are not touched again or books that were gifted by someone and are untouched because they were not of a genre that you like. You can either sell these books to a second-hand bookstore or exchange it with someone for another book or something that you need.
- Walk or use Bicycle- With a higher number of people staying at home, fewer cars on roads have made the air quality better. When it is highly required to go outside to a nearby place or store, you can contribute your share of being sustainable and reducing the carbon footprint by walking to the location or by riding a bicycle.
- Focus on your Diet- While grocery shopping is the most common reason for stepping out these days, it should be avoided. With plenty of time in hand, it is time to be more aware of the food you consume like how many calories/ nutritional value it has, is it grown using sustainable means, is it processed or organic, is it local, etc. You should avoid eating outside, and try your hands-on new healthy dishes by exploring some recipes, eat healthy food rather than junk food.
- Buying from local businesses- Small businesses and restaurants have got the most significant setback through this pandemic. People are moving to online shopping, which leads these small stores to collapse. Instead, use their home delivery services and use your power wisely by being careful about what and where to buy. This support will also help in creating more jobs.
- Energy-Saving Techniques- Take time to make energy-efficient replacements in your home by replacing CFLs with LED lights, use natural sunlight to dry the clothes instead of dryers, etc.
- Less use of disposable items– Using Glass Containers instead of disposable items like plastic plates, reusable cloth to substitute paper towels for cleaning up the mess, etc. will save you from exposing you to crowded places, super-markets and will also reduce wasteful consumption.
- Support Essential Workers- We heavily rely on domestic helpers, labor, farmers, rag pickers for our daily activities and hygiene. It is our responsibility to support these essential workers by offering monetary help, or providing them with necessary means like a mask, gloves to fight the virus.
It is time to stop and consider the impact of our wasteful habits. Together we can make it possible to limit our ever-growing consumption in a world of finite resources.
Let us not push our planet in the same place, where it has recovered from during this phase of lockdown. This is the correct time to be a responsible, ethical citizen and show our unshakable commitment to adopt a Zero-waste mechanism and make sustainable living more convenient, sustainable businesses more profitable, and sustainable change to be fashionable.
