Small Things You Can Do to Help the Planet

While there are things individuals can do to help combat the climate crisis, the majority of the responsibility in overcoming climate change lies with corporations. Companies are aware of changes they could make to combat the climate crisis, but they don’t do anything because of greed.

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. My husband and I visited as part of our [very delayed] honeymoon last year — we got married in late 2019. I visited with my family over 15 years prior, and I was astonished how much the glacier receded since my previous visit.

Several years ago, I started a journey in trying to be more eco-friendly. This included using less plastic, reducing the amount of trash I produce, taking reusable bags with me everywhere, and even composting. I’m still on this journey, but I don’t think about it as much as I used to because everything I do is a habit.

These habits are important, however I remind myself often that the difference made individually is minor. Still, it’s completely valid and necessary to take small steps to be kinder to our planet.

With that in mind, here are several small things you can do to help curb climate change (in no particular order):

1. Bring reusable bags to shop. If you don’t have a bag on you, ask the clerk not to bag your items and carry them out when possible.
2. Vote in favor of climate tax initiatives, and support politicians who recognize the climate crisis is the biggest challenge we face today.
3. If applicable, use a menstrual cup instead of tampons. Use reusable cloth pads.
4. Don’t flush your contacts into the toilet (nor anything else that doesn’t belong there)!
5. Learn to compost. Fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, shredded paper (uncoated), and so much more can be composted. It’s simpler than you think, and there are multiple ways to do it. Just be sure to maintain a healthy ratio of carbon to nitrogen (about 30:1).
6. Start a garden — if I can learn to have a green thumb, so can you! Help diversify the soil where you live.
7. If you have woods on your property, clear dead and fallen trees. Be active in fire mitigation where you live.
8. Be mindful of your purchases.
9. Use cloth diapers (plus, they’re cheaper).
10. Bring reusable cups to coffee shops.
11. Use a bidet — weird at first but life changing.
12. Buy bamboo toilet paper.
13. Use reusable mop cloths.
14. Buy fair trade coffee.
15. Bring refillable water bottles with you everywhere.
16. Pick up trash where it doesn’t belong and dispose of, recycle, or compost it.
17. Talk about climate change.

…and so much more!

If you’re interested in changing some of your habits to do your part in helping our planet, then hopefully a few ideas from my list are doable. While corporations need to step up the most, there are simple things all of us can do to help.

Hiking on sand dunes in Michigan. My husband and I picked up trash as we hiked.

“When I’m taking action, I don’t feel like I am helpless and that things are hopeless, because then I feel like I’m doing everything I can…

And that gives me very much hope, especially to see all the other people all around the world, the activists, who are taking action and who are fighting for their present and for their future.” — Greta Thunberg