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Pee in the Shower (And Learn Other Fun Conservation Methods to Help Save the Planet)

Planet Earth needs your help. And your mission, should you accept it, is . . . to pee in the shower? That’s right! Conservation efforts are gaining traction these days, and for good reason.
 
Did you know that as of August 2, 2017 we have already used more of nature’s resources than our planet can renew in a whole year? This is called Earth Overshoot Day.
 
Earth Overshoot Day is calculated to mark the day each year when humans will have used more of the earth’s resources than she can reproduce in one year. You can learn more and calculate your individual date here.
 

What is Conservation and Why Is It Important For Saving the Planet?

Conservation is anything that you do to reduce your footprint on the planet. It’s knowing what habits hurt the earth and making a conscious effort to break those habits.
 
Adopting a new conservation habit comes down to one thing: awareness. Simply becoming aware of the habits you already have, noticing the not-so-great ones, and making a decision to be better is really all it takes!
 

Here’s Your 8 Fun Conservation Tips To Save the Planet

There are so many fantastic ways to form conservation habits. We’re going to barely scratch the surface in this article, but I encourage you to do some research and find other ways to contribute. Let’s get to work and save the planet!
 

1. Pee in the Shower

Your toilet can use up to 7 gallons of water every time you flush . . . say what? Aside from abiding by the “let it mellow” rule, you could multitask and pee in the shower!
 
While we’re talking about showers, try shortening the amount of time you spend in there. This conservation effort takes some serious willpower, but can ultimately save about 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
 
Try timing yourself in the shower and make shortening that time every week into a game. The prize? You choose!
 
 

2. Step Away From the Shopping Mall

Stop giving your dough to brands that disregard the well-being of their workers, trash the planet, and care about nothing but profits. (Seriously, look into this.)
 
Start by “shopping” your closet, or the closet of a friend. Really dig into those crevices that haven’t seen the light in months (years?) and see if you can give an old piece new life.
 
When you absolutely need something new, lean into the thrill of shopping secondhand. It’ll almost never be what you’re expecting, but that’s the fun of it! Secondhand stores tap into your creative Svadhisthana Chakra and your ability to see things in different ways.
 
This conservation effort keeps fabric and textiles out of growing landfills and can even help to reduce our negative impact on foreign village economies.
 
 

3. Stop Making Trash

Anyone else here super competitive? Challenge yourself to create the least amount of waste possible.
 
This idea is called the “Zero Waste Movement” and it’s centered around the “R’s.” In order of importance: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
 
Refuse what you don’t absolutely need. Reduce the amount of packaging (especially plastic) you bring into your life. Reuse old things and give them new purpose. Finally, recycle the leftovers.
 
The Zero Waste Movement as a conservation effort is all about reducing the waste we send to our growing landfills. You may or may not know this, but landfills are getting out of control.
 
 

4. Drink More Beer!

Hell yeah, more beer! Drink more beer that comes in glass or cans (opt for boxes to avoid those dolphin-killing plastic rings) because it’s fully recyclable! Unlike plastic, both glass and aluminum can be given new life without deteriorating in worth.
 
If beer isn’t your favorite beverage, skip the cocktail straws at bars. Remembering to ask for this will take some getting used to, but those little suckers are among the most wasteful uses of plastic out there. What are they even for??
 

 

5. Eat Your Garden

This is one of my favorite conservation efforts. As more and more U.S. land is used for lawns, we don’t have enough land to sustainably feed our people a balanced, seasonal diet.
 
A home garden is a fantastic way to get to know Mother Nature, and spending time tending to plants that will one day feed you is one of the most rewarding feelings. The coolest part is that most edible plants can be grown either indoors or outdoors, and they’re hardy af.
 
Plants I recommend starting with are leafy greens, herbs, squashes, peppers, and tomatoes.
 
 

6. Locals Only!

Eating local is especially important because it helps you follow a seasonal or Ayurvedic diet, which is best for our bodies anyways. Does it ever weird you out that you can get summer berries in the dead of winter at most grocery stores? Is that just me?
 
Local food has less of an impact on Mama Earth because it doesn’t have to travel so far to get to your mouth, and less chemicals are used to preserve the food’s appearance at a grocer. And the beautiful vegetables at your local farmer’s market will totally inspire you. Win, win, win!
 
What’s Ayurveda? I’m glad you asked. Read Introducing Ayurveda – Everything You Need to Know in a Nutshell
 
 

7. Let Old MacDonald Keep His Farm

Eat less meat. This might be the most unpopular conservation habit out there, but it’s truly one of the simplest ways to reduce your personal impact on the environment.
 
A recent study found that just one simple dietary change could significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases each individual produces: replace beef with beans.
 

With this one simple change, the U.S. could almost meet greenhouse-gas emission goals by 2020. -James Hamblin, The Atlantic

 
Meatless Monday, anyone??
 
 

8. Buses, Trains, and Bikes, Oh My

Taking your bike or public transit around your city can sound intimidating at first, but trust me! It’s so much fun.
 
By relying on alternate forms of transportation you’ll learn about the cultural nuances of your city, have inspiring interactions with other people, and learn the ins-and-outs of your city way faster than if you drove everywhere.
 
This simple habitual shift can help reduce the amount of toxic greenhouse gases polluting our atmosphere, reduce traffic, and help you gain a greater sense of community.
 

Amplify Your Conservation Efforts. Join Forces With a Friend!

In Western societies, we are lucky enough to live in some of the most powerful countries in the world. With that power comes the equivalent responsibility to protect the resources that we tend to take for granted.
 
By mastering these conservation habits and more, teaching them to our friends, and becoming more aware of the daily impact we have, we can save Mama Earth together. It’ll be like we all have superpowers!
 
Much love! Namaste.
 

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Morgan Casavant

Morgan is a graphic designer and yoga instructor committed to inspiring compassion, balance, and centeredness - on and off the mat. She loves minimalism, the zero waste movement, and all the things working to protect the environment.

morgancasavant.co

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