4 common areas of resistance you may face when moving toward a low waste lifestyle
& tips for overcoming them
written by Jasmine Irven
If you’ve landed on this post it’s likely you’re aware you want to make change in your life, and we are so proud of you for recognizing the importance of taking that first step! The world truly needs us to step up and make change in our own life in order to reverse the damage that our climate is facing.
Sustainable living is a lifestyle shift. It means looking at your daily actions, and the impact you’re making (positive or negative), and using that as a starting point for finding simple shifts you can make to reduce your environmental footprint and create a better future.
Like every lifestyle shift though, with change comes resistance. Humans are creatures of habit. Everything we do is reflected in circuits in our brains. The more we do something, the more these circuits become engrained, easier, and stronger, in support of that habit. But remember,
“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.”
And going back to your grade 11 physics class, “an object in motion stays in motion.” The more you rewire these circuits - the more you make change in support of the new habits you want to create, and the more you take action (even small action) every day on your way to achieving these goals, the more momentum you will build.
So, take these areas of resistance as an opportunity to improve. Get out of your comfort zone knowing that the discomfort means you are making impact!
Here are a few of the most common areas of resistance we see when people start on their low waste journey, and some tips on how to overcome them!
overwhelm
It can feel overwhelming to go “zero waste” – you can see the infamous “mason jar photos” (where someone posts a photo of their waste for the year fitting into a mason jar) – and feel that you’ll never reach that point. This overwhelm can cause doubt + fear, and can lead to inaction due to fear of failure.
While it’s incredible that some have been able to reduce their waste so much, don’t use these people and/or these photos as a goal when first starting out. They are way too many steps ahead of you to make a comparison! That’s like trying to mimic someone who has a 7-figure business when you don’t even have a business idea yet. You need to find people to aspire to who are only a few steps ahead of you, so you can make sustainable change that sticks.
As you progress in your journey, you can continue to look for that next level or that next person to aspire to. But at the start, avoid the traps of comparison as it will only lead to tears. Trust me!!
Implementation: choose to make 1 choice every day that reflects a more sustainable life, rather than trying to do all the things. Then, as these small choices become second-nature, add on more! For example, maybe tomorrow you say no to the extra stack of napkins they try to offer you at your favourite fast food joint, the following day you say no to the plastic cutlery and bring your own, the next time you bring your own container, and the following day you decide to cook dinner at home instead of going out altogether. Focus on simple change that you can stay consistent with.
lack of impact
As an individual you can feel helpless – like there’s no way that your actions will have an impact when large companies and organizations don’t seem to care about the negative environmental footprint they’re creating. And, I don’t want to invalidate those feelings, because we truly do need systems changes to make a difference – corporations, companies, governments, and leaders need to recognize the huge role they play in the climate crisis we are living in. They need to value impact over profit, and they need to change.
However, your actions WILL have an impact on that change. The more you make sustainable changes in your own life the more others will notice. The more you use your dollar to vote for the type of world you want, and your voice to advocate for change, the more corporations and companies will notice. And the more you use your vote to push for action, the more governments will notice.
Implementation: pick one simple swap to implement today, and know that you are well on your way to making a huge impact.
expense
You may have some resistance to the concept of sustainability because of this idea floating around out there that living this way is super expensive. While living eco-friendly may have more upfront costs, the idea behind so many sustainable options is that they require less repurchasing and/or are one-time costs.
For example,
a reusable coffee mug may be an upfront cost of $25 (for my Joco cup, for example which I 10/10 would recommend), but you save 10% at a ton of chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons for bringing your own cup – which saves you money in the long run!
purchasing a metal razor may be an upfront cost, but you don’t need to replace the handle and the blades are completely recyclable (and last longer than a full plastic razor!)
purchasing a diva cup may be an upfront cost of approximately $30, but saves you the monthly cost of purchasing disposable pads and tampons.
There are also a ton of sustainable living options that are simply cheaper right out of the gate. For example,
purchasing in bulk is often cheaper and you can get exactly the amount you need in order to avoid having to purchase a huge bag of something for one recipe!
veggies, legumes, oats, etc. are cheaper than meat products!
using the multitude of cloth bags you’ve likely accumulated over the years for your groceries is free, compared to paying 10 cents for a plastic bag every time you shop!
While there are definitely some swaps that are more expensive, I think it’s important to remember the difference that you are making in voting with your dollar. The more consumerism shifts to support smaller, sustainable businesses with more eco-friendly options, the more larger corporations will be forced to make changes in their products and/or methods of production. And, as competition increases, costs will come down further.
Alternatives to buying more expensive sustainable options:
DIY
purchase used/ thrift
don’t purchase at all – ask yourself if you even truly need the item!
Implementation: next time you run out of something, look for more sustainable options! Deodorant? Try to DIY it. Flour? Go purchase it in bulk with a reusable container. Paper towel? Ask yourself if you really need paper towel in your home, or if a towel or rag would work instead!
backlash from others
It’s true that many people may be confused by your new lifestyle. If you start getting takeout less, eating less meat, or bringing your own containers/ water bottle/ cutlery out with you, people will likely have questions.
Most questions will come out of curiosity: maybe the change you’re making is something they haven’t considered before and they want to learn more, or maybe they have tried to make changes but they aren’t sure of where to start. If the person is coming from a place of genuine interest, focus on educating and sharing your reasoning openly rather than in an argumentative or confrontational way. Try to avoid making people feel bad about their lifestyle choices. The most important thing you can do is act as an example for others.
Don’t get discouraged by those who are truly confused, or even offended by the changes you’re making. Instead, recognize that this is your life, and you don’t need to explain yourself to others. Again, focus on being a positive example, stand your ground, and move on.
Implementation: consider watching a documentary like game changers. This will help you to become more informed about the choices you are making, and you’ll be able to better answer questions you get from others! But more importantly, just focus on YOU. It’s your life, your impact, and no one can take that away from you.
What are some common areas of resistance you’ve faced when transitioning to a low waste lifestyle? Comment them down below so we can all support each other in our journey!
Sustainable Bliss Collective endorses products & brands we genuinely love and support. If you end up making a purchase through one of our affiliate links, it will not cost you anything but we may earn a commission. Learn more here.
share this on Pinterest
about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
