12 Ways You Can Be Kinder to Your Environment Right Now

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Last Updated: April 11, 2023

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As we grow up, adults and authority figures around us often encourage us to “be kind.”

Be kind to your friends. Be kind to our teachers. Be kind to other kids.

But what about being kinder to your environment?

Being kind to other people is undeniably important for fostering healthy relationships and nurturing our own personal development. Yet, being kind to your environment takes your awareness up a notch.

It teaches us to be not just considerate of other humans, but also of the space and nature surrounding us. It teaches us to treat everything with a certain level of respect.

So, in this article, we’re going to look at how you can be kinder to your environment and why it’s important.

What Are the Benefits of a Healthy Environment?

Keeping our immediate environment healthy and consciously thinking of the bigger picture can improve not only our lives but also the lives of those around us. It can also help foster feelings of gratitude for how our external environment impacts our daily lives.

But there’s more… Here is a list of benefits you can gain from a healthy environment:

Increased productivity
Improved mental clarity (less distraction)
Increased focus
Reduced risk of diseases or illness
Enhanced appreciation for life and everything it has to offer
Improved ability to be present

It’s no secret why Marie Kondo took off in the last few years! Getting our external environment in order has undeniable consequences for our mental and physical well-being.

How Can We Care for the Environment Every Day?

If you’re not entirely sure where to start when it comes to caring for your external environment and becoming more mindful of it, we’ve got you covered. Below, we list our top 12 ways you can be kinder to your environment.

1. Keep Your Immediate Space Tidy.

Various indicators show how clutter can negatively impact our mental health.

In other words, it literally stresses us out and can make it tricky to stay focused. Plus, starting with your immediate environment is an easy segue into caring and being kind to your external environment as a whole.

It’s like accomplishing the first level of environmental care, and it directly impacts you and how you feel.

So, take a few minutes or an hour; Clean up! Organize. Try to keep it tidy so you can relax in your immediate space or focus on that next big project without stress or distraction.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

There are so many ways to reclaim old products or furniture.

A quick sand and paint job works wonders on that antique shelf or unused desk sitting in your basement. Taking this a step further, making an effort to recycle what we can each day shows yourself and this planet a whole lot of kindness.

3. Surround Yourself With Plants.

Bring nature indoors! Certain plants, such as the snake plant, aloe vera, peace lily, and more, can help filter toxins out of your air, allowing you and your family to breathe easier.

This also offers a way to get your foot in the door when it comes to caring for the environment. You’ll learn to nurture and care for these plants, which will likely spill over to your appreciation of greenery outside of your home.

4. Considering Walking or Cycling More vs. Using Your Car.

If you can walk or cycle it, why not do that?

This not only saves your cost on fuel and helps you get much-needed daily movement in, but it also lowers your carbon footprint. You will use less gas and put out less pollution into our fragile environment.

5. Bring Your Own Bag!

Okay, admittedly, there’s got to be some planning for this one.

I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to the store and forgotten to bring one of my many reusable bags from home. So, plan ahead; Keep the bags in your car or stuff one or two in your purse or day bag. This can reduce your use of plastics and prevent them from piling up in landfills.

6. Foster Appreciation for Nature.

When hiking or walking, I encourage you to take in your natural surroundings and try to truly feel appreciation for them.

The trees, plants, and more keep our air fresh and breathable. This isn’t a small feat by any means. Consider touching the trees or smelling the flowers. Be mindful in nature and extend thanks.

7. Try Composting.

This isn’t for everyone. But if it’s available to you, composting can be a wonderful way to complete that good ol’ circle of life.

It gives nutrients to the soil and offers another space to throw away organic garbage, again, without it ending up in a landfill.

8. Plant a Tree.

This doesn’t mean you have to go and join an organization that plants hundreds of trees a year (although it could).

Instead, keep this simple and plant a tree in your front or backyard. Give life back to the environment. In many ways, it’s extending kindness to the other plants and trees nearby (There’s actually tons of research showing how trees communicate with one another).

9. Think Sustainably.

When purchasing new products, think about it from a sustainable approach.

Is this something that will last, or are you jumping on the latest and temporary trend?

When buying food, have a plan on how to use it so that it doesn’t get thrown away.

Each item you buy should have value. This translates into showing kindness to our environment by, yet again, reducing our waste (which is one of the best things we can do!).

10. Cancel Those Weekly or Monthly Paper Bank Statements.

If you have bank or credit card statements, you can view them online, so do that and cancel the paper version.

I did this years ago after realizing I was literally throwing the paper statements in the trash without even looking at them. It was so wasteful, and I felt super guilty about it. With one click of the button, it wasn’t a problem anymore, and I was wasting far less paper.

11. Use Less Packaging.

Buying items at local farmer’s markets over commercial grocery stores can save on unnecessary packaging.

Additionally, keeping food in reusable Tupperware goes a long way in reducing what gets thrown in our waste bin.

12. Be Conscious and Mindful of Your Daily Habits.

When thinking about being kind to the environment, this can also extend into the tiny things we do in our day-to-day.

For instance, when brushing your teeth, don’t let the tap run and only use the water you need. When cleaning, try to use reusable cloths or towels vs paper towel. You can also take short showers or only the length of shower that is necessary.

There are so many ways to be kind in our daily life to our environment. Get creative and think about this as you go about your day-to-day. It will help you reduce what you use, as well as help you foster increased mindfulness.