For me, picking up a new habit or hobby is always fun. Scrapbooking, trying a new workout, and cooking are things that I really love to do. Sometimes, though, I lose motivation and drive to maintain these habits and hobbies. The same goes with living a greener lifestyle and choosing sustainable options.

Getting the ball rolling to reduce waste can be tough. "What if you’ve been stocking up on plastic toothbrushes when they’re on sale?" "What if you’re still having to take the trash out twice a week because of the amount of waste in your daily routine?" "What if accessibility and affordability is making it impossible to make greener decisions? These questions can be discouraging.

Instead of focusing on the negatives, ask yourself: “What can I do better next time?” “What other options do I have as a consumer?” “How can I be a part of making my environment better?” "What am I really good at already when it comes to sustainability?" It’s with these productive and empowering questions that we feel the ability to make a difference.

I earned a minor in Environmental Studies in college, and when I first started taking sustainability classes, I was stoked. I was learning so much about how to reduce my environmental impact, ways I could play a part in mitigating climate change, and how to get more people on board with the whole idea. As time went on, it was hard for me to maintain that same passion I found in the beginning. I was focusing so much on school, I was on a college budget, and I had other things I wanted to spend my free time on before I graduated. The struggle to keep up with a sustainable lifestyle is common and it is O-K. Being sustainable is all about finding a balance and doing your best.

Here are some tips and tricks to keeping your motivation high and your waste low!

1. If accessibility and affordability are roadblocks for you, it’s never a lost cause. ALWAYS compare packaging. If you have two options and one is in plastic and one is in a recyclable material, always choose the latter. Plus, if you're planning to splurge at your favorite coffee house, they might offer a discount for bringing your own cup!
2. Use what you already have until you can’t anymore. Reuse grocery and Ziploc bags, repurpose old clothes and towels into cleaning rags, dog toys or handkerchief and see what other DIY projects you can find. Even if you have a lot of single use items, work your way through them before buying greener alternatives. Just because they're labeled as single use doesn't mean you can't reuse them. You’ve already spent the money and letting those things go to waste is the opposite of what you want to do!
3. Stay up to date on news, especially the good stuff! Finding out what other people and communities are doing to go green can help keep you motivated and think of new ideas. Following sustainable accounts on Instagram and Facebook is also helpful for the same reasons. A few of our favorites include @TrashisforTossers and @Going.Zero.Waste
4. Find an accountability buddy. Team up with a friend who shares the same passion and check up every so often, especially when you’re struggling.  Having someone you know is trying to think creatively about their environment is a complete game changer in staying strong for Mother Earth.

Sometimes it is difficult to keep the momentum going, but always remember the “why” of sustainability. We are working towards a better Earth, environment, and atmosphere. Your efforts to help meet this goal are as every bit important as the next guy’s. Keep it up!

--Have ideas of how we can stay sustainable? Comment below!