See the Big Picture; It's the Little Things

It's not about an extravagant lifestyle change for everyone. What we can all do is become much more conscientious of all the little decisions we constantly encounter and adjust the choices we make to be less impactful on the world. EXERTING CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS. This can be learned and integrated into any lifestyle, and it really does MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Take into consideration each and every action an average person, or family, makes throughout a day or week. Waking up and getting ready to go to school or work, afternoon activities, chores, dinner, after dinner activities, getting ready for bed. There are ways to tweak tiny details of these routine actions (concentrate on the little things) so when they add up over time and multiply by global population (when we look at the big picture), our collective actions have a more positive, sustainable outcome than they otherwise would.

• Getting Ready for the day - Think about all the things we do to get ready each morning and how we can practice conscientious awareness as we do them. 
• Showering, brushing teeth, doing hair, washing face, doing makeup etc. - Try to always be conscious of things like water usage and how much you use of your products. Cutting down to the minimal amount necessary also ensures you get the most out of the well-earned dollars you've spent. Pay attention to the ingredients in products used on your body, what the products are packaged in, where they're made and by whom, if they're tested on animals or not, where they're sold, these sorts of details are important. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, shave cream/gel, face wash, toothpaste, lotion, cream, gel, wax, deodorant, cologne/perfume, makeup, sunscreen; most of these soak into your body (to some degree) and many of them are made with chemicals or ingredients that aren't so good for your body or the environment. Making your own products is the best way to avoid intrusive or inhumane ingredients (since you know exactly what's in it and how it's made) and pesky packaging (because you can use reusable containers and buy ingredients in bulk). If it isn't possible to substitute some, or even one, of your daily products for homemade, then try to support companies, products and people that are environmentally/ socially responsible. Educating yourself on - and being conscientious of - the important details of the products you make or buy can help you choose the more sustainable, healthier option for you and the planet. The Environmental Working Group has a database on their website that rates and verifies 'eco-friendly' products, and their site has some interesting info.: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ (for toiletries specifically). The following website has a list of some 'green' brands and suppliers:  http://www.greenchoices.org/green-living/toiletries-cosmetics/some-brands-suppliers. The Permaculture Research Institute website has a great article on 'DIY hygiene' for 'greener grooming':  http://permaculturenews.org/2014/06/19/diy-hygiene-greener-grooming/. And here's a blog that has collected over 100 do-it-yourself recipes for personal hygiene care:  http://dontmesswithmama.com/100-diy-beauty-recipes/.
• Getting dressed - Note the fabric of your clothes, which companies make them, where they're made and by whom, and where they were bought. Organic cotton or hemp are good choices, from ethical companies certified sustainable or 'green'. Made in the USA (not China, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.) is a good thing to support, or fair trade, and anything bought or made completely from smaller, local shops (co-ops, family-owned, for example) or individuals is best because in addition to other advantages it also helps stimulate your local economy. Sourcing or making your own material to make clothes yourself is a nearly 100% sustainable option, but maybe a little extreme for some. Don't forget to note the same details about shoes, jewelry, accessories and anything else possibly needed for the day (hat, umbrella, book bag, etc.) because they all come from somewhere, made out of something, by someone! Again, putting in some extra effort to research the details will assist you in making more conscientious choices about your consumption habits. This video, The Story of Stuff, perfectly explains the current situation of our consumption-based, earn-and-spend, capitalism economy and the threat it poses to the future of our planet (it has animation and is great to watch with kids!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=youtu.be. This article has information on more ethical clothing companies:  http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing. Here's a site which touches on many 'eco' and 'green' topics. It has a specific section with Sustainable Clothing Solutions but the site is full of all sorts of info to explore and learn:  http://www.globalstewards.org/clothing.htm.
• Eating breakfast and making lunch - As with the first two categories, it's important to question yourself about the details of your food consumption habits. Where did I buy it? Who grew/produced it? What's in it? How is it packaged and how is it disposed of? As with other products which affect the body, even more so with what you eat, it's crucial to know what exactly is in your food and to avoid harmful toxins and chemicals. Eating whole foods means less ingredients, less toxins and less packaging - especially if you grow or make whatever you can yourself. There are many food items that can be bought in bulk, too, for the things you must purchase. Supporting local farmers' stands and markets helps the local economy, as well as offers a variety of locally sourced food that is healthier (fruits, veggies, free-range meats and eggs, often with grass-fed and organic options) less-impactful (less packaging, less distance traveled for distribution, can use reusable bags) and money-saving (no transportation or middle-man costs means low prices for great produce). Remember, locally owned co-ops or natural food stores will often have more conscientious options than bigger, chain stores. This website has information about conscientious eating practices, among other things:  http://beyondfactoryfarming.org/get-informed/consumer-choice/conscientious-eating.  Here's a Time article with over 30 tips on eating in a more enviro-friendly way:  http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/24/33-ways-to-eat-environmentally-friendly/.  And this article has some eco-friendly eating tips for families:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-earthday-greeneating.html. 
• Going to school, work, etc. - To be conscientious of details throughout even the busiest times of the day, like during work or school, is tough but it's also meaningful and possible. Keep in mind resources and products consumed in this time and how much of them. Can you walk, bike, take public transportation or carpool with others to save fossil fuels? How/what can you turn off/power down to conserve energy? What can you do to create less food waste or any waste throughout the day? There's also intrinsic human values to be aware of such as being helpful and kind to others and the earth, assisting those in need or doing a good deed (like picking up trash) for instance. Even our attitudes towards things like other people, work or school, and all the little details in between, are something we can be conscious of and improve on if we choose. Here is an interesting post by Leo Babauta emphasizing similar ideas: http://zenhabits.net/conscious/.
• Afternoon activities, hobbies and chores - It's good for us (humans) to have these things, and it's even better if some extracurricular activities are beneficial to, not only ourselves, but others and the environment, as well. Things that make people happy and healthy like music and exercise are important, but so are things like volunteering or picking up trash, which also helps the earth and our fellow humans on it. From activities like gardening and art, to chores like loading the dishwasher, and everything in between, they all require decisions which can be made in a way that produces a more favorable outcome for all. Gardening can be done as often and sustainably as possible to conserve resources while getting more plants in the ground (for food, oxygen, beauty, etc.). Art in all its forms can be done in eco-friendly ways and is often an impactful way to raise awareness of issues. Chores can always be done in ways that are more conscientious, too. For example, loading the dishwasher, space should be fully utilized in order to conserve water, energy and product. Also, certain companies sell biodegradable dishwasher soap that comes in a cardboard box, or you can even make it at home pretty easily. When doing laundry, try to recognize anything that may not actually need to be washed (maybe it was only worn once and has no smells nor stains, or, if you have kids, maybe worn only five minutes and then strewn onto the floor), hang dry whenever possible to really conserve energy, and be cautious what you're using to wash the clothes that sit on your skin for hours at a time. Again, avoiding toxins and chemicals is ideal for our bodies and for the water which eventually flushes back into the environment. Here are more chore-efficiency ideas: http://www.enerchange.org/2012/10/greenify-your-household-chores/.
• Dinner - Same applies as with breakfast and lunch. The more you can conscientiously prepare for your day or week or certain situations, especially with food, the less waste you will create. For example: using your reusable cup for your morning coffee, tea, juice or smoothie; remembering the reusable bags (also rinsing and reusing the plastic produce bags) for grocery trips; buying whole foods that come in less packaging (bulk, grains, fruits, veggies) from local farms/markets/grocers; using reusable containers for leftovers (glass Pyrex is great); eating out at restaurants less to save money and avoid things like food waste or needing a to-go container (of which you can always bring your own); setting up a compost, even a small one, and maybe pots or beds with fruits or veggies (depending on climate and space availability) so you have free fertilizer and don't have to buy as much produce.
• Evening activities, events - What is it you choose to spend your money on or your time doing? Can you make whatever it is more conscientiously helpful in any little way? Or less harmfully impactful? 
• Bedtime - Just like getting ready in the morning, and being aware of all the same things. 

No one can be perfect about this stuff one hundred percent of the time and, again, that's not the point. The goal is to realize that each new choice (little things) is another chance to lessen our negative impact, and to make this world a little better somehow, not worse for future generations (big picture).

**Put It Into Practice**

What we choose to buy and where we choose to buy it (the little things), really has impact. In mass numbers, which the world clearly has, consumers have purchasing power that can determine  production practices (the big picture)! When the demand is high for companies and products that are conscious of the important details, it can become trendy and popular, others will want to follow suit and then, hopefully, it becomes the norm. This can happen with baby steps; becoming aware of our daily decisions, educating ourselves on our options and what our choices mean, and slowly integrating that knowledge and conscientiousness into our daily lives as much as possible because we are all consumers. We may not be able to be ECO-MAD all the time but that shouldn't stop us from trying to go ECO-MAD any chance we get. Remember, each action we take as individuals, and its consequences good or bad, collectively adds up and really matters in the long-run. We have control over our choices, and our future depends on us.