What Does It Really Mean to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle?
So, what exactly is living a sustainable lifestyle? It’s actually very simple: You must stop buying new things, you must take showers for only one minute, you can’t own a car or live in a detached house, you must ditch your televisions and all your electronics, never fly, you can only do laundry once a month, and you can have only one child.
Well, not really. Obviously, I am joking. But people who dismiss living sustainably usually mention any one or some of the above “restrictions” as why they can never adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
Let’s be clear: living sustainably isn’t about following a long list of strict, joyless rules. It’s not about guilt-tripping yourself into giving up everything you enjoy. And it’s definitely not about rushing to buy the latest “eco-friendly” gadget that just hit the market or about buying an electric car.
Sustainable living is something far more powerful — and far more freeing. It’s about rethinking how our everyday choices affect the world around us. It’s about recognizing, as Neil Evernden writes in The Natural Alien: Humankind and Environment, that “[w]e are the environmental crisis.” That might sound harsh, but it’s also empowering. Because if we are the problem, we can also be the solution.
Most of us genuinely want to live sustainably. We care about the planet. We worry about climate change and the future our children will inherit. But many of us feel stuck — overwhelmed by a system built on overconsumption and discouraged by how little governments and corporations seem to be doing.
Here’s the truth: sustainable living isn’t about giving things up. It’s about taking something back. It’s about reclaiming control from a culture that tells us our worth is measured by what we own, how busy we are, and how much we consume.
The United Nations Environment Programme puts it beautifully:
“Sustainable living means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter.”
That’s really what it’s about — finding a better way to live. Not just for the planet, but for yourself. Because when you start living more sustainably, things begin to shift:
You let go of guilt and anxiety by living in line with your values.
You gain time and peace of mind by slowing down and being more intentional.
You start supporting what you believe in — ethical fashion, local food, clean energy.
You find a deeper sense of purpose and connection to your community and the world.
And yes, you also discover a more lasting kind of happiness — the kind that doesn’t depend on stuff, but on meaning. Isn’t that what we’re all really looking for?
Through this series of essays, I want to show you that sustainable living isn’t about perfection, pressure, or rules — it’s about possibility.
I won’t lie: those first steps can feel challenging. They might ask you to rethink your habits, your routines, and even your mindset. But every small change brings you closer to a life that’s lighter on the Earth — and richer, calmer, and more intentional for you
.