It’s a new year new us here at EcoMogul. 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but in the spirit of positivity, we’ve chosen to take lessons from a year of struggle. Without wasting any time, let’s jump right into it. 20 things we learned in 2020.
Authur: Heena Shah
Lesson 1: Nothing is Permanent
Nothing is certain. Not much is within our control. In a world that is ever changing, all we can really control is our thoughts, our words, and our actions. So there is no time to really worry about the things we cannot control, but we can put our energy into managing ourselves. Life will seem less like it’s happening to us.
Lesson 2: Our Relationships are Precious
This pandemic has seen unprecedented losses in human life, with more every day. Our neighbors, coworkers, distant relatives, and even those closest to us aren’t always safe from the effects of covid and the new normal it’s brought to our lives. The people in our lives are precious, the time we have with them is fleeting, and we have the choice to treat these relationships with the importance we really give them.
Lesson 3: Not All Relationships are Actually Precious
Our mental health is the most important responsibility we have to ourselves. Sometimes that means setting boundaries with relationships with the people that are in our lives. That might mean different things for the different relationships you might find yourself in, but nothing is worth your peace.
Lesson 4: My Time Belongs to Me
In a world where nothing is permanent, there is no time to waste. No time to waste, spent on activities or people that don’t bring me joy.
Lesson 5: I Decide My Priorities (and it’s ok if they change)
When my time is mine to delegate, I get to decide who or what gets priority and when. Here in the United States, we are told that money is the key to success, that in order to get ahead in life we have to make ourselves constantly available for work. What we aren’t told is that this opens the floodgates to get taken advantage of, because most of the time we are replaceable to others. In this reality, I am I charge of where my time goes. Remember this.
Lesson 6: Denying Climate Change is Out of the Question
Numbers don’t lie. Droughts, overactive weather, pandemics, all of these are direct indicators that human intervention to climate has lasting impacts. Impacts that are felt in other parts of the world and this is something and just cannot be ignored.
Lesson 7: Buy Less
Your individual carbon footprint is affected by how much you get shipped in, and the carbon footprint of the products you introduce into your life. Buy less, use less, live your life on less and watch the positive consequences of minimal consumption.
Lesson 8: Avoid Single Use Plastic
Single use plastic is out, reusable is in.
Lesson 9: Buy Small
Supporting small businesses mean supporting budding entrepreneurs and families. Your purchases mean more, they support real people, and your money goes towards keep the economy circular- not making the rich richer.
Lesson 10: Hobbies are Everything
Eat food you’ve cooked and cook something new. Create, with yourself or with your loved ones as a way to bond. Try something new: buy a unicycle, take more photos, learn how to play an instrument. Anything you’ve ever wanted to try or be better at. A hobby is on the same level as self-investment. Do it for you, because you deserve it.
Lesson 11: Green is King
Green is Earth. And the immeasurable wealth of this Earth is actually financially worth more than it’s ever been.
Lesson 12: Read More
Sometimes you need to be self-educated. Take initiative in yourself.
Lesson 13: My Health is Always Top Priority
Working out, taking time to rest, making time for the things that bring happiness or fulfillment. These are the things worth making time for.
Lesson 14: Health and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand
Eat clean, unprocessed foods. Produce and meats without excess hormones can only mean buying local, not from a larger chain. These choices in your purchases coincide with ever-growing sustainable practices.
Lesson 15: There are Other Ways to Express Love and Affection
In a world where you might go weeks or months without seeing someone, and when you do you cannot be within a handshakes distance from them, creativity is key. For the introverts of the world this is possibly an ideal situation, but for anyone still blessed to have loved ones, this is the time to get creative.
Lesson 16: Buy Second Hand
The most sustainable thing you can buy is to not buy anything at all. Read that again. Preserve your clothes and buy pre-loved to get the quality and name brand you might still crave, with net zero impact on the planet and reduced impact on your wallet.
Lesson 17: You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Comfort or Luxury to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle
You just don’t.
Lesson 18: Learn Better Do Better
Perfection does not exist in the sustainability world. Once there becomes more information, materials, products, and ways of living that are more accessible and doable to the individual consumer, the higher the likelihood that it is able to be done in multitude. This planet does not need a handful of people living a net zero, completely ethical/sustainable lifestyle… what this planet needs is people in the millions living with intention, using less, buying smarter, choosing sustainable.
Lesson 19: Greenwashing is Everywhere
Big name corporations are still evil. They still want your money. And they are using creative ways to get you to give it to them. Stay vigilant, don’t be a sheep.
Lesson 20: You Get Out What You Put In
With any venture you will you ever have in your life; you will get out of it what you put in. The more efficient effort, positive energy and goodness you put in the business or personal relationships you have, the more you will see come out of it. That means genuine intention to do the work leads to the changes and growth you’d like to see. You can do it, and you have the team here at EcoMogul backing you up.
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