The effects of the climate crisis are becoming intense; as such, individuals are playing different roles to mitigate it.

We have people who are contributing via activism while others are using their skills. For the rest, it is through making conscious sustainable lifestyle choices and minding what they consume.

We understand that transitioning into a sustainable lifestyle to save the planet is not a walk in the park. That is why we have listed three (3) hurdles that you’re likely to face when you begin your sustainability journey and how you can overcome them.

Ditch old habits

So, you see people struggling with addiction and wonder why they can’t just quit for their own good. Well, that’s because old habits die hard.

Habits are so powerful that they take a lot of effort and consistency to break. For you to transition into a sustainable way of living, you need to do away with the habits you formed over time.

After all, researchers say it takes about 21 days to form a new habit, so, why not try replacing your unsustainable habits with a new one within that timeframe?

One way you can successfully pull this off is by forming new small habits rather than trying to break the old habits at a go.

Start small then work your way up. You can write down your sustainability goals and tick them off as you accomplish each one. You can also get a family member or friend to be your accountability partner or simply join an eco-focused community on any of your preferred social media platforms for guidance.

Make it a habit to celebrate your wins as it is not an easy feat to get rid of old unsustainable habits. But making the decision to begin and actually start is an important step in the sustainability direction.

Shop local

We won’t sugarcoat it. Living a sustainable lifestyle can be expensive. A huge dent in your finances is one of the greatest challenges you’re likely to face the moment you decide that you want to start living a sustainable life.

Have you seen the price of an EV? They cost an arm and a leg. Just saying.

The challenge with going green is even more evident in the sustainable fashion industry where eco-friendly clothes cost way more than some fast fashion items.

For that reason, we advise that you do more local shopping. Most of the sustainable items you may likely see online usually end up being expensive. It then means you’d have greater chances of getting good deals offline.

You could try your neighborhood thrift store where you get to pick from a wide range of handmade wares.

Be proud of your decision

You’re at your Aunt May’s 70th birthday dinner and you tell the waiter you don’t want a straw with your drink or that you would rather eat your food plain without meat.

Well, that could earn you some weird looks from people around and it can be discouraging.

Always have it in mind that you took a good decision the moment you decided to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Being confident in your decision will help you feel less awkward around people especially when you have to explain to them why you took such decisions.

Bottom line

Transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle is a personal decision and it is not an easy one. Just take it one step at a time and try to be part of a community that shares the same sustainability values as you. As you make little efforts, you’ll get better with time.