Why To Live Sustainably? The 7 Most Important Benefits Of A Sustainable Lifestyle

Why should you live sustainably? This is a question that each of us should really ask ourselves. As I type these lines into my keyboard, I'm even a little surprised that I'm writing them at all. After all, what does it say about our society when you have to convince other people to stand up for other living beings and for a healthy planet on which we ourselves live?

At the very least, it doesn't exactly underscore a company's future-oriented actions. But that is precisely what sustainability means. Fortunately, there are countless convincing arguments and motives for a conscious, sustainable lifestyle.

In this article, I would like to briefly and concisely explain why sustainability is so important - and why we should all learn to live sustainably. Let's go!

Here you can find a short overview in advance:

1. Solve environmental problems
2. Live healthier and lighter
3. Save cash
4. Have more time for the important things
5. Improving social coexistence
6. Feel better and be happier
7. Be a role model for future generations

Why should you live and act sustainably? 7 reasons and advantages

Sustainability is actually a simple, forestry principle: No more wood may be felled than can grow back. Nevertheless, the Earth Overload Day steadily further towards the beginning of the year. Every day, we continue to cut the proverbial branch on which we are sitting - and live on credit. At the expense of the environment, animals and other people. We waste natural resources, which actually have to last the whole year.

"The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." 

Robert Swan (more at Sustainability Quotes)

So maybe I even need to clarify the initial question a bit more: Why MUST we live and act sustainably? After all, there is simply nothing else left for us to do. Either we live sustainably now - or at some point not at all. There is no alternative to sustainability.

Here I would like to give you my personal reasons why sustainable living is so important for yourself and for all of us.

1. because we need to solve environmental problems

We humans are faced with a mammoth task: we have to save our planet - from ourselves. The following, largest Environmental problems of our time are a significant part of this challenge:

• climate change
• Plastic waste in the environment
• Deforestation of the rainforests
• Water shortage
• species extinction
• …

These and other ecological problems are all due to the behavior of humans on earth. More precisely, on each and every one of us. We have created the problems ourselves. And that is why we are the only living beings on this planet who can solve them. We have only this one planet. If we destroy it, everything we do, everything we own, and everything we dream is worth nothing.

Why live sustainably? Because the challenges become greater with every day that we don't do it. Our resource-intensive way of life in industrialized countries like Germany ultimately endangers all life on this earth. Even our own.

2. because you live healthier and lighter

Nobody can stay healthy in a sick environment! A sustainable lifestyle promotes both environmental protection and your own health. Through the beconscious consumption of plant-based regional organic foods. and the Reduce your meat consumption you strengthen your immune system, for example, and reduce the environmental impact of pesticides and other pollutants. Those are pretty compelling reasons for a sustainable lifestyle, don't you think?

Further information and tips You can read more about this in the following blog posts:

• Buy organic food at a low price - Here's how
• Why live vegan? The biggest advantages
• The best tips for a healthy lifestyle
• Buying regionally - The most important tips

Why live sustainably? Because you increase the chances of staying fit and healthy and feeling good in the long run.

3. because you can save money

You can Save money through sustainability! Energy efficient household appliances, the Switch to reusable, reusable products, the Use of public transport or the sale and purchase of second-hand goods, are just a few examples of the fact that there are also financial benefits to be reduce ecological footprint.

Why live sustainably? Because you'll end up with a lot more money left over for the things that really excite you.

4. because you have more time for the important things

Sustainability also means living more mindfully and being more conscious of your own lifetime. This creates new space for the important things in life, such as Family, friends and enriching hobbiesthat you can pursue with full passion.

Also the narrow-toothed minimalist lifestyle and the conscious decision for quality instead of quantity in your own consumption behavior, offer you the opportunity to to get rid of superfluous ballast.

Why live sustainably? Because you'll be better able to focus on what's important and gain more time for family, friends and hobbies.

5. because it enriches our life (together)

The sustainable lifestyle of each individual has a wonderful effect on the coexistence of our global society, even beyond the health and ecological benefits. Through your conscious decisions, you strengthen the sense of community in our society.

Why? Here are some logical consequences and positive effects at a glance:

• Better relationships: Sustainable action relies on helpfulness and communication and connects people with each other.
• More time with family and friends: A more conscious lifestyle, as mentioned earlier, inevitably leads to a more conscious use of your time.
• Sufficient availability of natural resources: The scarcer the resources, the more selfish and reckless we humans often become. Sustainable action ensures greater availability and, not least, can even prevent wars.
• Higher satisfactionThose who act according to their own values are more satisfied with themselves and appear to be cognitive dissonance against. Those who are happier are in turn happier and thus friendlier in their dealings with other people.

When we live sustainably, we are much more the people we actually are. We would normally never saw the branch we are sitting on. Yet traditions and habits lead us to pay money for products that do just that.

A sustainable, future-oriented lifestyle stands for the preservation of human values. Helpfulness, mercy, kindness and Openness to change. Is it human to destroy the planet and all life on it? If it really should be like that, then we probably don't deserve it any other way 😉 .

Why live sustainably? Because sustainable action connects us humans with each other and can be the basis for peaceful interaction.

6. because you feel better and are happier

I would like to go into more detail here about the benefit of well-being. The responsible attitude towards our fellow human beings and the environment leads directly to a increased self-esteem and a greater zest for life.

Living your own mindful lifestyle reduces the damage of our everyday behaviors. Simply because you take responsibility for the consequences of your own actions. For this reason, the benefits of sustainable living are not only ecological, but also psychological and emotional.

Why live sustainably? Because it makes you happier, more self-confident and more satisfied if you clearly position yourself for environmental protection on a daily basis.

7. because you are a role model for future generations

It is convenient and easy to shift the responsibility to others (e.g. politics and business) so that one does not have to change oneself. But with this attitude nothing changes in this world. You yourself are a role model - either in a negative or positive sense.

Also, in the fight against injustice, environmental problems, or other types of overall social problems (such as the World hunger), we need people who lead the way. People, like Greta Thunberg, who make climate change more tangible. Or simply People like you and mewho set an example in everyday life or on the Internet, or who themselves learn from others how an environmentally conscious lifestyle can work.

The necessary motivation and perseverance is ensured by always knowing why you live sustainably.

Why live sustainably? Because you are a role model for others - not least for your children and grandchildren who will live on this planet for a very long time to come.

Why live sustainably? Because we need to protect ourselves from ourselves

You need to live sustainably to save the planet, stay healthy, save money, have more time, feel better, be a role model, and improve social interaction around the world.

In the meantime, we simply have no other choice eitherthan to drastically adjust our way of life. The sustainable way of life is fortunately quite easy to implement and no one has to do everything perfectly. Whether you eat vegan, ride your bike more often, or sip cocktails only from reusable straws - every step (no matter how small) is a step in the right direction!

"What we do today will determine what the world looks like tomorrow."

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (more at Sayings about good deeds)

Now you should be aware of the importance of sustainable action. Finally, I would like to give you now next to my Book Sustainable Living for Beginners (is available here*) some further articles from the Sustainability Blog with whom you can take the next steps:

• Live more climate friendly
• Save water in the home
• Protect rainforests
• Conserving resources in everyday life
• End world hunger
• Stop species extinction
• Avoid waste in everyday life

Do you have any questions, suggestions or even more motivating arguments and advantages of sustainable living? Then just write me a comment.

Stay sustainable,

PS: Waste avoidance plays an essential role in environmentally conscious behavior. Everything worth knowing about the Zero Waste Lifestyle you'll find out next in the linked blog post.