It’s hard to believe I’ve been running All Things Green for almost 3 years now. In that time, I've learnt A LOT about what being eco-friendly truly means and, perhaps more importantly, what it means to me…

As someone who’s always been passionate about the environment, I started searching for ways I can live a more eco-friendly life. However, in the online space (and social media in particular), I struggled to find accounts that reflected my reality: the reality of living sustainably and imperfectly.

Whilst on my quest to create a global community of imperfect environmentalists, I learned some important lessons along the way that allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of a sustainable lifestyle, and how we’re all just doing the best we can…

Lesson Number One: Being Eco Looks Different for Everyone

The first lesson I learned very quickly is that being eco-friendly looks slightly different for everyone. What works for you, might not work for someone else (for example, maybe it’s easier for your friend to afford top-brand sustainable skincare products, whereas your approach is more re-wearing/thrifting clothes to avoid fast fashion).

It’s all about finding what areas of living eco work for you and your lifestyle. At All Things Green, our motto is “Small steps are still steps”: so find those 'small steps' that are attainable for you and focus on those. Only you know what areas of your life you can change to make the biggest impact.

Lesson Number Two: Perfection is Unattainable

Despite what social media will have you believe, there’s no such thing as perfect. We all mess up, and you will too - but this is okay!

You might mess up because you were misled to believe something was sustainable when it really wasn’t and you were ‘greenwashed’ by a brand. Or, someone believes another choice is “better” or more eco-friendly than the one you made. But, there's no right answer! And I’ve learned the hard way that this is why you should just do what works and feels right for you.

Lesson Number Three: You Can’t Please Everyone

This lesson is probably the hardest one to deal with (I’m still in the process myself!), but not everyone will agree with your lifestyle choices - and you have to learn to accept that.

You’ll likely come across other eco-activists who take a more strict approach to sustainable living and judge anyone who doesn’t live up to the same standard. There will also no doubt be some people in your life who don't believe in what you're doing in the first place and tell you that you'll never make a difference. Ignore these people and keep on being amazing you! 😉

So, as you embark on your eco-journey, you’ll come across many ideas from the community on how to live more sustainably. And, yes, most of these will be great ideas, but I want to let you know it’s okay not to be doing all of it at once!

Instead, make goals for yourself that are realistic and achievable for your imperfect eco-lifestyle.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, why not follow the All Thing Green Instagram? We are a judgement-free community of imperfect environmentalists sharing tips, advice, and motivational posts to keep each other going - and we can’t wait to welcome you!

Join the ATG community today and take that first step towards an imperfect sustainable future!

Want to read more? Take a look at our previous blog posts, bag yourself some amazing discounts on eco-friendly products, and find out more about our story all right here on the All Things Green website.

Thanks for reading and see you soon!

Naomi 💚