Sustainability means balancing social, economic and environmental considerations, but it can also depend on context and who you ask. In a broad sense sustainability is about the capacity to remain and co-exist in the present without damaging the future. Sustainability means ensuring we don’t exhaust resources faster than they can be produced.

More frequently, sustainability is used specifically to define and describe actions that are good for the planet and allow our quality of life to improve. (Or shall we say the lives of ‘modern’ societies.)

So living a sustainable lifestyle involves the planet, the people and your own financial circumstances. Let’s break this down a little.

The planet

Hopefully we all know what that is, our home; our earth with it’s endless skies, vast oceans, fascinating plants and beautiful animals. The natural environment that makes up our planet has resources for us to survive, thrive and live. Many we can live without harming, many we can’t – regardless of this the earth’s resources are finite. We must understand this and make careful decisions.

Moreover, our planet is interconnected and runs through cycles like the heavy clouds to rainfall to ocean water example we’ve read in science books. Everything that happens naturally, earthquakes and snowfall, and by our hands, climate change and deforestation, impacts the oceans and the water we drink, the skies and the air we breath, plants and how they grow, and animals and where they reside. What we do changes our planet and in turn our future.

The people

The people aren’t just those around you or the community you live in, it extends down to the people who we often forget about. We’re mostly fortunate enough to get our hands on basics and luxuries without many problems, and so we end up forgetting about the supply chain. Workers who sell food, package food, prepare food, grow food and those who buy and trade to sell (like major chains and companies) are usually ignored.

Considering people, especially those working hard to pick fruit and vegetables, or spend all day in mines to collect materials, is essential to adapting to a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether it’s looking for something that is fair trade certified or trying to purchase directly from farmers, people must be remembered.

The finance

In the business world we often hear ‘profit’ as part of sustainability, and that still applies to us individuals navigating life. We must ensure that our choices aren’t making us bankrupt, otherwise what good does that do anyone?

Knowing how much money you earn, how much you spend and how much you’re saving is necessary for your lifestyle to be a sustainable lifestyle too. Businesses have to consider profit, and in a sense, so do we as individuals. We should try to make greener choices but not at the expense of our livelihood. Whenever and wherever we spend, should consider the planet and the people, as well as our needs.

Sustainability is broad and a sustainable lifestyle isn’t just about the environment although it’s a vital factor. Whether or not we’ll achieve environmental sustainability is questionable, climate change, deforestation and overconsumption will continue to affect what our future holds. But when you think of the people, the planet and your financial capacity, you’ll take better steps for our collective future. I’ll end with a quote, which I hope inspires you to make thoughtful choices as it does me:

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

Nelson Henderson

Say hi to Annie on Instagram