#low impact

Starting sustainable living at home does not mean changing your whole life overnight. I started with very small habits, and honestly, that worked much better than trying to become “perfect” immediately.

Here are the things that actually helped me:

I stopped buying things I didn’t truly need. This alone reduced so much waste and saved money.

I switched to reusable items like water bottles, grocery bags, food containers, and cloth towels.

I started turning off lights and unplugging chargers when not using them. My electricity bill became lower after a few months.

Instead of throwing food away, I planned meals better and used leftovers creatively.

I began separating recycling properly. At first I made mistakes because I didn’t know local recycling rules.

I used refillable cleaning products and bought bigger containers instead of many small plastic bottles.

I washed clothes in cold water more often and air-dried them when possible.

One thing that surprised me: buying less fast fashion made a huge difference financially and environmentally.

I also started growing small herbs at home. Even a tiny kitchen plant setup felt rewarding.

Mistakes I Made When Starting

Trying to change everything in one week

Buying “eco” products I didn’t actually need

Thinking sustainable living had to be expensive

Feeling guilty when I forgot or failed sometimes

What Actually Worked For Me

Focusing on one habit at a time

Reusing items before buying new eco-products

Choosing progress over perfection

Creating simple routines I could keep long-term

A small personal observation: once my home became less wasteful, it also became less cluttered and calmer. I noticed I spent more intentionally and appreciated what I already had more.

Euthea Residence, Meganisi, Lefkas, Greece,

My rheumatologist believes it may actually be hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), but due to the diagnostic overlap and current criteria, I’m officially diagnosed with HSD for now. I scored 7/9 on the Beighton Scale, and for once, a medical professional looked at my history and actually listened.

It’s incredibly validating—but also a lot to process. I had physical therapy today, and after I shared my diagnosis, my PT adjusted our entire approach. He introduced me to a low-impact strength training program made specifically for people with hEDS/HSD called Bending Without Breaking, I believe? (Which is such a good name, honestly.)

Turns out, my core is way weaker than I realized. I’ll definitely be feeling today’s session later… but it feels like the right kind of hard. The kind that means I’m actually working with my body now instead of fighting it.

Since I can’t take NSAIDs because of my bariatric surgery, the only medical treatment I’m on now is gabapentin; at six times the dose my psych originally prescribed for anxiety. It’s wild how pain management is often trial and error, especially with conditions like HSD.

I also have blood tests coming up, some routine, some autoimmune panels I’ve never had done before. I can feel my B12 is probably low, and my protein intake hasn’t been ideal lately. I’m anxious about what those labs will show… or won’t show. But either way, I’m doing what I can.

This diagnosis doesn’t change who I am or magically make things easier, but it does lift this unbearable weight I’ve been carrying, like I finally have permission to stop doubting myself. I shouldn’t need a diagnosis to feel valid, but after so long, it means everything.

Here’s to healing, to answers, and to not bending until I break.

Exercise is soooo much more than a tool for weight loss. Strength, endurance, balance, coordination, emotional health, immune health, cardiovascular health-- the list of benefits just keeps going.

If you're looking to get a gentle start, I've got you :) Check below the cut for 8 low impact workouts of varying lengths, all beginner-friendly!

Besties there is so much you can do.

You got chores? Dishes one of them?

You can fill up the sink with water and wash with just that. Less water than constantly running

I find that gross but my grandma does it. When I do dishes I use a jar with a drop of soap, fill it with water, and dip my scrub brush in that so I'm not wasting soap.

Dry dishes with a towel

Air dry your dishes

You can also ask if you can keep a potted plant (edible plants are bonus points) or a garden

Also bonus points if you use food scraps for a garden. That's a whole topic for another post another day but seriously look into it

Or you can trade plants with friends and neighbors

Or steal cuttings

You can wash your clothes on cold, ask if you can hang dry your clothes

You can use eco friendly laundry detergent, or just start using the actual amount needed. That stuff is so concentrated it isn't even funny

Use reusables whenever you can

Try to eat less processed foods

Try to eat more plant based

Try to limit your car trips

Take walks and pick up litter

Go to the beach and pick up litter

Bonus points for separating recyclables

Learn to repair your clothes, a basic sewing kit should be all you need for simple mends

Shop at yard sales, thrift shops, second hand, or local

Shampoo bars

Soap bars

Yes including hand soap

Weave baskets out of toilet paper rolls. No idea how you do it but I've seen it and they look pretty cool

Learn an "old fashioned" skill, like spinning yarn, canning, gardening, basket weaving, wood carving, etc