Make a Change

Use this as a checklist to work towards Living More with Less in your own life

Top Tips

Here are the five most impactful changes you can get a start on today:

  • Cows. Beef and dairy alone account for the vast majority of food related environmental damage (40 to 90%). Cutting them out goes a long way to prevent further deforestation, biodiversity loss and water pollution, as well as substantially reducing global warming
  • Cars. Slower living and substitution for active and public transport saves cash, vastly reduces emissions and improves health outcomes.
  • Coal. This is the dirtiest and least efficient of all primary energy sources. Reducing energy consumption and using the savings to purchase 100% green power takes it out of the grid
  • Crap. Just about every bit of stuff we own takes vastly more resources to manufacture, pack, transport, operate, store and dispose of then the product itself, especially so for electronics. Do you need it? Can you get it second hand?
  • Cash. Pledge a percentage of your income to an effective charity, such as those nominated by The Life You Can Save. Keep track of your donations on Giving What We Can and tell others to multiply the effect. 1% is enough to transform hundreds of lives, 10% is even better.

When you feel like you have a handle on those take a look at the more comprehensive list below.

Living More

Positive Emotions

  • Regularly practice gratitude journaling or intimate discussion
  • Smile, its contageous
  • Engage in daily mindfulness or meditation
  • Schedule regular time outdoors
  • Celebrate small achievements frequently
  • Distinguish between short-term dopamine-driven activities and sustainable serotonin/oxytocin-boosting activities
  • Identify and reduce reliance on quick-fix dopamine triggers (shopping, social media, excessive TV)
  • Cultivate emotional resilience through challenging yet rewarding activities
  • Regularly review and reflect on personal and family happiness and sense of meaning

Engagement

  • Identify and pursue meaningful hobbies
  • Learn and practice DIY and practical skills
  • Regularly volunteer with local organizations
  • Choose physical activities you genuinely enjoy
  • Deepen your knowledge in sustainability and effective altruism
  • Engage with literature or media promoting sustainable living
  • Take deliberate actions aligned with long-term personal fulfillment rather than short-term pleasure

Relationships

  • Prioritize interactions with family and friends weekly
  • Participate in community events regularly
  • Create or join local sustainability or effective altruism groups
  • Volunteer regularly with community-focused groups
  • Host or attend community sustainability discussions
  • Foster connections with neighbors through shared sustainability projects
  • Cultivate relationships based on mutual support and shared values
  • Engage in community-building activities like street parties or community gardening
  • Expand your empath envelope by connecting with new cultures

Meaning

  • Clearly define personal and family values
  • Evaluate and align daily actions with these values
  • Engage in purposeful volunteer work
  • Reflect regularly on your life’s positive impacts
  • Commit to effective altruism and intentional living
  • Regularly discuss and refine family goals
  • Foster a deeper understanding of global and local sustainability issues
  • Initiate meaningful conversations with colleagues, employers, and family about sustainable living and social justice

Achievement

  • Set clear, achievable goals for lifestyle changes
  • Track and celebrate progress toward sustainable living
  • Share your sustainability journey publicly to inspire others
  • Regularly assess whether your goals genuinely contribute to fulfillment
  • Document successes and setbacks openly to encourage learning and resilience
  • Celebrate collective community achievements toward sustainability goals

Health

  • Prioritize nutritious, plant-based meals
  • Incorporate regular physical activity into daily routine
  • Foster good sleep hygiene
  • Manage stress through sustainable lifestyle choices
  • Engage in regular digital detoxes
  • Choose activities that enhance mental clarity and emotional balance
  • Regularly evaluate the impact of lifestyle on physical and mental health

Less (Reducing Environmental and Social Impact)

Energy & Resources

  • Conduct a home energy audit
  • Refrain from unnecessary upgrades or renovations
  • Install energy-efficient appliances and lighting
  • Purchase renewable or green power
  • Install solar panels
  • Set hot water systems to operate during midday solar peak
  • Limit the length of hot showers
  • Reduce water usage with efficient fixtures and mindful habits
  • Regularly review household energy consumption
  • Advocate for renewable energy policies with local representatives

Transportation

  • Use bicycles or public transportation or avoid travel altogether
  • Reduce vehicle use by trip planning and carpooling
  • Choose car-sharing or electric vehicle options
  • Avoid air travel by choosing sustainable alternatives
  • Regularly maintain bicycles and vehicles for efficiency
  • Advocate for improved local public transportation
  • Participate in community transportation initiatives

Consumption & Waste

  • Follow refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle mantra
  • Purchase secondhand or refurbished goods
  • Commit to zero-waste shopping practices
  • Engage in composting food waste
  • Rent out spare rooms or spaces to optimize home usage
  • Participate in community swap meets
  • Regularly declutter and responsibly dispose of or repurpose unused items

Food & Diet

  • Shift toward a primarily plant-based diet
  • Support local and sustainable food producers
  • Grow your own food or participate in community gardening
  • Practice mindful eating to minimize food waste
  • Engage in foraging or freegan practices when appropriate
  • Educate yourself on sustainable food systems
  • Advocate for sustainable agriculture policies locally

Finance & Investments

  • Invest in ethical and sustainable funds
  • Choose ethical banking and insurance providers
  • Avoid companies with poor environmental and social records
  • Regularly review and adjust investments for alignment with values
  • Encourage employers and community organizations to adopt ethical investment practices

Technology & Media

  • Extend electronics life through regular repairs
  • Purchase refurbished or secondhand devices
  • Implement sustainable and minimalist digital practices
  • Reduce unnecessary online activity and data consumption
  • Advocate for better e-waste recycling and policies

Work & Time Management

  • Advocate for reduced working hours or flexible working arrangements
  • Prioritize activities and work that align with personal values
  • Regularly review work-life balance and adjust accordingly
  • Engage employers and colleagues in sustainability conversations
  • Actively support policies that encourage sustainable workplaces

Community & Social Impact

  • Support local, ethical businesses and initiatives
  • Educate yourself on fair trade and ethical labor practices
  • Write letters to, and visit, local politicians advocating for sustainable policies
  • Participate actively in community sustainability groups
  • Advocate for policy changes at local and regional levels

Effective Giving

  • Commit a portion (e.g., 10%) of your income to high-impact charities via Giving What We Can Pledge
  • Regularly review the effectiveness of your chosen charities
  • Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to take the pledge
  • Actively participate in fundraising events for effective charities
  • Advocate publicly for effective altruism