Juggling Sustainability and Sanity: When To Compromise

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.I have always been environmentally conscious (recycling, not wasting food, etc.), but my journey toward a sustainable lifestyle really got started when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit and cleaning supplies (and toilet paper) were limited.

Clear blue water bottle with a lemon, essential oils, baking soda, sponges, and cleaning clothes

When everything shut down in March of 2020, Clorox wipes, paper towels, and many other cleaning products were scarce. Being the resourceful person that I am, I started making my own wipes and cleaning supplies.

Since I also had a nine-month-old baby, I appreciated finding cleaners and recipes for cleaning products that were non-toxic. Pinterest had plenty of recipes for homemade cleaning wipes and cleaning solutions. I also found some great ideas from CleanMama.

When my husband complained about the strong smell of vinegar and rubbing alcohol in those homemade products, I went back to store bought ones. Plus, with my kids in school this year and life getting much busier compared to the early pandemic days. There are ways I’m still sticking to a sustainable lifestyle and there are ways I’m compromising sustainability for my sanity.

Ways I’m Embracing a Sustainable Lifestyle

Reusable Paper Products

Paper towels were also hard to find in those early COVID days so I started using rags for cleaning, which I have continued to do. I also still use them to made my own cleaning wipes. I started buying reusable cotton rounds, which I use for toner application, eye makeup remover, and cleaning small things with rubbing alcohol. Of course, we still continue to use our sustainable shopping bags. 

Composting

This year I started composting. My town has a compost bin that they placed outside our Public Works department where residents can bring their compost items. I have always hated to waste food. So, I feel so much better knowing its going to be re-used when it goes in the compost bin. My kids waste so much food! I constantly find half-eaten food left behind so I save it for another meal. I have always been big on eating leftovers up and also repurposing them so they don’t go to waste. Earlier this year, I started buying compostable bags to collect our food scraps, which I usually bring to the transfer station once or twice a week.

Ways I’m Compromising My Sustainable Lifestyle for Sanity

Buying pre-packaged snacks

While I try make my own snacks to reduce our carbon footprint, I’ve found it’s been much harder since my daughter has started kindergarten and my son has started preschool. So to keep my sanity, I’ve let myself buy more packaged snacks for them to take to school. It’s so much easier to reach in the cabinet and grab a packaged granola bar. I also worry that if I sent the kids to school with Tupperware containers of homemade snacks, I’ll lose those containers forever. So I allowed myself to buy more packaged snacks than I have in the past 2.5 years.

Buying Other Pre-Packaged Foods to Save Time

Usually I go to the grocery store and look at something and think I could just make that myself. I’ve made riced cauliflower, zoodles, and quinoa so I can have healthier options on hand for meals. But that all takes time, which is a limited commodity. So instead of spending all my time cooking, I’ve been buying pre-packaged healthier sides and snacks like zoodles and frozen yogurt pops. I still enjoy making some things from scratch, but I’m trying not to drive myself crazy thinking that I need make all the food.

Using Store Bought Cleaning Products

Since my husband doesn’t like the strong smell of vinegar and rubbing alcohol in homemade cleaning products, I’ve gone back to store bought cleaning products. Plus, brands like MomRemedy are sold at places like Lowes and are nontoxic. Additionally, I’ve found ones that you buy one dispenser and then continue to refill it by just buying the solution. These cleaners are just as effective and you don’t need a gas mask or to spend a lot of time mixing them up.

Now I still have a long way to go to be completely sustainable and zero waste. Right now, I’m trying not to stress about feeling pressure to make everything homemade and just do the best I can. I still plan to make my own cranberry sauce, but I can also use store bought pumpkin puree for other dishes.

Two road signs: one says Sanity and the other says Insanity

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I have a bachelor's degree in Journalism/Mass Communications from Saint Michael's College in Vermont. While at Saint Michael’s, I served as an editor for the college’s online news magazine, the echo. I also have a master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation Administration from the University of New Hampshire. I am currently serving as Vice-President of the Seacoast Mothers Association, a non-profit, volunteer-run social organization for mothers and their children in the Greater New Hampshire Seacoast and Southern Maine area. I'm the Donor Communications Coordinator at Greater Seacoast Community Health with locations in Portsmouth and Somersworth. I reside in Somersworth with my husband and two children, ages 3 and 6.