In my architectural work, sustainability often equates to financial benefits – energy efficiency and durable materials. But what about my personal life?
Is there a financial incentive to live sustainably?
Surprisingly, my daily sustainable habits aren’t driven by money. They stem from the intentional choices I make each moment.
What am I doing each day to ensure my lifestyle aligns with sustainability?
Living sustainably requires conscious (aka intentional) effort, and it’s an ongoing (often failing) journey.
Everyday activities—choosing what to eat, deciding whether to exercise, tackling that dreaded work task first thing in the morning—are all lifestyle choices that can either support or derail sustainability.
Many of my daily choices aren’t exactly poster children for sustainability. I eat chips after meals, skip morning workouts because I stayed up too late, and procrastinate on monthly cleaning tasks that have been pushed off for weeks. The list goes on and on…
Sustainable living demands intentionality.
Without it, it’s easy to let sustainable choices slip away. Each day, I have to make a conscious decision to say no to those chips after dinner or to drag myself out of bed for a morning workout.
Sustainability and intentionality are two sides of the same coin. One can’t thrive without the other.
Asking which comes first is like debating the chicken and the egg—it’s the wrong question. Instead, we should focus on making intentional choices that pave the way for a sustainable lifestyle.
Maybe my next sustainable move should be eating more veggies—if only my favourite plant-based snack wasn’t potato chips!
Life Outside of Design Studio 