Hello everyone! Today happens to be one of my favorite holidays of the year: Earth Day! In order to kick off the celebration, I wanted to share some tips on how I maintain an eco-friendly life.

One of the biggest lessons I'm learning as an adult is that less is more. I've always knew I wanted to maintain a "greener" existence & have found it easy to do so. In other words, I look for ways that I can reduce my carbon footprint & urge others to do the same. It's a work in progress, but it's exciting to start living a greener lifestyle & appreciating the world around you.

1. Drive less.

Or if you're like me, don't drive at all! My laziness of learning how to drive is actually helping save the world. I never bothered to get my license & I have no desire to at the moment. Besides, cars are expensive & gross for the environment. I'm beyond fortunate to live in a city where driving isn't necessary. If you find yourself in a city where a car is a requirement, try to do some walking/biking as much as possible. Find out about your local public transportation because sometimes it can be interesting to find some other way to get to your destination without having to drive. You can even carpool if you must.

2. Use natural light.

Did you know there's this gigantic light bulb in the sky called the sun? Natural light makes for so much better ambiance than artificial light & it's totally free. Unfortunately, my apartment doesn't get much natural light inside, but I'm working on fixing that. Open the windows, let the light in & Mother Earth will thank you.

3. Ditch your electronics.

Read books, go outside, have a conversation etc. Basically anything that doesn't require technology. I know nobody wants to hear it, but the electricity you're burning adds up when you constantly have to charge your devices. I'm guilty of this, too. (As I sit here, I'm using a computer that's taking up energy.) It's often a livelihood for people to be on the internet constantly, but do you really need that extra hour of netflix/instagram/tumblr? Think about it.

4. Start reading labels.

You can tell a lot about a product's sustainability by its label. You can also use your own reasoning to figure out if an item used a lot of chemicals for its production. Try to give local businesses a chance because usually they don't require as much transportation (gas) to reach the shelves of a store. This goes for food, cosmetics & other items. Another important thing to consider is which items produce the most waste. Look for any options that are biodegradable or just plain natural (fruits & veggies).

5. Grow anything & everything yourself.

If you're one of those lucky people that can have a garden, I urge you to take advantage of it immediately. Especially now in the warmer months, make an attempt at growing your own stuff. If you feel like sprucing up your place, add some cheap & easy-to-maintain plants. Having indoor plants improves the air quality in your home & can also alleviate stress levels. It's amazing the difference it makes in your life & on Mother Earth.

Hope you enjoyed a few eco-friendly tips on this wonderful day! If you have any tips, definitely share them. I adore anyone who can see the importance in this issue, not just today, but everyday. Happy Earth Day to you!

-Mars