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I’ve given up on being perfect. I’ve given up on paralyzing guilt. It’s okay I don’t have an electric car or ride a bicycle everywhere. But, it doesn’t mean I can’t do my small bit for the environment. Here are three ways I found to be a little bit more eco-friendly.

Say no to plastic or paper bags at the grocery store. Bring your own reusable totes.

Yes, it takes time to train yourself. Get tote bags, bring the tote bags along on your shopping trip and remember to take them into the store. It took me a long time to get all the steps to be second nature. But I kept trying and finally succeeded.

The benefit to you? No more heavy plastic bags cutting into your hands. No more taking the plastic bags to the grocery store to be recycled. And canvas bags can hold usually hold more.

Put less paper in your recycle bin by bringing less junk mail into the house.

Go to the FTC’s Consumer Information page to find ways to reduce the amount unsolicited ads, pre-approved credit card applications and catalogs that you automatically put in the recycle bin.

The benefit to you? Less sorting through mail. Fewer trips to the curb with the recycle bin.

Limit your use of paper towels.  

I use flour sack towels in the kitchen. I use them to dry salad greens, but I still use paper towels to blot fried foods. I use the old worn sack towels to clean mirrors and glass and dust furniture.

Benefit to you? Spending less money on buying paper towels.

Looking for more ideas? Try All you need is less: the eco-friendly guide to guilt-free green living and stress-free simplicity by Madeleine Somerville.