I hope you enjoy today's candid chat! Lets continue the conversation in the comments... there are definitely things I left off here but at the end of the day I try my best on and offline and thats all we can do right? xx
Tips for the smoothest hummus from a Lebanese person: blend the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic without any oil at all, and then gradually add aquafaba until you get to the texture you like. Honestly makes the best hummus
This was very refreshing to watch! Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing! :) One thing that my husband and I have been choosing not to worry about lately when it comes to "zero waste" is food packaging. With rising food costs due to inflation, we have been needing to buy more and more food in plastic packaging - since (at least here in the US) it is cheaper. This is something that is out of our control and saving money is more of a priority at this time. I know that we are not alone in this "struggle," so for anyone who is reading this comment - just know, it is okay. Do what you can and do not worry about the rest. :)
Please don’t beat yourself up and say you’re being lazy. As someone who has difficulty w/ tasks due to my disability telling yourself you’ve been lazy cause you haven’t done something doesn’t help. Honestly lazy is what we use to shame someone who is struggling to do something. From what we can see on the internet and what we can’t you do so much.
Thank you for saying this, it's so important to retire the use of words like "lazy" that don't serve anyone. Same thing with "should." It's so important to act out of what you want and recognize that things like visiting the doctor or doing homework will still be on the list of things you want to do, but you have to think about the real reasons for you to want to do it instead of focusing on the pressure you feel to do it
Until the big companies start pulling their weight, us minions doing the best we can, isn't really going to make much difference. Dont sweat it. You're doing great!
I think the note about not necessarily having time to make everything from scratch is really important. I'm a tech worker. So usually 50+ hours of work per week and the same for my husband who's in tech as well. I just don't have the time to make every single item we eat from scratch, so I try to buy non-plastic-packaged options where I can and I give myself grace!
Thank you for creating this! I have adhd, which means sometimes if I’m having a bad brain day the choice is feeding myself with something in packaging or going hungry and… we know where this is going. I do my best to be sustainable, but sometimes I remind myself that convenience helps those of us with disabilities and that’s ok!
One thing that I still do it use paper towels. I have reusable cloths for cleaning and stuff, but I have found that paper towels are just something I will always have on hand whether its keep the moisture out of my greens to keep them fresh or clean up after my cat. Another thing that is completely out of my control really is how wasteful being a research scientist is. Every thing is made of plastic and a lot of materials it is a single use item. I will go through so much plastic just to get one experiment done and while I LOVE what I do, it still is hard to balance
Not the same thing but I interned in a public health lab and I was amazed on all the single use plastic used, it can't be helped though as things need to get done and reusing said single use things is out of the question.
The fact that you present sustainability as a journey is what has finally convinced me to take steps in this direction. I’ve always felt that if I didn’t do it all, I shouldn’t bother at all until I started watching your videos. Thank you.
I have the same anxieties about health and what not, I appreciate you when you say you "do whats best for you". It is very odd to shame people to not get medication that will benefit their lives. Thank you for being so open and helpful!
You’re definitely my cup of tea 😇 Thank you for being so brave in sharing your unsustainable habits. Your honesty and authenticity is admirable 😊 don’t beat yourself up, Immy! Remember it’s better to have lots of people doing zero waste imperfectly than a few people doing it perfectly ☺️
I really appreciate this video! I've been working towards being more sustainable, but even the little things get to you some times. Not everything we enjoy/need is sustainable, but we're all just trying to do the best with what we have available! Thanks Immy!
Thanks for the honesty - it could be easy to hide those imperfections but I think it encourages more people just to try instead of not bothering because they can’t do it 100%. Also with regards to the medication packets: I take a lot of meds for chronic illness and I found out Superdrug had a recycling scheme for the blister packaging so I take mine there. Not perfect but better than putting it in the bin x
Thank you so much for this video 🤗 I recently started buying a lot more food in packaging and went back to vegetarian from vegan after being diagnosed with an eating disorder and ADHD. Having easy things to eat when I cannot possibly cook anything and not limiting what I can eat are really important for me to make sure I actually eat something, rather than nothing, and don’t feel a major mental block with food. It’s made me question whether I’m still living with my values, despite me knowing it’s something I need to do for my mental health. I appreciate you showing that nobody’s perfect 🥰
Our imperfections make us perfect! I follow UA-camrs to see refreshing inspiring habits I can put into my life, not looking for perfection in others or myself. Your videos are calming, peaceful, uplifting! Thank you for keeping it so real - always! xoxo Hugs, Rachele~
I haven’t been great about bringing my reusable coffee mug with me since the pandemic. So I definitely need to rebuild that habit now that places are accepting them again. And I subscribe to a local farm CSA that sometimes puts specific produce like leafy greens in plastic, but I still think eating local food is better than grabbing a loose banana that was shipped halfway across the world. Thankfully I spoke to my local farm about it and they’re piloting sustainable alternatives with my box! 😄
You may already have videos out like this, but I would love content regarding food packaging/grocery waste. For me, this is the biggest source of daily/weekly waste for me and my family (me, my wife, our 2 yr old and baby). Is there a video or series of videos on how to reduce your waste in that area of life? The biggest difficulty I think is cooking/prepping food from scratch vs buying premade food items, especially for our toddler, which comes with tons of packaging waste. It takes so much time out of our daily/family life to cook from scratch which is why we often opt for premade options.Thanks again for the great content!
Thank you for sharing and being so honest. I work part-time and have 2 school age kiddos at home. I want to do more cooking from scratch but I have discovered I just don't like cooking. Thankfully hubby dies. But I use less than sustainable short cuts myself. It makes me feel guilty.
I think the effort you have put into being mindful in so many aspects speaks volumes. Love the transparency. In this green washed society it is always so appreciated 💚
I really appreciate this video! I have no problem with buying the occasional unsustainable item, because I do a lot of other things like eating plant based and thrifting my clothes, and I feel that my happiness is more important than a tiny action that doesn't make a big difference in a the long run. And you do SOOO much to live a sustainable life, you should never feel guilty.
This was such a helpful video! I have some mobility limitations which means I don't drive and that leads me to have to do some less than sustainable things. I have a lot of guilt about it and it's nice to hear that no one is perfect. I don't know if it'd be feasible, but I'd love to see a video on ways to be sustainable if you can't drive or bike yourself places. Thanks again and best of luck with the move! I moved to the UK from the US for work for a while and I know it's a daunting move.
Not that I thought you’re perfect. No one is. But I do look up to you through your UA-cam and this was nice to feel relatable to. Thank you for exposing yourself in this way for us.
wow I had never thought about banks and sustainability! thank you for your vulnerability, it shows me how truly committed you are to sustainability, as so many folks (including myself) haven't even thought about their actions as unsustainable. thank you for always doing your best and remember that the idea of individual carbon footprint was invented by fossil fuel companies!
Great video. Excellent timing. I have started a new job where I am not WFH anymore and was eating prepackaged lunches. I am batch cooking now so I don't need to do that, but if I have to, I won't beat myself up about it anymore.
Thanks for sharing this with us, it feels good to know that even though daily we try our best to be sustainable does not always goes as we wish! Despite that we still need to be proud of the efforts we are constantly making ❤
I think the most comforting thing you said during this video is that you have someone in your life that you used to be close enough with to have a joint bank account and now they don't speak to you and won't return messages. The reason I find this comforting is that I have a couple of those relationships and I always feel like I've somehow failed by either letting the friendship fall off or by them suddenly turning on me--I always think "what did I do wrong?" However, it's nice to hear that other people have similar experiences and that it's normal because I think sometimes we get stuck in the "we must be friends forever" mindset, when in actuality, maybe we just needed that person for the season and the decrease in communication or intimacy doesn't degrade that.
Bethany, I think if you live long enough you will have friends and acquaintances who just sort of fade away. Texts and phone calls or visits just become less over time or maybe they ghost you outright and disappear completely from your life. There simply is not enough room in any person's life to stay connected with everyone from our past. When I retired and left my last job I did not stay connected with anyone still working there after the first year. I didn't want to be reminded of the job itself. Some people I've avoided completely since retirement because they brought negativity and conflict to every social situation they entered. That's only been a few individuals I've cut off completely. But other folks I still care about are limited to just an occasional contact or holiday greeting. There simply often is not time nor motivation.
I don't have a sustainable bank account and I always feel very guilty but it's simply because Im a student so have a student account and more sustainable ethical accounts don't have student accounts with free overdrafts. I feel like banks and investment has become a huge topic of conversation in the sustainability movement but alot of people just tell you what not to do and not give any guidance or solutions. ESGs for example still include companies such as apple who exploit the environment and people, and it's the same story for "responsible " or "ethical" pension funds. I feel like we can't win so I'm definitely taking a more do what I can, study, educate others and stop comparing my life to others approach, because no two peoples life experience is the same ❤️ thanks for being so honest 😊
Brilliant video, and great topic. We need to see the other side of the story to stop feeling guilty that we aren't "perfect". It definitely shows that we are not superhumans, and that we are allowed to slack in some areas where we find it too hard, so that we can be really good in other things.
You are definitely my cup of tea☕💕. I love the ideas you share, as well as your minimalism live and recipes. I love the work you put into your videos. You care alot about our planet,there are alot of people who should give the situations a special thought too. Well,that's my opinion😁. I realized some time ago, that i am living a minimalized live for a long time already and i am talking about many years. I hate to waste food,clothes,etc. we wear our clothes as long as possible,or i bring something to the thriftshop. We never waste any food. My kids are teenies...they seem to be hungry all day long🤭, leftovers have no chance😉. Have a wonderful weekend🌻🌞
Traveling stresses me so much! Especially long distance air flights etc. I am worn out by the time I arrive at my destination and it takes me days to recover enough to enjoy myself. My anxiety got worse with COVID and now I seldom even go anywhere even overnight.
Immy, was it you (or was it your partner) who once said “We need to fail towards success”? Being perfect and/or being the best… these things are subjective. From my perspective, I find you to be inspiring!!!! What could be better than that? I’m gonna share this little experience: Yesterday I got a birthday card from my SIL (whom I love and adore). In this card she wrote that I was an “inspiration for the unordinary”. I had unsettled feelings about this for about 30 seconds… but after giving it some more thought, I smiled and felt amazing simply because I don’t want to be just another ordinary person… it’s OK to be unordinary. Take Away: We need to let our strengths shine, erase self-doubt, and mute our inner chatter. You’re not perfect… but you’re inspiring!! 💦🌎Ⓜary💕 PS - Zucchini Chocolate Doughnuts rule!! 🍩🍩
This made me feel so much better about the small* sustainable things i do, which can often be overruled with the guilt of the unsustainable things i do. Knowing even the hardcorers ;), arent perfect is a really good message to share. Thank you. * are there even small sustainable actions. Big waves an all that.
All you can do, is your best effort...stop beating yourself up...one of the worse things I see is people worrying about things that are out of their control...I love your channel because you try so hard to come up with great ideas for being sustainable
I need to be better with my food waste. As a mom of 2 picky eaters working full time I find that despite my best intentions I still waste food which drives me crazy because I can barely afford groceries as it is. But I just remind myself I'm doing my best with the resources *read time* that I have with my responsibilities
Love this! Also, hummus tip if you haven't tried it, make sure the chickpeas and peeled, that'll help a lot with smoothness. But also, don't feel obligated to make it! You deserve to have the things in life that you love and make you happy and you shouldn't feel guilty about that. You're a badass!
Hey this was an amazing video because it's so relatable. One thing my family and me do is go to takeaway shops with our own containers and ask them to fill the food in it. I don't know if that's possible in your country but there it is. I'm also actually really bad about buying packaged food especially in hostel
I also eat meat at my parents’ house because food is SUCH a big part of how my family shows love. Especially since we’re chinese so most recipes include meat or fish, and I feel I would lose part of my culture if I gave that up with my parents’ cooking, but it’s definitely something I’m insecure about
I also occasionally buy atuf in plastic packaging, because there are no other options. I'm doing as much as I can and I tell that to myself and it helps ❤️
Immy, to me you are PERFECT because you do the best you can do. And that makes each single human being doing so also perfect. You know why? Because integrity is the most valuable human trait and I LOVE and ADMIRE you for being true to your integrity. Thank you, this inspires me about you!
Thank you for being brave enough to post this video, despite the potential criticism you might face. It highlights that while we are all trying to do better and be better, perfect sustainability is unrealistic and no one should beat themselves up over not reaching it! For me, I buy a lot of skincare from less than sustainable brands! I try whenever I can, but I have struggled immensely with acne and I choose to prioritize what works for my skin over what packaging the items come in.
This is a great video idea! Thank you for being transparent. Please don't be so hard on yourself - you already do SO much! All we can do is the best we can - which is different for everyone.
love the video Immy! One of the ‘unsustainable’ things I sometimes do is put recyclable things in a general bin when i’m out and about, because i know having worked as a cleaner myself, 99% if not more of public recycling bins get contaminated with food waste and end up having to go to landfill anyway :(( thank you as always for making sustainability a lot more accessible and realistic for everyone 💚
This kind of makes me sad... the critics need to wake up and smell the "sustainably sourced" coffee, not criticize those who are trying their best. Most of us do not live where we can easily access farmers' markets or whole foods; nor do we have access to Chinese pharmacies or naturopathic remedies that are affordable, and which do NOT come unpackaged. We do not have our own gardens, forests or foraging habitats, and are struggling to do the best with where we are. I do what I can,, and count it a PLUS when I can support local industry by buying their products, which saves on transportation and fuel. I think you are doing a terrific job! Can't wait to see your content after you move here to the US.
This video does make me feel better about myself lol. I try so hard to abide by "zero waste" principles, but I miss the mark by a lot largely due to convenience. I usually try to purchase appliances secondhand because I know how resource-intensive tech is. But the other day, an appliance I rely on almost daily broke on me, and I didn't have time to search for a secondhand item so I just went to the nearest store to get it. I also rely on packaged convenience foods A LOT because I work many hours and have limited time to cook. I just try to abide by a vegan diet first and foremost.
I absolutely love this video. It’s not easy to talk about insecurities and anxieties so i really appreciate your openness and honesty. No one is perfect with their sustainability no matter how hard they try. You do incredible things and have always inspired me along my own journey! I always look forward to your content. Thank you! ❤️
I appreciate your videos and this perspective! Sometimes I feel frozen with indecision or frustration with actions that are not ideal or imperfect and videos like this remind me to do as much as I can while still living/being human. thank you!
I used to think l am failing and not doing enough, until i got a chronic illness and that changed my whole perspective. It's not worth it to strive for perfection, you need to live as well
I get a gel manicure once a month, but it makes me happy! And just like your hummus, I can never make pesto as good as one specific brand that sells it in a plastic container. I'm never going to be perfect, I just want to be happy 😊
Like you - I am in a long distance relationship, so I feel you! (Though not quite as far as in your case!) Also, I live in a different country than my family does. It's all within Europe, so to my parents I always take the train, but to see my partner I'm sad to say I have to regularly fly... It's usually so much cheaper and saves me 1.5 days of traveling (though I've also done it overland... but then sometimes I have to take a ferry which is even more polluting than a plane!). I often feel bad about it, but then I then I think you always have to balance the (environmental) costs with happiness gained and then the choice is easily made, at least for me! Obviously if I didn't take the plane sometimes I wouldn't be able to see my partner and you know how much that sucks. BTW - I also think it's a bit of a scam to feel personally responsible for all the ills of the world... We really should be redirecting all that energy into holding our governments and industry accountable for the shit state of the planet! In the end, all you can do is do the best with what you have, also in a way that protects your own health and happiness, that's my two cents at least!
I find it hard to avoid plastic food packaging. I have mobility issues and I simply can't get to some of the shops where I might find unpackaged fresh food. I find this very frustrating.
"Bad" stuff I do: - I will use whatever dental products work for me regardless of waste and not feel a hint of shame. - I drink canned ginger ale because its easier when I dont feel well. - I get takeaway just because, not just because I'm tired or sick. - I get individually packaged things because with my ADHD I often forget to eat because I dont want to stop what I'm doing to make a whole meal and then forget. Good stuff I do: - I am a top tier container re-user. - Nearly all my clothes are second hand and I mend them to make it last longer. - Nearly every morning coffee for the past 5ish years has been made at home. - nearly half of our meals/groceries are vegan. My mainly meat eating partner prefers A LOT of vegan products now.
I have suntan cream in a plastic tube. I would rather not and use an organic one. I did this as a younger person and burnt terribly - to the point of blisters. Therefore it is one of the tested in plastic items. But using this is a matter of health and safety. It is the same with many people who need medication. We should not and cannot feel guilty that this is unsustainable and wrong to test on animals. I do not use anything else that is in plastic or tested on animals - if it is for vanity (from creams to make up) or household cleaning then there are better, more natural replacements and imo any further testing for these products should be banned. There are enough chemicals around for firms to create new products without resorting to trying out new things tbh (Chemistry degree here). I agree with you Immy, it is a complex matter and a matter of doing the best that we can, and, as a fellow commenter has said, pressure the big corporate companies.
I have a 2 month old baby and we do use clothe diapers and do EC (elimination communication - learning his signals of when he wants to pee/poo and then let him do that in the sink in the bathroom instead in the diaper) sometimes. But when energy levels are low or we have people over or we are going out - we ue one-time ´regular´diaper. I am trying to give myself some slack and see that every single use diaper saved is a winn instead of feeling guilty of every single use diaper beeing wasted. I hope that we will have energy and motivation to be free of diapers when h is around 18 months old - if it works for him. Guilt and shame is such energy draining feelings that easily can take the momentum out of any good intention! Because it is easier to do good decisions that are more in line with our values if we are healthy in both physicaly and mentaly!
Random plastic cups when I'm out, the occasional urge to by toilet paper when I have a bidet and reusable, and omg food waste. That's the worst of all. Trying but it's so hard because I'm lazy
Great video. 💖 I feel like time privilege needs to go into more sustainably conversations. I do my best with being sustainable. I am low income and short on time. I don't have time to make things home all the time. Rely on convenice foods sometimes. But I don't fell ashamed. Tbh Would like a video about privileges in sustainability such as time, access and money etc.
When it come to medication. there are some pharmacies that will take the bottles back for prescription bottles and reuse them . so maybe see if that is an option in your area.
Something i am doing that doesn't look sustainable is using my plastic and unsustainable items up. I still have a lot of waste in my life but it's because I'm using what I already have. Which IS sustainable it just doesn't looks like it.
Also, I am a PhD student, I do know I work in a non profit research organisation that works for keeping biodiversity and researching toxicity of pollutants like plastics and certainly towards environmental sustainability. But the waste generated from research is just not avoidable. And i am guilty of it every time.
Thank you for this video Immy 🥰 don’t think I’ve commented before, but your videos are all so calming and intelligent and honest and I find you so inspiring, including because you share what you don’t do perfectly. And it’s funny because what you consider failures sound so small to us, but then what we consider our failures probably sound so small to other people! It’s almost as if we are all too hard on ourselves… Btw what is the name of the place where you get your nails done? I’d love to do mine every now and again but don’t ever go because the nail industry is notorious for human trafficking - but if you’ve found an ethical one i’ll definitely check it out!
Love this video, thanks for making it! I haven't watched all your videos so I've missed your discussions on banks and investments, but I'm wondering if you've ever talked about the prospect of making a living (either full or part-time) off stock trading in a way that promotes sustainability, or whether you put that form of livelihood in the "gambling" or at least unsustainable category of things?
I tend to have hot nice baths after work, buy chocolate bars (trying to buy more recyled), I buy clothes from marks and Spencers which they are trying to be more sustainable but its still fast fashion. You have to treat yourself now and then
I’m on dialysis and have been for 10 years. There is literally so much waste that comes from me just living. Every bag of ceiling is wrapped in plastic. All the cords are wrapping plastic and neoprene type of material and that’s three times a week and all the bandages gauze, tape and boxes for those tapes gloves masks so much shit just so I can live until I get a Kidney transplant. I am also on seven or eight different medication’s and two of them come in plastic wraps so that’s 60s little wrapper packages that have to be tossed. It’s a lot. But I can’t just like lay down and die, you know what I mean? I do what I can where I can but it’s still not enough.
I am guilty of buying packages of presliced apples, and individual yogurt or hummus cups when my kids are super busy and we need portable snacks. Sometimes I take the easy way rather than washing all the containers.
Unfortunately I have a mortgage with Natwest, this makes me feel terrible, also because I'm privileged enough to be able to afford a mortgage and that makes me feel incredibly guilty and ashamed for some reason (no I can't switch it). But I am slowly learning to be ok with it.
Love this video Immy! Defo close that joint bank account - I’ve been in the situation before and charges were ran up (not by me) and it ended up being a huge ball ache as then it’s in your name - bite the bullet and close it :)
When I am living alone, I stay quite sustainable. But when I have house guests, all budgeting and simple living get left behind. Recently I had relatives (and their dogs) visit for a long weekend. I wanted to treat them well so stocked up on all sorts of food and drink and cooked, cleaned and ran the dishwasher and laundry repeatedly. Triple the bags of garbage stacked up at the end of the visit. I didn't bother going through it for recyclables etc. I put it all out for the garbage pickup, forgave my weaknesses and slept for most of 24 hours. 💤
I think the big takeaway for the sustainability movement should be that everything you do to reduce waste makes you a better person, but doing nothing doesn’t make you a bad one. Corporations dump so much more in a day than any individual could possibly work to mitigate in their entire lives.
I hope you enjoy today's candid chat! Lets continue the conversation in the comments... there are definitely things I left off here but at the end of the day I try my best on and offline and thats all we can do right? xx
Immy could you share the name of the nail salon?
you have to peal the checkpeas is a lot of work but worth it.
Lovely 🌹 video 😊
And this is why you’re the most relatable sustainable queen on UA-cam
You made my week ❤️
Tips for the smoothest hummus from a Lebanese person: blend the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic without any oil at all, and then gradually add aquafaba until you get to the texture you like. Honestly makes the best hummus
Thanks for this! I'll try this for sure.
Wow!! Top tip. The other one I saw on a UA-cam channel was to remove the skins after boiling… apparently they just rub off!! Who knew xx
ua-cam.com/video/EsZFJEjANiA/v-deo.html
This was very refreshing to watch! Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing! :)
One thing that my husband and I have been choosing not to worry about lately when it comes to "zero waste" is food packaging. With rising food costs due to inflation, we have been needing to buy more and more food in plastic packaging - since (at least here in the US) it is cheaper. This is something that is out of our control and saving money is more of a priority at this time. I know that we are not alone in this "struggle," so for anyone who is reading this comment - just know, it is okay. Do what you can and do not worry about the rest. :)
Please don’t beat yourself up and say you’re being lazy. As someone who has difficulty w/ tasks due to my disability telling yourself you’ve been lazy cause you haven’t done something doesn’t help. Honestly lazy is what we use to shame someone who is struggling to do something. From what we can see on the internet and what we can’t you do so much.
Thank you for saying this, it's so important to retire the use of words like "lazy" that don't serve anyone. Same thing with "should." It's so important to act out of what you want and recognize that things like visiting the doctor or doing homework will still be on the list of things you want to do, but you have to think about the real reasons for you to want to do it instead of focusing on the pressure you feel to do it
Until the big companies start pulling their weight, us minions doing the best we can, isn't really going to make much difference. Dont sweat it. You're doing great!
Was scrolling through the comments, and found your kind comment! Thanks for sharing.
I think the note about not necessarily having time to make everything from scratch is really important. I'm a tech worker. So usually 50+ hours of work per week and the same for my husband who's in tech as well. I just don't have the time to make every single item we eat from scratch, so I try to buy non-plastic-packaged options where I can and I give myself grace!
Thank you for creating this! I have adhd, which means sometimes if I’m having a bad brain day the choice is feeding myself with something in packaging or going hungry and… we know where this is going. I do my best to be sustainable, but sometimes I remind myself that convenience helps those of us with disabilities and that’s ok!
Fellow ADHD-er here and I sympathize greatly! Packaged foods and frozen meals are a MUST.
One thing that I still do it use paper towels. I have reusable cloths for cleaning and stuff, but I have found that paper towels are just something I will always have on hand whether its keep the moisture out of my greens to keep them fresh or clean up after my cat. Another thing that is completely out of my control really is how wasteful being a research scientist is. Every thing is made of plastic and a lot of materials it is a single use item. I will go through so much plastic just to get one experiment done and while I LOVE what I do, it still is hard to balance
Not the same thing but I interned in a public health lab and I was amazed on all the single use plastic used, it can't be helped though as things need to get done and reusing said single use things is out of the question.
The fact that you present sustainability as a journey is what has finally convinced me to take steps in this direction. I’ve always felt that if I didn’t do it all, I shouldn’t bother at all until I started watching your videos. Thank you.
I have the same anxieties about health and what not, I appreciate you when you say you "do whats best for you". It is very odd to shame people to not get medication that will benefit their lives. Thank you for being so open and helpful!
You’re definitely my cup of tea 😇 Thank you for being so brave in sharing your unsustainable habits. Your honesty and authenticity is admirable 😊 don’t beat yourself up, Immy! Remember it’s better to have lots of people doing zero waste imperfectly than a few people doing it perfectly ☺️
I really appreciate this video! I've been working towards being more sustainable, but even the little things get to you some times. Not everything we enjoy/need is sustainable, but we're all just trying to do the best with what we have available! Thanks Immy!
Thanks for the honesty - it could be easy to hide those imperfections but I think it encourages more people just to try instead of not bothering because they can’t do it 100%.
Also with regards to the medication packets: I take a lot of meds for chronic illness and I found out Superdrug had a recycling scheme for the blister packaging so I take mine there. Not perfect but better than putting it in the bin x
Thank you so much for this video 🤗 I recently started buying a lot more food in packaging and went back to vegetarian from vegan after being diagnosed with an eating disorder and ADHD. Having easy things to eat when I cannot possibly cook anything and not limiting what I can eat are really important for me to make sure I actually eat something, rather than nothing, and don’t feel a major mental block with food. It’s made me question whether I’m still living with my values, despite me knowing it’s something I need to do for my mental health. I appreciate you showing that nobody’s perfect 🥰
Hope you're all better now.
Perfection is too exhausting. You're doing wonderfully, don't stress. ❤️
Our imperfections make us perfect! I follow UA-camrs to see refreshing inspiring habits I can put into my life, not looking for perfection in others or myself. Your videos are calming, peaceful, uplifting! Thank you for keeping it so real - always!
xoxo
Hugs,
Rachele~
I haven’t been great about bringing my reusable coffee mug with me since the pandemic. So I definitely need to rebuild that habit now that places are accepting them again.
And I subscribe to a local farm CSA that sometimes puts specific produce like leafy greens in plastic, but I still think eating local food is better than grabbing a loose banana that was shipped halfway across the world. Thankfully I spoke to my local farm about it and they’re piloting sustainable alternatives with my box! 😄
You may already have videos out like this, but I would love content regarding food packaging/grocery waste. For me, this is the biggest source of daily/weekly waste for me and my family (me, my wife, our 2 yr old and baby). Is there a video or series of videos on how to reduce your waste in that area of life? The biggest difficulty I think is cooking/prepping food from scratch vs buying premade food items, especially for our toddler, which comes with tons of packaging waste. It takes so much time out of our daily/family life to cook from scratch which is why we often opt for premade options.Thanks again for the great content!
Thank you for sharing and being so honest. I work part-time and have 2 school age kiddos at home. I want to do more cooking from scratch but I have discovered I just don't like cooking. Thankfully hubby dies. But I use less than sustainable short cuts myself. It makes me feel guilty.
I think the effort you have put into being mindful in so many aspects speaks volumes. Love the transparency. In this green washed society it is always so appreciated 💚
I really appreciate this video! I have no problem with buying the occasional unsustainable item, because I do a lot of other things like eating plant based and thrifting my clothes, and I feel that my happiness is more important than a tiny action that doesn't make a big difference in a the long run. And you do SOOO much to live a sustainable life, you should never feel guilty.
This was such a helpful video! I have some mobility limitations which means I don't drive and that leads me to have to do some less than sustainable things. I have a lot of guilt about it and it's nice to hear that no one is perfect. I don't know if it'd be feasible, but I'd love to see a video on ways to be sustainable if you can't drive or bike yourself places. Thanks again and best of luck with the move! I moved to the UK from the US for work for a while and I know it's a daunting move.
Not that I thought you’re perfect. No one is. But I do look up to you through your UA-cam and this was nice to feel relatable to. Thank you for exposing yourself in this way for us.
wow I had never thought about banks and sustainability! thank you for your vulnerability, it shows me how truly committed you are to sustainability, as so many folks (including myself) haven't even thought about their actions as unsustainable. thank you for always doing your best and remember that the idea of individual carbon footprint was invented by fossil fuel companies!
Great video. Excellent timing. I have started a new job where I am not WFH anymore and was eating prepackaged lunches. I am batch cooking now so I don't need to do that, but if I have to, I won't beat myself up about it anymore.
Thanks for sharing this with us, it feels good to know that even though daily we try our best to be sustainable does not always goes as we wish! Despite that we still need to be proud of the efforts we are constantly making ❤
Thank you for this video! I needed to hear this as someone who is trying to live zero waste and feels like a failure sometimes!
I think the most comforting thing you said during this video is that you have someone in your life that you used to be close enough with to have a joint bank account and now they don't speak to you and won't return messages. The reason I find this comforting is that I have a couple of those relationships and I always feel like I've somehow failed by either letting the friendship fall off or by them suddenly turning on me--I always think "what did I do wrong?" However, it's nice to hear that other people have similar experiences and that it's normal because I think sometimes we get stuck in the "we must be friends forever" mindset, when in actuality, maybe we just needed that person for the season and the decrease in communication or intimacy doesn't degrade that.
Bethany,
I think if you live long enough you will have friends and acquaintances who just sort of fade away. Texts and phone calls or visits just become less over time or maybe they ghost you outright and disappear completely from your life. There simply is not enough room in any person's life to stay connected with everyone from our past. When I retired and left my last job I did not stay connected with anyone still working there after the first year. I didn't want to be reminded of the job itself. Some people I've avoided completely since retirement because they brought negativity and conflict to every social situation they entered. That's only been a few individuals I've cut off completely. But other folks I still care about are limited to just an occasional contact or holiday greeting. There simply often is not time nor motivation.
I don't have a sustainable bank account and I always feel very guilty but it's simply because Im a student so have a student account and more sustainable ethical accounts don't have student accounts with free overdrafts. I feel like banks and investment has become a huge topic of conversation in the sustainability movement but alot of people just tell you what not to do and not give any guidance or solutions. ESGs for example still include companies such as apple who exploit the environment and people, and it's the same story for "responsible " or "ethical" pension funds. I feel like we can't win so I'm definitely taking a more do what I can, study, educate others and stop comparing my life to others approach, because no two peoples life experience is the same ❤️ thanks for being so honest 😊
Brilliant video, and great topic. We need to see the other side of the story to stop feeling guilty that we aren't "perfect". It definitely shows that we are not superhumans, and that we are allowed to slack in some areas where we find it too hard, so that we can be really good in other things.
You are definitely my cup of tea☕💕. I love the ideas you share, as well as your minimalism live and recipes. I love the work you put into your videos. You care alot about our planet,there are alot of people who should give the situations a special thought too. Well,that's my opinion😁.
I realized some time ago, that i am living a minimalized live for a long time already and i am talking about many years. I hate to waste food,clothes,etc. we wear our clothes as long as possible,or i bring something to the thriftshop. We never waste any food. My kids are teenies...they seem to be hungry all day long🤭, leftovers have no chance😉. Have a wonderful weekend🌻🌞
Traveling stresses me so much! Especially long distance air flights etc. I am worn out by the time I arrive at my destination and it takes me days to recover enough to enjoy myself. My anxiety got worse with COVID and now I seldom even go anywhere even overnight.
You ARE my cup of tea, girl! I love your videos. You inspire me to be a little better every time I watch. Thank you for what you do. Be well!
The important part is you keep trying. You never have given up on sustainable living. That's amazing! Don't forget that and don't worry. Love always♡
Immy, was it you (or was it your partner) who once said “We need to fail towards success”? Being perfect and/or being the best… these things are subjective. From my perspective, I find you to be inspiring!!!! What could be better than that? I’m gonna share this little experience: Yesterday I got a birthday card from my SIL (whom I love and adore). In this card she wrote that I was an “inspiration for the unordinary”. I had unsettled feelings about this for about 30 seconds… but after giving it some more thought, I smiled and felt amazing simply because I don’t want to be just another ordinary person… it’s OK to be unordinary. Take Away: We need to let our strengths shine, erase self-doubt, and mute our inner chatter. You’re not perfect… but you’re inspiring!! 💦🌎Ⓜary💕 PS - Zucchini Chocolate Doughnuts rule!! 🍩🍩
So relate to the illness/injury thing. I’m the same.
This made me feel so much better about the small* sustainable things i do, which can often be overruled with the guilt of the unsustainable things i do. Knowing even the hardcorers ;), arent perfect is a really good message to share. Thank you.
* are there even small sustainable actions. Big waves an all that.
Oh man. I feel the same with the health anxiety…. Love and appreciate your openness and vulnerability 💛💛🫶
All you can do, is your best effort...stop beating yourself up...one of the worse things I see is people worrying about things that are out of their control...I love your channel because you try so hard to come up with great ideas for being sustainable
I need to be better with my food waste. As a mom of 2 picky eaters working full time I find that despite my best intentions I still waste food which drives me crazy because I can barely afford groceries as it is. But I just remind myself I'm doing my best with the resources *read time* that I have with my responsibilities
Love this! Also, hummus tip if you haven't tried it, make sure the chickpeas and peeled, that'll help a lot with smoothness. But also, don't feel obligated to make it! You deserve to have the things in life that you love and make you happy and you shouldn't feel guilty about that. You're a badass!
Watching this was incredibly energizing! I appreciate you being open and sharing it with us. You deserve much more followers!
Hey this was an amazing video because it's so relatable. One thing my family and me do is go to takeaway shops with our own containers and ask them to fill the food in it. I don't know if that's possible in your country but there it is.
I'm also actually really bad about buying packaged food especially in hostel
I also eat meat at my parents’ house because food is SUCH a big part of how my family shows love. Especially since we’re chinese so most recipes include meat or fish, and I feel I would lose part of my culture if I gave that up with my parents’ cooking, but it’s definitely something I’m insecure about
I also occasionally buy atuf in plastic packaging, because there are no other options. I'm doing as much as I can and I tell that to myself and it helps ❤️
Anxiety can be challenging but it does have benefits 😄
Thanks for such a raw and real video 🙂
I love your honesty in this video. You’re right about how others can seem perfect in their pursuit of sustainability. We all on a journey x
The kettle b-roll to "not everyone's cup of tea". 🤣
Immy, to me you are PERFECT because you do the best you can do. And that makes each single human being doing so also perfect. You know why? Because integrity is the most valuable human trait and I LOVE and ADMIRE you for being true to your integrity. Thank you, this inspires me about you!
Thank you for being brave enough to post this video, despite the potential criticism you might face. It highlights that while we are all trying to do better and be better, perfect sustainability is unrealistic and no one should beat themselves up over not reaching it!
For me, I buy a lot of skincare from less than sustainable brands! I try whenever I can, but I have struggled immensely with acne and I choose to prioritize what works for my skin over what packaging the items come in.
This is a great video idea! Thank you for being transparent.
Please don't be so hard on yourself - you already do SO much! All we can do is the best we can - which is different for everyone.
love the video Immy! One of the ‘unsustainable’ things I sometimes do is put recyclable things in a general bin when i’m out and about, because i know having worked as a cleaner myself, 99% if not more of public recycling bins get contaminated with food waste and end up having to go to landfill anyway :(( thank you as always for making sustainability a lot more accessible and realistic for everyone 💚
This kind of makes me sad... the critics need to wake up and smell the "sustainably sourced" coffee, not criticize those who are trying their best. Most of us do not live where we can easily access farmers' markets or whole foods; nor do we have access to Chinese pharmacies or naturopathic remedies that are affordable, and which do NOT come unpackaged. We do not have our own gardens, forests or foraging habitats, and are struggling to do the best with where we are.
I do what I can,, and count it a PLUS when I can support local industry by buying their products, which saves on transportation and fuel. I think you are doing a terrific job! Can't wait to see your content after you move here to the US.
I’ve been binging on your videos ever since I found your channel a month ago. Thank you for being so genuine and inspiring ❤
Really appreciate your vulnerability. Hoping that you're gentle with yourself and continue to set and stick to your boundaries
This video does make me feel better about myself lol. I try so hard to abide by "zero waste" principles, but I miss the mark by a lot largely due to convenience. I usually try to purchase appliances secondhand because I know how resource-intensive tech is. But the other day, an appliance I rely on almost daily broke on me, and I didn't have time to search for a secondhand item so I just went to the nearest store to get it. I also rely on packaged convenience foods A LOT because I work many hours and have limited time to cook. I just try to abide by a vegan diet first and foremost.
I absolutely love this video. It’s not easy to talk about insecurities and anxieties so i really appreciate your openness and honesty. No one is perfect with their sustainability no matter how hard they try. You do incredible things and have always inspired me along my own journey! I always look forward to your content. Thank you! ❤️
I loved this video before I even watched it. Thank you for being transparent with us! Thank you for talking about the "other" side of sustainability.
Glad I stumbled upon your video. I needed this. Subscribed👍🏾
Always guilty about buying favourite food in packaging, although reducing it than before..
I appreciate your videos and this perspective! Sometimes I feel frozen with indecision or frustration with actions that are not ideal or imperfect and videos like this remind me to do as much as I can while still living/being human. thank you!
I used to think l am failing and not doing enough, until i got a chronic illness and that changed my whole perspective. It's not worth it to strive for perfection, you need to live as well
I get a gel manicure once a month, but it makes me happy! And just like your hummus, I can never make pesto as good as one specific brand that sells it in a plastic container. I'm never going to be perfect, I just want to be happy 😊
Like you - I am in a long distance relationship, so I feel you! (Though not quite as far as in your case!) Also, I live in a different country than my family does. It's all within Europe, so to my parents I always take the train, but to see my partner I'm sad to say I have to regularly fly... It's usually so much cheaper and saves me 1.5 days of traveling (though I've also done it overland... but then sometimes I have to take a ferry which is even more polluting than a plane!).
I often feel bad about it, but then I then I think you always have to balance the (environmental) costs with happiness gained and then the choice is easily made, at least for me! Obviously if I didn't take the plane sometimes I wouldn't be able to see my partner and you know how much that sucks.
BTW - I also think it's a bit of a scam to feel personally responsible for all the ills of the world... We really should be redirecting all that energy into holding our governments and industry accountable for the shit state of the planet! In the end, all you can do is do the best with what you have, also in a way that protects your own health and happiness, that's my two cents at least!
You've booked yourself a place in heaven !!!
God bless you
I find it hard to avoid plastic food packaging. I have mobility issues and I simply can't get to some of the shops where I might find unpackaged fresh food. I find this very frustrating.
Thank you for the plug to not shame ourselves. So helpful and compassionate. And, thank you for your openness to other points of view.
"Bad" stuff I do:
- I will use whatever dental products work for me regardless of waste and not feel a hint of shame.
- I drink canned ginger ale because its easier when I dont feel well.
- I get takeaway just because, not just because I'm tired or sick.
- I get individually packaged things because with my ADHD I often forget to eat because I dont want to stop what I'm doing to make a whole meal and then forget.
Good stuff I do:
- I am a top tier container re-user.
- Nearly all my clothes are second hand and I mend them to make it last longer.
- Nearly every morning coffee for the past 5ish years has been made at home.
- nearly half of our meals/groceries are vegan. My mainly meat eating partner prefers A LOT of vegan products now.
Well done for doing your best.
Thanks for sharing this 💓🌻
You are doing great!! No regrets
I have suntan cream in a plastic tube. I would rather not and use an organic one. I did this as a younger person and burnt terribly - to the point of blisters. Therefore it is one of the tested in plastic items. But using this is a matter of health and safety. It is the same with many people who need medication. We should not and cannot feel guilty that this is unsustainable and wrong to test on animals. I do not use anything else that is in plastic or tested on animals - if it is for vanity (from creams to make up) or household cleaning then there are better, more natural replacements and imo any further testing for these products should be banned. There are enough chemicals around for firms to create new products without resorting to trying out new things tbh (Chemistry degree here).
I agree with you Immy, it is a complex matter and a matter of doing the best that we can, and, as a fellow commenter has said, pressure the big corporate companies.
Thank you for sharing!
Wow! It really made me feel better ❤️
Thank you for your candor in this🙏 I always enjoy your videos. Happy early birthday Immy🥳 Stay Blessed. I appreciate you!
I appreciate you and your videos. You have inspired me, to do my very best. That’s all we can do……..you inspire me and many others x
I have a 2 month old baby and we do use clothe diapers and do EC (elimination communication - learning his signals of when he wants to pee/poo and then let him do that in the sink in the bathroom instead in the diaper) sometimes. But when energy levels are low or we have people over or we are going out - we ue one-time ´regular´diaper. I am trying to give myself some slack and see that every single use diaper saved is a winn instead of feeling guilty of every single use diaper beeing wasted. I hope that we will have energy and motivation to be free of diapers when h is around 18 months old - if it works for him.
Guilt and shame is such energy draining feelings that easily can take the momentum out of any good intention! Because it is easier to do good decisions that are more in line with our values if we are healthy in both physicaly and mentaly!
Random plastic cups when I'm out, the occasional urge to by toilet paper when I have a bidet and reusable, and omg food waste. That's the worst of all. Trying but it's so hard because I'm lazy
Great video. 💖
I feel like time privilege needs to go into more sustainably conversations.
I do my best with being sustainable.
I am low income and short on time. I don't have time to make things home all the time. Rely on convenice foods sometimes. But I don't fell ashamed. Tbh
Would like a video about privileges in sustainability such as time, access and money etc.
I think we can only do the best we can nobody is perfectxx
When it come to medication. there are some pharmacies that will take the bottles back for prescription bottles and reuse them . so maybe see if that is an option in your area.
For me. Im just trying my best
Hi Immy such a great video yes we know you're not perfect none of us are but we just try our best❤
Something i am doing that doesn't look sustainable is using my plastic and unsustainable items up. I still have a lot of waste in my life but it's because I'm using what I already have. Which IS sustainable it just doesn't looks like it.
Also, I am a PhD student, I do know I work in a non profit research organisation that works for keeping biodiversity and researching toxicity of pollutants like plastics and certainly towards environmental sustainability. But the waste generated from research is just not avoidable. And i am guilty of it every time.
Would you release tmje audio from your videos as a podcast? I would love to listen while I run xx
Thank you for this video Immy 🥰 don’t think I’ve commented before, but your videos are all so calming and intelligent and honest and I find you so inspiring, including because you share what you don’t do perfectly. And it’s funny because what you consider failures sound so small to us, but then what we consider our failures probably sound so small to other people! It’s almost as if we are all too hard on ourselves…
Btw what is the name of the place where you get your nails done? I’d love to do mine every now and again but don’t ever go because the nail industry is notorious for human trafficking - but if you’ve found an ethical one i’ll definitely check it out!
Love this video, thanks for making it! I haven't watched all your videos so I've missed your discussions on banks and investments, but I'm wondering if you've ever talked about the prospect of making a living (either full or part-time) off stock trading in a way that promotes sustainability, or whether you put that form of livelihood in the "gambling" or at least unsustainable category of things?
Interesting question!
I tend to have hot nice baths after work, buy chocolate bars (trying to buy more recyled), I buy clothes from marks and Spencers which they are trying to be more sustainable but its still fast fashion. You have to treat yourself now and then
I’m on dialysis and have been for 10 years. There is literally so much waste that comes from me just living. Every bag of ceiling is wrapped in plastic. All the cords are wrapping plastic and neoprene type of material and that’s three times a week and all the bandages gauze, tape and boxes for those tapes gloves masks so much shit just so I can live until I get a Kidney transplant. I am also on seven or eight different medication’s and two of them come in plastic wraps so that’s 60s little wrapper packages that have to be tossed. It’s a lot. But I can’t just like lay down and die, you know what I mean? I do what I can where I can but it’s still not enough.
I am guilty of buying packages of presliced apples, and individual yogurt or hummus cups when my kids are super busy and we need portable snacks. Sometimes I take the easy way rather than washing all the containers.
Unfortunately I have a mortgage with Natwest, this makes me feel terrible, also because I'm privileged enough to be able to afford a mortgage and that makes me feel incredibly guilty and ashamed for some reason (no I can't switch it). But I am slowly learning to be ok with it.
Hi I have recently come across a company called palanercare who claim their period pads are flushable please could you look in to this. Thank you.
Love this video Immy! Defo close that joint bank account - I’ve been in the situation before and charges were ran up (not by me) and it ended up being a huge ball ache as then it’s in your name - bite the bullet and close it :)
When I am living alone, I stay quite sustainable. But when I have house guests, all budgeting and simple living get left behind. Recently I had relatives (and their dogs) visit for a long weekend.
I wanted to treat them well so stocked up on all sorts of food and drink and cooked, cleaned and ran the dishwasher and laundry repeatedly. Triple the bags of garbage stacked up at the end of the visit. I didn't bother going through it for recyclables etc. I put it all out for the garbage pickup, forgave my weaknesses and slept for most of 24 hours. 💤
I really needed this. I take vitamin d tablets and im on birth control and sertraline and I find myself feeling so guilty about it and I shouldn't.
the health anxiety spending is so real🥴
I think the big takeaway for the sustainability movement should be that everything you do to reduce waste makes you a better person, but doing nothing doesn’t make you a bad one. Corporations dump so much more in a day than any individual could possibly work to mitigate in their entire lives.