Why I Decided To Change My Habits
I wasn’t always the eco-conscious type. A few years back, I’d jump in the car to pop down the road, heat the flat like a sauna in January, and never thought twice about a plastic-wrapped avocado flown in from Peru. I wasn’t trying to be careless—it just wasn’t on my radar.
Things started to shift one spring morning in Highgate. I was walking through Waterlow Park, coffee in hand, and I spotted a crow picking apart a sandwich wrapper someone had dropped by the pond. It wasn’t the most dramatic scene, but something clicked. I went home that evening and started reading up on carbon footprints. That was the beginning.
What I found was this: you don’t need to go off-grid or start hugging trees. Just a few everyday tweaks can make a big dent in your personal emissions. These five steps helped me cut mine without losing my mind—and they might just work for you too.
Step 1: Rethink How You Travel
Swap One Car Journey A Week For Walking Or Cycling
The car used to be my default. Even short errands involved a quick drive, mostly out of habit. I told myself it was quicker, but honestly, between traffic, parking, and roadworks, it rarely was.
So I made a deal with myself: one day a week, no car. At first, I picked Sunday. I’d walk to the shops or take my bike down to the Holloway farmers’ market. It started off feeling like a chore, but within a few weeks, it became something I looked forward to. Cycling past the Heath, dodging squirrels—it’s not exactly a hardship.
Cutting one car journey a week won’t save the world, but it’s a start. And that’s the point.
Use Public Transport More Often
I get it—not everyone can walk or cycle everywhere. But if you’ve got the option to jump on the Tube instead of driving, take it. London’s public transport might not be perfect, but it’s a whole lot cleaner than solo car journeys.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a bus emits roughly half the CO₂ per passenger kilometre compared to a car. Trains are even better. I started using the Overground more, especially when I realised I could read a book or catch up on emails instead of raging in traffic.
Quick Tip: Download the Citymapper app and challenge yourself to go car-free just once a week – it adds up fast.
Step 2: Make Your Home More Energy-efficient
Tackle The Heating First
I live in a lovely old flat with single-glazed windows and all the charm (and chill) of a Victorian crypt. Heating was always my biggest energy drain. The first thing I did? I got draught excluders for every door, used thermal curtains, and sealed up gaps with self-adhesive strips. Total cost? About thirty quid. Savings on my gas bill? Considerable.
I also turned down the thermostat by one degree. You’d be amazed how little difference you feel—but your boiler certainly notices.
Smart Meters & LED Bulbs
Smart meters aren’t just for nerds. Mine showed me that boiling the kettle ten times a day added up to more than I thought. I started batching my tea-making. Same goes for switching every bulb in the flat to LEDs. They’re cheaper to run, last longer, and they don’t flicker like horror film lighting.
Quick Tip: Try using your smart meter like a fitness tracker – set weekly ‘carbon cut’ goals and see how low you can go.
Step 3: Change What’s On Your Plate
Eat Less Meat (Start With One Day A Week)
If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d be voluntarily eating tofu, I would’ve laughed in your face. But here we are. I started small with ‘Meat-Free Mondays’—a lentil shepherd’s pie here, a veggie curry there. Now I probably eat meat once or twice a week, tops.
The stats speak for themselves. Beef has a carbon footprint more than ten times that of lentils. I’m not saying you need to go vegan overnight, but cutting down on meat is one of the quickest ways to shrink your footprint.
And the food? Honestly, it’s not just rabbit food. My go-to comfort meal these days is mushroom risotto with a splash of oat cream. Proper cosy.
Shop Local And Seasonal
One winter, I found myself eating a punnet of strawberries. Tasted of nothing. Then I checked the label—grown in Egypt. What on earth were they doing in my London fridge?
Now I try to stick with seasonal UK-grown produce. Think squash and leeks in winter, berries and tomatoes in summer. Farmers’ markets are a great shout, but even the big supermarkets have British options if you look.
Quick Tip: Ask your greengrocer what’s grown in the UK this month – they’re usually happy to help.
Step 4: Rethink Your Stuff – From Clothes To Coffee Cups
Buy Less, Choose Better
Fast fashion is one of those sneaky carbon offenders. I used to buy cheap jumpers that lasted a season, tops that shrunk after two washes, shoes that fell apart on Camden High Street.
These days, I buy fewer clothes, but better ones. Second-hand shops in Islington have become my new favourites. I found a proper wool coat there for £40—still going strong three winters later.
The rule I follow now is simple: if I wouldn’t wear it thirty times, I don’t buy it.
Reduce Single-use Plastics
I was the guy who always forgot his tote bag. I had seven at home, and none on me when I needed one. Then I started hanging one on the front door handle—problem solved.
Same with coffee cups. I finally found a reusable one I actually liked (collapsible, doesn’t leak, looks decent), and now it lives in my rucksack. I also ditched cling film for wax wraps and swapped plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones. None of it’s hard, but it does take forming a habit.
Quick Tip: Keep your tote bag and reusable coffee cup by the door – you’ll actually remember them when you’re rushing out.
Step 5: Speak Up – Your Voice Matters
Start With Your Inner Circle
At first, I was scared I’d come across like a smug eco-warrior. But I found that most people were actually curious. When I showed my brother my energy bill after a few months of changes, he switched suppliers the next day.
Small conversations lead to big ripple effects. If you’re making changes, talk about them. Not in a preachy way—just share what worked for you. That’s how habits spread.
Support Change Through Your Choices
The truth is, personal action alone isn’t enough. We need bigger shifts—better policies, cleaner infrastructure, more support for renewables. That’s why where you spend your money and who you vote for matters too.
Pick a green energy supplier. Sign petitions. Support companies that are actually trying. It doesn’t take loads of time, just a bit of intention.
Quick Tip: Follow a few climate accounts on social media – you’ll stay informed without wading through boring reports.
Final Thoughts – You Don’t Have To Be Perfect
Let’s be honest. I still get it wrong sometimes. I’ve forgotten my reusable bag, bought out-of-season fruit, left the heating on all night. That’s life.
But the point isn’t to be perfect—it’s to do better, bit by bit. Every small step you take chips away at your carbon footprint. And when enough of us do that, it adds up to something huge.
So if you’re just starting out, don’t panic. You don’t need to change your whole life overnight. Just pick one of these five steps and give it a go. That’s how it all begins.
See you in Waterlow Park—with your reusable coffee cup, obviously.
