What does your daily routine look like? Perhaps you start the morning with a workout and a coffee from your local cafe. You might head into an office or studio before picking up a sandwich from a nearby shop for lunch. Or does it involve taking kids to school and a grocery run while working from home? For many of us, no matter where we live or what we do, our schedules involve leaving the house at least once a day. Getting out and about is so integral to our lives that we barely give it a second thought – except we should. As soon as we step outside, we’re making an impact on the planet, whether that’s through CO2 emissions or by generating waste. Even the smallest movements we make – hopping on the bus to take you from A to B, for instance, or ordering a flat white to go – have ramifications on the world around us.

Thankfully, there are many ways we can be more mindful when going about our daily lives. From the transport you take to the shops you support and the places you visit, here are four ways you can do better when whiling away your day outside your home.

Getting Ready

Before you go anywhere, ask yourself the following: have all appliances been flicked off at the socket and lights at the switch? It might sound simple, but many of us are guilty of leaving the likes of our laptops on charge as we run out the door. And as well as saving electricity, turning electronics off properly saves money too. In fact, the average UK household wastes 40kg of CO2 and spends £65 a year by leaving appliances on. A tip for those who regularly find themselves in a rush: consider getting a standby saver or smart plug, which allows you to simply switch everything off in one go, as you go.

It’s also worth making sure you have everything you might need for the day ahead. Heading out to meet a friend for a caffeine fix? Pack your reusable coffee cup. The UK gets through 2.5 billion disposable ones a year – and only one in 400 gets recycled. There are so many beautifully designed reusable cups to choose from, but here at The Modern House HQ we use Husk Cups, which are cleverly made from organic waste. Likewise, don’t forget your reusable water bottle. The numbers surrounding single-use plastic-bottle waste are staggering: UK households use more than 13 billion plastic bottles a year, 7.7 billion of which are for water. In fact, the average person in the UK will use 150 plastic water bottles a year – a statistic you can crunch by carrying your own.

Travel Right

It’s perhaps no surprise to learn that, according to a UK study published in June 2022, the transport sector emits more greenhouse gases than any other in the UK, producing 28 per cent of our total emissions in 2020. It’s important to question, then, your preferred way of getting around. For many of us, it’s on the road. In fact, another report revealed that road transport makes up 22 per cent of total emissions of CO2 in the UK, which not only majorly impacts global warming, but also results in poor air quality, noise and congestion. What is somewhat more surprising, however, are the 2019 findings that announced more than 60 per cent of journeys between one and two miles were made by motor vehicles. And did you know that out of the 34 million on our roads, 28 million are cars?

So, when it comes to taking shorter journeys, how about opting for a pollution-free, human-powered way of getting around? Walking and cycling are brilliant for many reasons: they are good forms of cardio and are cost-effective (you can save on petrol, public transport and that exercise class you’ll no longer need). But they’re also better for the environment and our wellbeing too. “The mental benefits of cycling are extraordinary,” says Matt Meyers, founder of the Bristol-based Temple Cycles. “Commuting by bike is a totally different experience to being crammed on the tube or bus – and it gives you time to decompress after the working day.” A word of advice for beginners: “It’s worth familiarising yourself with the rules of the road,” Matt continues. “See if you can go for a ride with some confident cyclists. I’ve made many lifelong friends through cycling – and doing it with mates after work in the summer (or winter!) is a truly revelatory thing.”

Support local businesses

Why shop at a chain when there is an abundance of thoughtful local companies out there? Stroll down your nearest high street and you’ll likely stumble upon one, whether it’s a family-run restaurant or an independent shop. “By spending your money locally, you can help sustain small businesses and preserve the character of your community,” says Lucy McWhirter, creative director of Pophams. The London-based bakery-cum-restaurant, best known for its pastries and pasta, recently launched lifestyle space Pophams Home, which sells products from many self-started craftspeople. “I love building relationships with our makers and suppliers – and our customers too,” explains Lucy. “Some of our regulars include Pophams in their weekly routine – and these sorts of relationships allow you to become familiar with a customer’s taste and lifestyle and what their needs are.”

“Local businesses also tend to truly care about their community and get involved in neighbourhood events, charities and initiatives. Supporting them creates a ripple effect, leading to a stronger and more vibrant community,” Lucy continues. Crucially, shopping locally minimises our impact on the planet too. For example, you can avoid plastic-wrapped supermarket veg flown in from around the world by shopping for groceries at your local farmers’ market. (Check out our guide to London’s best ones here.) Shopping locally is better for the environment too. As Lucy puts it: “The sort of products local businesses sell will have likely been sourced from nearby, meaning we can reduce our shopping footprint along the way.”

Contribute to community spaces

If you’re looking for a place to go, a bright idea is to visit a local community space – whether that’s an independently run gallery that doubles as an art hub, or a disused urban area converted into a glorious garden. One example is Rochester Square, a ceramic and food studio and garden in Camden run by artist Francesca Anfossi and project manager Anastasia Sledkova. “For us, there is great meaning in creating a place that can be a catalyst for people to meet each other,” says Anastasia. “We believe that in a city like London, where the social needs of communities are often overridden by financial interests, somewhere like Rochester Square sets out a different model for cohabitation and social interaction.”

Need convincing? The benefits of being involved in a community space are myriad, whether you volunteer to run one or simply stop by once a week. It’s a great way to put down roots and get to know your neighbours, says Anatasia. “But it also facilitates intergenerational and multicultural connections,” she continues, “as well as gives you space to share your own experiences and gain new knowledge.” There’s something uplifting about giving back to your community by becoming a part of it – and we can’t think of a more rewarding way to spend a day around your neighbourhood than by doing exactly.