Ignore the Aesthetic

Are your planters wacky colors that look mismatched when
placed together on the dining room table? Does the idea of
owning plants terrify you? Don't stress it, man.

Perfectly arranged, identical mason jars. Adorable succulents covering window sills. Classy, minimalist clothing in blacks, whites, and neutrals.

Yes, the Zero Waste Aesthetic is a seductive mistress. And she will suck your bank account dry if you're not careful.

Don't get me wrong; I love me a good aesthetic. I dog ear my favorite pages of Vogue, follow zero waste foodies on Instagram, and create Pinterest boards inspired by The Night Circus and Hufflepuff. Why do you think I chose this black-on-white theme for my zero waste blog? Every day I put conscious thought into how things look and imagine what affect they'll have on me and those around me.

As a result, I still fall into the consumerist pit every now and then when I get caught up in making my life "look like" I care about the environment (if you don't believe this is a thing, just type "Zero Waste" into Pinterest. It's a thing.). If you're constantly decluttering, battling impulse buying, or just trying to stay in your budget, then these mantras may help you as much as they've helped me:

Know Thyself

Think critically about whether or not an aesthetic purchase is right for you. If you can't keep a plant alive (and dead plants are rarely good in any aesthetic, not even by Addams Family standards), then don't buy plants. If you really only wear t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers on a daily basis, don't waste your dollars on a new minimalist wardrobe. Et cetera...

Don't Spend Time or Money on Aesthetics Unless They Bring You Real Joy

This theme really belongs to minimalists, but I think it also applies to zero waste: keep the things in your life that bring you joy.

I don't want you to think that living zero waste means living an ugly life, so allow me to clarify. One of my personal demons, External Validation, stresses me out when I obsess over how things look, but I do get genuine enjoyment out of putting together the perfect outfit or cleaning and reorganizing my bookshelves. Recognizing the difference and managing expectations will help you stay content with your life without wondering if you really should have bought those dozen glass mason jars while they were on sale.

Embrace Your Personal Style

When you do consider paying for aesthetics, be yourself. Don't let marketers worm their way into the zero waste lifestyle and define what you like.

The REAL Zero Waste Aesthetics that You Can (and Should) Appreciate:

No overflowing trashcans.
No crumpled receipts, candy wrappers, or molding disposable coffee cups smooshed on the floor of your car.
No crunchy used tissues under the couch.
No cryptic sticky notes faded by time stuck to your desk, refrigerator, or forehead.

In the end, it's about the waste, people. Not the style.

Labels: aesthetic, budgeting, zero waste