Making eco-conscious choices can be a barrier because they often require serious lifestyle modifications, and that makes it hard to stick with the environmentally friendly choice. Effortless choices are more likely to stick and become part of your lifestyle, routine and daily life. Try these four methods for making effortless environmentally friendly choices daily.

Don't Believe Labels

Buzzwords related to environmentally conscious choices are used in marketing and product design to get you to buy those organic-reusable bags, bleach-free paper products and countless other products you use on a daily basis. Labels are helpful for choosing eco-conscious products, but they don't always tell the full story. For example, organic cotton is often touted as a better choice over regular cotton, but that is hardly the case. What you aren't told is that organic cotton is one of the most environmentally damaging crops, and it's an especially finicky crop to grow and harvest. Processing organic cotton also uses just as much water as conventional cotton. It's not as eco-friendly as previously thought.

Reduce Consumption

Everyone gets hung up on recycling, but reducing consumption of new goods is often forgotten about. It's one of the easiest ways to make eco-conscious choices for sustainable living. Instead of buying a new reusable bag, search a thrift store for some or repurpose old t-shirts. Several little choices throughout the day or week can make the biggest impact.

Choose Appliance Settings Carefully

Appliances, including heating and cooling systems, drain energy on a regular basis. They're necessary to have, but they don't have to be a drain on the grid. Choose settings for your ducted air conditioning carefully in hotter months, and set heat temperatures wisely when it is colder. Take this a step further by doing some research on your home appliances to figure out what is most eco-conscious, and from there, it's effortless.

Buy Only What You Need

Buying only what is needed is critically important when it comes to food waste, but it also applies to everything else you buy. Bulk food is only a sustainable choice when that food will be consumed before it goes bad. Where it's permitted, taking your own containers to the grocery store can make this lifestyle change effortless.

Looking at your choices through the lens of what is sustainable will make it easier for you to make better decisions about how you live. No one is perfect, but daily choices add up to benefit your local environment and beyond.