At the current moment in history, it can be a little tough to live green. Environmental consciousness hasn’t been around long enough for it to be profitable for major companies, so products and services with high carbon footprints are still the norm. From a farming standpoint, everything is more expensive to be ecologically friendly as well. Which means that as individuals, our choices become limited and more expensive.

But, if you do choose that green route, you should be able to reward yourself at least occasionally, so that your efforts not only help the planet, but also your own personal situation.

A Vacation To a Green Location

If you live environmentally, you should vacation environmentally, which means finding a city or a resort that promotes sustainability at the very least. There are plenty of these resorts on the West Coast, as attitudes tend to be a bit more progressive out there. You can also find niche vacation spots that specifically cater toward the ecologically friendly, and they have things like building with gardens on the roof or are powered by solar panels, for example.

Accepting That Comfort Costs Money

Going green is more expensive than using typical resources. If you accept this offhand, and prevent yourself from feeling the anxiety that comes from thinking about the fact that an organic can of soup costs three times what a non-organic one does, then you’re winning the internal battle of the Green Movement. Reward yourself by purchasing these goods without a second thought, and just be sure to budget accordingly. Hopefully, prices will even out in the future, but until then, just appreciate that organic shopping is even an option at all!

Having Kids That Are Green

If you’re a parent living in a green household that uses solar power system home, eco-cleaning items, and biodegradable household products, then you’ll want your kids to follow in your footsteps. Needless to say, you would get a rewarding feeling if your kids grow up to be environmentally responsible like you. It may not be until later in life that they fully understand the relationship between humans and the earth, but by teaching them as children, they’ll have a moral compass that includes the ecosystem as a whole.

Establishing Peace of Mind

A big part of going green is that you feel better about yourself and your place in the world. In addition to living an ecologically responsible life, if you learn to meditate, you’ll also be freeing some of your brainpower and willpower for the challenges that you’ll naturally face in life.

Gathering Positive Attention For Your Efforts

It’s also a reward for living green when the people around you notice that you’re trying to do something good for the world around you. In a way, it’s sort of a combination of external and internal rewards. You feel good because you’re making the world better, and you also feel good for getting recognized that you’re putting the effort in.