Today is Blog Action Day, and the focus is on Water. Since almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water, it’s safe to say that this needs to be a priority.
One of the topics I write about (usually on www.freelanceswitch.com) is freelancing, and I started thinking about the ways that freelancing helps to contribute to water conservation. I know it’s not possible for everyone to switch over to freelancing, but if you really love this planet, it’s something you should consider.
So here are 5 ways that freelancing helps to save water:
- No commute – I wake up each morning, take the dog for a walk, and then sit down at the computer and start work. No driving means no wasted fuel, no increase in carbon emissions, and no parking problems.
- No showering – OK, maybe don’t give up showering completely, but since my clients don’t need to see me (and in truth, many would likely pay extra not to see me) I don’t need to shower every day. And even if I do shower, I don’t need to shave every day. I’m not suggesting that you give up personal hygiene altogether, but I’d say that my water consumption in this area has certainly decreased.
- Less Laundry – I may not be painting a pretty picture for freelancers, but I doubt that I am alone in the fact that my wardrobe needs have changed significantly from my days of working in an office. Less clothes mean less laundry, which means less water required
- Less Flushing – OK, this might sound bad, but just think of the movie Meet the Fokkers. Dustin Hoffman has a great saying for water conservation – “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.” This might not be a good policy in an office, but if you drink as much coffee as I do, you could be looking at saving 6L of water per trip, and that adds up to some hefty savings over the course of the week.
- No bottles – I used to drink a bottle or three of water every day when I was working in an office. Usually one on the way in, one on my lunch, and at least one on the way home. Now that I am working at home, I have no need for the plastic bottles. The dog isn’t as happy about this, as she really loved playing with them – but I think she prefers the fact that I am home with her all day now.
So now just find a way to convince your boss to let you start working from home, or – leave the corporate environment altogether and start building your own business. You will enjoy it more, you will be making a difference, and you will be amazed at how quickly you get adjusted to the lifestyle.
Now excuse me please – I’ve got some deadlines to miss.
Adil javed
Nice post. I agree with everything as long as you don’t have kids. Once you have kids at home, you won’t be able to do most of the above.
Brandscaping
Thanks Adil,
No kids on the radar, and the dog isnt that much of a problem – yet!