Top 7 simple, slow and sustainable living blogs – Striving for Simple

Top 7 simple, slow and sustainable living blogs

These are the blogs I think you should check out if you’re considering or working towards a greener, simpler lifestyle (other than this one of course).

I’ve picked 7 simple/slow/sustainable living blogs that have provided me with the most value over the years. For each blog, I’ll tell you:

  • what I think about it
  • what categories of posts you’ll find
  • if the blogger uses affiliate marketing and how to distinguish sponsored from non-sponsored posts
  • what the blogger says about themselves and their blog

This is not a sponsored post. I’m recommending these blogs because I enjoy reading them and they have helped me.

What do I look for in a blog?

First and foremost, I want honesty. If I smell BS, I’m out the door, see ya! I prefer non-sponsored posts, as I know what I’m reading is unbiased. That said, some of the blogs I’ve shared below do contain affiliate marketing. However, I’ve grown to trust the people behind the blog and am sure that they only represent brands/products/services that they have used themselves and believe are doing good for the planet.

Secondly, I want tried and tested tips and advice – not just a load of click bait that provides no real value. You won’t find any of that on these simple/sustainable living blogs.

Last but definitely not least, I want a connection. I’ve continued to read these blogs because I identified with the writer. They may or may not speak to you on the same level – everyone’s different – but if you feel connected to me, chances are you’ll get a good vibe from some or all of the blogs listed below.

So here we go. My favourite 7 simple/slow/sustainable living blogs, in no particular order, are…

1. Becoming Minimalist

This is probably the first blog I came across when I first started trying to live with more intention, slow down and declutter. Joshua Becker got me thinking about my life in a whole different way and gave me the boost I needed to start making changes.

Categories: Minimalism

Affiliate marketing: Not a lot – the few affiliate links I found include a disclaimer underneath. You will also see ads for Joshua’s books, course and other paid content.

Joshua says:
“Becoming Minimalist is designed to inspire others to pursue their greatest passions by owning fewer possessions… We are dedicated to rational minimalism and discovering what that uniquely means for us. And the more who are introduced to this life-changing message, the better! Because we’re all just trying to make the most of this journey called life.”

Visit Becoming Minimalist

2. Gypsy Soul 

Georgina (Gina) Caro writes about all aspects of sustainable living, largely from a family perspective. She explores the zero waste movement, without being extremist about it. Gina first introduced me to the KonMari method of decluttering and prompted me to do a waste audit, which highlighted ways we could reduce our waste even further. I love her ‘swap this… for this…’ posts.

Categories: Sustainable lifestyle; zero waste; minimalism; wellbeing

Affiliate marketing: Yes – all posts include a disclaimer at the top saying that they may contain affiliate links. Sponsored or collaborative posts are marked as such underneath the disclaimer. Affiliate links in blog posts are indicated with an asterisk*. There is also a shop section, with affiliate links to buy products.

Gina says:
“Over the last  5 years, we have been on a mission to drastically change our lives. Our ultimate aim was to minimise, simplify and just enjoy life more… We have become a household that lives for experiences, rather than wasting our money on things we don’t really need… I’m by no means perfect, no zero waste trash jars in our home. But I do wholeheartedly believe that lots of small changes can have a huge impact.”

Visit Gypsy Soul

3. Mamalina 

As a mum, I have been hugely inspired by Emma Ross. When I was struggling to make the jump from disposable to cloth nappies, she provided a lot of the answers and motivation I needed. Asides from posts about reusable nappies and sustainable parenting, you’ll also find helpful content about travel, cooking, wellbeing and a whole lot more.

Categories: Motherhood; the home; relationships; style; travel

Affiliate marketing: Yes – ads/sponsored posts are marked with an asterisk* at the end of the post title and include a disclaimer at the bottom of the post.

Emma says:
“My intentions and goals are to make living and parenting consciously and low waste accessible and mainstream for every parent out there. I’m not striving or asking for perfection (we all have plastic in our homes folks); I’m just looking to spread consciousness around being and parenting and to show our little ones that the world is beautiful and precious, and that it’s our responsibility to keep it that way.”

Visit Mamalina

4. Simply Sustainable 

A blog full of useful info on living more sustainably, including DIY natural beauty and cleaning tips. I’ve been using her recipe for home-made deodorant for months now and it really is the best deodorant that I’ve ever used. Emilie has a degree in environmental science and 7 years experience in the recycling and waste industry, so she has a lot of relevant knowledge to share. I love her down-to-earth vibe.

Categories: Body; life; home

Affiliate marketing: No (I don’t think so) but you will see ads for Emilie’s workshops and ‘DIY zero waste beauty kit’. Also, as the blog is hosted on WordPress.com, you will see ads from them and potential third parties.

Emilie says:
“Sustainable living is a way of life for me. I love trying new things and am always seeing what else I can do to reduce the impact I have on the environment… It can seem pretty intimidating to live sustainably and seem like you have to do all or nothing. But it only takes a few simple changes to have a big effect on the environmental impact you create.”

Visit Simply Sustainable

5. Moral Fibres

This isn’t just a blog showing you how to make eco swaps at home or make your own cleaning spray (though you can find this sort of thing on there). Wendy worked in the sustainability sector since graduating from university and gives her unique insight into all aspects of green living, from saving energy to reducing food waste. I love her ‘ten things’ weekly post of news, social media posts and interesting articles.

Categories: Life & style; food & drink; home & garden; families; travel

Affiliate marketing: Yes – ads/sponsored posts are clearly marked as such (with “AD” at the start of the post title and “sponsored post” underneath the featured image). You will also see ads for Wendy’s book.

Wendy says:
“I wanted Moral Fibres to show that sustainable living can be part of everyone’s daily life, whether you wear sandals or prefer a more substantial footwear, without compromising on style.  I promise you won’t find any tie-dye or catch a whiff of patchouli oil here… Covering all aspects of sustainable living, Moral Fibres is never preachy nor judgmental.”

Visit Moral Fibres

6. Treading My Own Path

If, like me, you want a more sustainable lifestyle but you’re on a budget, this site has loads of advice on reducing your impact without spending more money. An advocate of repurposing what you already have (can I get a hallelujah?), Lindsay Miles is all about keeping it real. While she does endorse the zero waste lifestyle, which I think is unrealistic for most of us, she’s not preachy about it.

Categories: Minimalism; plastic-free living; real food & recipes; zero waste

Affiliate marketing: Yes – ads/sponsored posts include a disclaimer in the introduction. Affiliate links in blog posts are indicated with an asterisk*. You will also see ads for Lindsay’s books, course and other paid content.

Lindsay says:
“I’m proof that it’s possible to be happy and live a fun and fulfilling life without exploiting others or trashing the planet. I share tips, insights, how-tos and advice, and I create resources for living a better life with less stuff and less waste… Because there is a better way to live than accumulating more and more, and tossing it in the trash when we’re done. Letting go of the excess means making room for new experiences and time for doing what we truly love. Who doesn’t want more of that?”

Visit Treading My Own Path

7. Sustainable(ish)

I discovered Jen Gale via Instagram a couple of years ago, though she’s been ‘around’ for much longer than that (I still don’t quite get how I didn’t find her sooner!). She’s very much on my wavelength, focusing on the little things we can all do that add up to make a difference. I love her plain-talking and very honest approach. She also has a podcast, on which she has had some incredibly inspirational guests.

Categories: Consumption; plastic-free(ish); zero waste(ish); food; family; home & away; celebrations; activism(ish)

Affiliate marketing: None, that I could see. You may see an ad for Jen’s book, course and other paid content.

Jen says:
“The whole ethos here is “sustainable(ish)” – which means no dreadlocks, no tree hugging, no unfeasibly tiny mason jar half full of a year’s worth of rubbish. It means working out what works for YOU and your family. It means small tweaks and changes that create change and make a difference.”

Visit Sustainable(ish)

 

There you have it. My top 7 recommendations for simple, slow and sustainable living blogs. I hope they provide you as much inspiration as they did me.

Which simple/slow/sustainable living blogs would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments. 

 

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash