7 Easy Swaps That Help Protect Our Oceans - Without Changing Your Entire Lifestyle

Mrs. Ladybug
14 hours ago
6 min read

There's nothing quite like drawing in a deep and steady breath through your nose and enjoying that soothing scent that only God's great ocean provides. Fresh, briny, crisp, with notes of algae that are slightly sulfurous. Haaaah!

I'll share a secret with you... after working on the beach for a few years in my 20's, I've sadly gone nose blind to the smell of the ocean. Now that I live in the countryside and rarely visit the coast, I do occasionally catch its scent, and it fills me with comfort and joy.

The Big Blue - so beautiful and powerful, home to another world entirely; a world that we barely know. According to Google, the ocean currently covers 71% of the planet, of which 95% remains unexplored. It has 2.2 million species, but about 90% remain undiscovered.

Personally, I pray that the ocean and its unknown inhabitants remain a mysterious wonder to mankind in an effort to preserve it. Much like those unknown aquatic inhabitants, we too are inhabitants of this planet charged with protecting and nurturing it. As stated in the book of Genesis 2:15: The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. As stewards of this planet, we need to continuously work on protecting and caring for the land and sea.

Let's slow down and take a look at how we can do this together without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you've been an ocean lover for years, or you're just now dipping your toes, we can continue to be our lovely selves while also safeguarding the Seven Seas.

If you are lucky enough to live on the beach with an oceanfront view, you are truly a coastal guardian. But, if you're like me who lives a distance from the seashore, then you need to plan a daytrip. Does the thought of that excite or stress you? Don't stress- a beach day is meant for fun and relaxation. Let's plan with ease.

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when planning a beach day? What would you pack first in your beach bag? The first thing that comes to my mind is sunscreen, and then everything else comes next. Applying sunscreen in the nude is actually the best practice so that you don't miss any areas that can be exposed to harmful sunrays. It is important to consider carefully which sunscreen you decide to purchase and use. Many sunscreens and sunblock's have toxic chemicals that can be harmful to us and to the ocean environment. Unfortunately, these chemicals can kill coral reefs which are vital for our planet and our own survival. In light of that, let's look at swapping out any toxic sunscreen we may have and do our best to use a "reef safe" sunscreen instead. My absolute favorite brand for sun protection is Babo Botanicals, a mineral based SPF that is cruelty free + vegan (CF+V) and known as one of the top "reef safe" sunscreens. Another two [CF+V] brands whose products I'm interested in trying is 100% PURE's Green Tea SPF and Cover Girl's SPF lip balm. Let me know if you've ever used these kind products.

On a hot and sunny summer day, you're going to need more than just sunscreen to keep your skin safe from the sun and your body from overheating. Now, I'm not saying to avoid the sun completely - we're not vampires, after all. We need vitamin D from direct sun exposure, but don't overdo it. You're going to need shade and hydration. It would be ideal if every beach had palm trees for natural shade and coconuts for hydration. But, in most cases, we need to provide our own shade and refreshments. I recommend a collapsable wagon for easy transportation of our beach day items. Let's bring a beach parasol with UV protection and a pop-up beach tent along with a comfortable reclining or tanning chair. Keep your phone safe from overheating with a cooling pouch. As you and I know, plastic is a severe problem endangering the ocean; so, we should avoid using plastic single use items by permanently replacing them for our own reusable water bottle, reusable cup(s), and reusable cutlery. Instead of using an eco-unfriendly Styrofoam cooler, let's use a chic soft insolated cooler. Throughout the day, keep your trash contained and safely disposed of by using your own collapsable garbage bin instead of using a [potentially overflowing] public trash can.

Now, it is time to make the hardest decision of all - selecting our beach day apparel and swimwear. With so many beautiful options, how do we filter our choices? The answer is simple: sustainable fashion. In an effort to keep micro-plastics out of the ocean, we should try to avoid using certain materials such as polyester. I'm not saying that we should throw out our less sustainable attire because that is actually the opposite of practicing sustainability. We just need to change the way we think and shop for the future. Thankfully, there are many brands now that offer sustainable resort clothes and swimsuits. For instance, BERLOOK offers eco-friendly swimwear that is flattering for all body shapes. Personally, I love their tummy control one-pieces with deep V-cuts and crisscross backs.

If you are looking to accessorize yourself, there are some really cute bracelets we can slip on that also donate to the cause. Fahlo has a variety of colorful bracelets that virtually tracks the species featured on your bracelet. Another awesome brand is 4Ocean who create bracelets from collected ocean pollution. Now that you've achieved a fashionable look for yourself and your spot on the sand while also making your best effort to keep the ocean and shoreline clean, let's wrap up the day with a Sand Cloud towel made from 100% organic cotton. Sand Cloud donates 10% of profits to marine conservation. Supporting brands that give back and help with the cause is a win-win for you and the planet.

Speaking of donations, how open are you to making a small contribution to an organization that is working to clean, nurture and protect the planet? Trust me, I understand that money is usually slow to arrive and quick to go. Even then, we still have a little pocket change for a delicious Starbucks coffee. There's no judgment here; you deserve small luxuries. The same way that coffee makes your tastebuds feel good, making a donation to a non-profit organization of your choice will also make your soul feel good. Maybe just once a quarter, exchange a little tangible luxury purchase for a non-tangible gift for our planet. Some of the organizations I've donated to are Oceana, Coral Restoration Foundation, Coral Reef Alliance, Coral Guardian, and of course... World Ocean Day.

However, if donating money is just not a possibility for you right now, don't feel guilty. Our income has to take care of us and our families first. So, instead of making a cash donation, try donating your time instead. Something fun you can do with your family and friends that won't hurt the bank is joining a clean-up group. Volunteering to clean the beach is a grand gesture of love and care for our planet. If there isn't a volunteering group near you, it is 100% possible for you to create a group yourself. Choose a date and time to meet, spread the word, and get started. This is an opportunity to inspire others to do the same as well as meet other ocean-lovers.

So far, we've discovered six easy swaps to protect and help the ocean. "Reef Safe" sunscreen, reusable items, sustainable fashion, accessories that give-back, monetary donations, and volunteering. So, what's the seventh swap? We kind of already talked about it. Enjoying your time at the beach instead of stressing about it. Like I mentioned earlier, the smell and sound of the ocean should help sooth your stress away- if even for a moment. Let yourself be hypnotized by the crashing waves on the shoreline. Look at the horizon, the sparkling waves, the birds flying across the sky, the boat sailing in the distance. Take a deep breath of peace and gratitude, then exhale with relief. You're doing great! The planet is a little safer with someone like you and me as its guardians.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Mrs. Ladybug