Tina Fey
People who live off-grid run their homes and live differently to the ‘mainstream’.
Those who aren’t connected to power, water, gas or phone lines are highly self-sufficient and incredibly resourceful people.
There’s a pattern I’ve noticed with people who live this sort of lifestyle.
Read on to learn about six habits.
1) They think about sustainability
The climate crisis is something that people who live off grid think and care about a lot.
They know that we’re in a time of crisis, where we all need to play our part to not create any more havoc…
…And that’s a reason for why they live their lives free of the grid.
You see, relying on your power, water and electricity from the grid all contributes to your carbon footprint.
In my opinion, it’s not something we all think about enough.
I don’t think the average person is logging their carbon footprint daily and trying to cap it.
But each time a person switches on a light, cooks dinner or runs a hot bath, it contributes to their footprint.
This is something people who live off-grid do think about. They’ve thought about it so much that they’ve decided to ensure they don’t live like that.
Simply put, living off-grid is an eco-conscious choice, and the people who are a part of the movement set an example for how to be truly sustainable.
Not only is their carbon footprint much, much smaller than the average person, but they rely on sustainable sources and are more conservative with their supplies.
This leads me to my next point…
2) They don’t waste water
It’s said that the average person is guilty of wasting 30 gallons of water daily.
Yep, 30 gallons!
Modern living is not sustainable… and most people unfortunately don’t realize they’re wasting so much water.
But as sustainably-minded people, those who live off-grid are very aware of exactly how much water they’re using each day.
It’s something they keep on top of.
In fact, they need to track their usage as they often live in very remote places where it’s tough to get more supplies.
In short: they don’t have an endless supply of water and they know how important it is to conserve water.
What’s more, they don’t only preach the need to conserve water, but they practice what they preach. They think about their usage in relation to a daily allowance.
These folks don’t take baths, but they take short showers from water-efficient taps that minimize heating water.
They get the basic things right, like never leaving the tap running when they brush their teeth or do the dishes, while they might also have advanced solutions in place.
For instance, many people who live off-grid will also harvest rainwater.
This is a process of collecting water that runs off their homes or any roof structure, and purifying it to use it.
Essentially, no water goes to waste on the grounds of people who live off-grid, even if it comes from the sky!
It’s fair to say they are conscious about water.
We can learn a thing or two about their relationships with water!
3) They don’t watch TV
Apparently 80% of Americans watch TV every day, with 55% of Americans clocking up four hours of screen time daily.
Watching TV is a big part of Western culture.
Most people don’t even think twice about watching a show after they get in from work.
For the average American, it’s just a case of flicking on a switch at the wall and pressing a button.
It’s as normal as making a cup of coffee or going to the bathroom.
But that’s not the case for people who live off-grid.
You see, they do things differently.
People who live off grid aren’t glued to their sofas, spending each night watching reality TV because many don’t have electricity.
Of course, it is an option for people who live off-grid to generate electricity, but it won’t be coming from the usual source.
For instance, people who live off-grid might power their homes with solar power and wind turbines, and set up a satellite if they really can’t live without TV.
4) They are in tune with nature
As I say, some people who live off-grid will use solar power.
This means that energy from the sun is magically turned into a source to power homes, and heat water up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rather than automatically having power, people who live off-grid rely on the sun to be shining to generate this power they might need.
So it means they’re in tune with the changes in the weather and the seasons, and they’re consciously connected to their environment.
What’s more, as I said earlier, people who live off-grid are usually in remote places so nature is usually much more abundant.
Chances are, it’s on the doorsteps of people who live this lifestyle. Their homes could be on the edge of lakes or out in the woods.
Their relationship with nature is very different to the average city dweller who might need to travel a couple of hours to reach a green space.
This means they live in greater harmony with nature – and themselves.
5) They’re not afraid of DIY
When something goes wrong in the homes of the average person, it’s often the case that a specialist is called to take a look.
This is especially how it goes if you’re renting a property.
If the washing machine isn’t working properly, a plumber might be called out. Meanwhile, if a crack starts to appear in the wall, a painter or decorator might come in to save the day.
Most people live their lives like this.
But things are a little different for those who are off-grid.
Because their homes are more difficult to reach, most people who are off-grid don’t think to call a specialist in the first instance or maybe even at all.
If something goes wrong, they’ll just roll up their sleeves and get on the case.
Now, they’ll not only not be afraid of doing DIY, but they’ll enjoy the challenge of DIY.
As for their toolboxes, they’ll be comprehensive and they’ll have no shortage of knowledge about how to use them.
They won’t don’t care about having the latest tools in their kits, which were probably bought second-hand.
6) They’ve independent
It goes without saying that people who live off-grid are independent.
These people are self-sufficient.
They’ve learned to rely on the resources around them, and they’ve likely trained themselves in how to master sustainable systems and practices.
For instance, they might not only generate power and water themselves, but they won’t expect other people to come in and save the day.
There’s no need to lean on others for basic living.
Simply put, they know how to stand on their own two feet, and they are leading examples for how to be truly independent.
It’s not to say you have to live off-grid to be an independent person, but this way of living makes a person pretty much able to say they aren’t dependent on much.
In my opinion, it’s about as independent as you can get!
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