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Images of long-haired hippies waving signs for peace often are the first things that pop into my head when I think "environment."

It seems to many individuals that the environment is not an actual issue - that we should be focusing our time and energy on things such as wars, education and health. What we don't realize is that the environment is our issue, and it is facing many issues of its own. Many of those are caused by humans.

To continue tending to our domestic concerns, we need to take care of the thing that provides us with life.

Everyone knows (or ought to know) that without things such as oxygen, the ozone, trees and clean water, humans would cease to exist. These things are necessities for life.

Taking this into consideration, you would think we would endeavor to protect and preserve the things essential for our survival.

But no. We take these things for granted and thank the earth for these resources by littering, polluting, consuming vast amounts of energy, using up limited resources - and the list goes on.

It is commonly thought that it takes about three or four weeks to start a habit. In that short amount of time, you can learn some simple ways to help limit your impact on the environment that fit easily into everyday life.

Here are some ideas:

- Reduce, reuse, recycle

- Cut paper waste by requesting to be removed from direct mail lists; put any unwanted direct mail in post office recycling bins

- Pick up litter

- Participate in the city of Steamboat Springs' Green-Up Clean-Up Day

- Limit your time in the shower

- Turn off lights and water when you are finished using them

- Carpool, walk or ride a bike

- Don't dump toxins down the drain

- Start a (bear-protected) compost

- Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so it will use less energy

- Unplug electronics when not in use

- Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper or plastic

- Eat organic or locally grown food

By following these easy tips, you can help save the planet. Maybe those hippies have got the right idea on this one.