Last week, I wrote about how the big picture of political action can be more important than small changes to help the earth. But this isn’t to say that small changes don’t matter. In addition to getting out there and being politically active and engaged, making small switches in your day will cumulate in a larger impact. Here are five opportunities to make the greener choice.

10:00 – Morning bathroom routine

This probably wouldn’t happen if you just recycled your plastic bags. Photo by Topsy at Waygood on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons

Among leaky faucets, disposable paper products and cleansers with harsh chemicals, the bathroom is a minefield of environmentally problematic situations. And while I hesitate to tell you to start using a family cloth, there are many barely noticeable changes you can make without the ick factor. Five quick, easy switches:

1) Blow dry your hair less often. Try alternating air-dry with heat-dry days, and when you must blast your locks, wait until they’re 80 percent dry before plugging in.

2) Stop being cheap and buy a real razor. Disposables add to landfills and are usually pretty crappy anyway.

3) Don’t dump all your regular products and run out and buy earth friendly ones, but the next time you need to replace your shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc, look for an eco-friendly, natural option. Who wants all those chemicals on his or her skin anyway?

4) Recycle containers. Seems obvious, but if your recycling bin is in your kitchen, you may not think of it when your shampoo bottle hits empty.

5) Of course, conserve as much water as you can. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses as much energy as a 60-watt light bulb over 14 hours.

11:00 – Go to class

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, in addition to having a smaller impact on forest resources, producing recycled paper means less air and water pollution, less water and energy consumption and less solid waste. Despite this, recycled paper makes up less than 10 percent of the printing and writing market. Buy notebooks made with recycled paper, use both sides of each page, and when the quarter is over and you’ve only used half, use the other half for a class next quarter. Find pencils made from recycled newspaper, Post-its made of recycled content, friendlier printer paper and more at thegreenoffice.com.

4:00 – Errands in town

It’s easy to remember to bring your own bags to the supermarket – you get a nice reminder every time you’re at the checkout line and the reusable Whole Foods bags stare you in the face. If you already BYOB (bring your own bags), high five. If you don’t, get started. But don’t forget the countless other places that give you some dead tree or petrochemicals with your purchase. Keep some lightweight, nylon totes with you (Baggu makes chic ones in a rainbow of colors) and say “No thanks” when the cashier reaches for the plastic. And when you can’t avoid taking home a plastic bag, make sure you recycle it.

7:00 – Do your laundry

Harsh, toxic chemicals that contaminate groundwater along with monstrous consumption of water and energy can make laundry an ecological disaster. Take the Sierra Club’s online quiz to find out how green (or not) your laundry routine is. While I won’t advise skipping laundry day altogether, waiting until you have enough for a full load will make a difference, as will using a drying rack or clothesline instead of the dryer when possible. Don’t use hot water – unless you have intense stains, cold is the way to go. Look for eco-friendly detergents: Ecover and Seventh Generation are two that aren’t too hard to find.

10:00 – Party time

According to The Green Guide by National Geographic, beer production involves herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, and vineyards are associated with pesticides and soil destruction. When it’s time to get your drink on, think organic and think local. Local bars don’t always stock organic beer, but you can pre-game with Wolaver’s, and Goose Island is a Chicago beer handily available at Whole Foods. There are also many organic wine options available. Plus, don’t be embarrassed if you’re drinking from a box – do it proudly. Boxed wine is better for the planet. Don’t let your green mind stop there. Found a cute hook-up at Hundo? Make him or her swoon at your earth-friendliness with an Eco-Sexy Kit.