When you first go vegan, you just know that it’s going to be forever. You have probably heard of people that went vegan and then went back, and there might be endless parades of people telling you it’s just a phase. But that’s not going to happen to you. You’re not going to let that happen. Here’s how to not let that happen. 

   Having been vegan for a number of years now, I’ve seen people come and go on their “vegan journeys”. I’ve watched and I’ve wondered why it’s not sticking. Because on the outside, they try veganism (or even vegetarianism) for the same reasons I started. So what makes our paths so different? 

   And I don’t have all the answers. But I think I’ve learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t. So, here’s how to make your veganism sustainable for you and your life. 

Find your why

   The first and most important piece of advice I have to give you is know the reason(s) you’re doing this in the first place, and to get really in tune with that. 

   I think this is the best way to finally make that leap into veganism as well, but it’s absolutely imperative to staying vegan for the long term. If you don’t have a darn good reason, why would you decide to make so many changes in your lifestyle?

   For me, as well as other ethical vegans, the answer is compassion and living in alignment with your values. And I believe this to be one of the best reasons with sticking power. Because it’s not like you “slip up” if you decide to go back to being nonvegan. It’s you, choosing convenience over what you believe is right. 

   This perspective won’t make you bullet proof. People do things they know are wrong every day. But it will make you much less likely to return to being a nonvegan. Once you truly make the connection between the death necessary to make many of your old pleasures and the life preserved by changing your ways, you’ll realize that these little decisions do matter. And you’ll be more likely to keep making them instead of getting bogged down in the “newness” and “strangeness” of it all. 

   So really dig into the ethics of veganism. Of the value of a nonhuman sentient life. Learn about the injustices being done to animals, and realize that that doesn’t have to be something you participate in anymore. And if you’re already vegan, brush up on it from time to time. Remember what made you have this epiphany. Remember the very real lives at stake. 

Learn to be alone

   Okay, so you probably went vegan in the first place because of some sad truths. But here’s another one for you: veganism, in most places, isn’t even close to common or “normal”. 

   I mean it when I say, over and over again, that we’re living in a nonvegan world. And that means that many times, as a vegan, you’ll be standing alone. In your path, your problems, your perspective. 

   In my experience, you’ll never be 100% fine with that. You’ll always wish that more people would be vegan and abstain from these ever-present injustices. But with time and effort, you can learn to be strong in your decision. To the point where other’s criticism of your lifestyle or hesitation to join you won’t change your outlook on what you know to be true. 

   For some, this takes more work than others. I personally think it goes hand in hand with becoming resolute in your “why”. But social bonds are strong, and it might be a necessary part of your own vegan journey. 

Get special foods early on

   I hear a lot of people say “I could never go vegan, I like x too much”. That didn’t stop you. But I will say that spending multiple holidays with a plain plate of iceberg lettuce will leave you feeling less than jolly. 

   And it’s not just holidays. Birthdays, weekends, date night. For a lot of people, special food or fun food is a big part of their lives. If being vegan means that you don’t get treats anymore, you’re not going to enjoy it very much. 

   This is why I tell everyone—learn where to get good vegan treats. I didn’t do this early enough, but you can learn from my mistakes. Whether you’re buying them or making them, you want to learn where you can turn to get your pizza fix (or whatever your vice happens to be). This way, you won’t despair about your change in food choices. 

   And the same goes for anything else you consume—products or entertainment. If, for example, you used to hunt but now you’re vegan, find other ways to get outside and enjoy the wilderness like hiking or camping. There will be some things that you won’t be able to make a one-for-one replacement of, but most things will be something you can find the elements of enjoyment with and add them into your life in a different way. 

Prioritize your health

   I’m not saying you have to be a Whole Foods vegan or that there’s no validity in junk food veganism. In fact, I don’t agree with either of those stances. That being said, I do advise vegans particularly to prioritize their health and learn how to be a healthy vegan. 

   It is the scientific consensus that a plant based diet is adequate for all ages and stages of life. However, because it is uncommon in most societies, if you find yourself dealing with illnesses, many people will be quick to blame your veganism. This, in and of itself isn’t the end of the world. Like I said earlier, you need to learn how to not care about other peoples opinions of your veganism to a certain extent, if you’re going to be able to stay vegan long term. The problem is, if you’re already physically hurting and emotionally vulnerable, you might start to believe them. 

   I’ve seen quite a few long term vegans go back to not being vegan and it breaks their hearts because they really care about the animals. But they have health issues, and they say that after talking with their doctor, this is what they’re going to do. 

   And this sort of thing is avoidable, in what I would consider to be the bulk of cases. As I said, the scientific consensus is that you can be a healthy vegan at any age or stage of life. And many of these people engaged in some of the more extreme diets within veganism. 

   So don’t hold veganism accountable for the consequences of extreme diets, and also, avoid the extreme diets. Learn what a healthy, balanced, vegan diet looks like. And try, generally, to eat that way. This will keep you healthy and strong and will help you avoid blaming veganism for any health lapses. 

Understand that you can’t be perfect (but you can always keep trying)

   I think the final thing to remember is that there is no such thing as a perfect vegan. You’re going to make mistakes sometimes and in the beginning it’s going to feel difficult. Don’t get overwhelmed. 

   Just like anything else, being vegan is a learning curve. Doing less than perfectly doesn’t make you a bad person or hopeless. It just makes you human. 

   I see a lot of people get discouraged. When they make a mistake or there’s not a dish for them at a holiday, etc. And I just want to gently remind them that, hey, being vegan isn’t about everything being perfect and happy and aesthetic all the time. Learn to try to take these things in stride. Think about your why, focus on what is practicable and possible right now and keep moving forward. Remember that your decisions do matter and do add up. And that you always have the power to do the best you can with what you have.