Hello, and welcome to Eight Years In! Here, we talk a lot about veganism and other things that we can do to make a difference and live an ethical life. If you’re thinking of going vegan, you’re probably going to wonder if being vegan is hard.
Yes and no
There are challenges to going vegan and they often aren’t what you would think they are. I’ve written two posts about the best things and the worst things about veganism, as I see them. And if you’re interested, I would recommend giving them a read. However, today we’re going to answer the question directly, “Is it hard to be vegan?”
It gets easier
Once you build the habit of what you eat and how to check if things are vegan, it gets a whole lot easier. You fall into your groove and find your preferences and know “okay I’m going to go get the skincare product I always use” or “I’m going to make my go-to meal”. Once you get to this step, the actual “being” of veganism isn’t nearly as hard.
Nutrition
There is a learning curve to how to eat a healthy balanced diet as a vegan. Not so much because it’s difficult but because it is a whole new paradigm. You’ve already learned the “healthy, balanced diet” in its nonvegan form, and while there are similarities, there are some new things to be more cautious about, as well as things you probably don’t need to watch as closely as you used to.
For instance, if you were someone with borderline high cholesterol before going vegan, or you often suffered from constipation, you’re likely to not have as bad of a time with these things anymore. Because there is no cholesterol in vegan food. And all fiber comes from plants, not animal foods. (There is nuance here, like you can still eat a low fiber diet while being vegan, and your body may still make more cholesterol than you need if you’re consuming a lot of trans and saturated fats, but in general, being vegan, it is much easier to keep these things in check.)
On the flip side, now you’re going to want to know where you’re getting your B12 from, specifically. There may be other nutrients that you specifically want to keep an eye on based on your specific diet. For me, I try to generally monitor my sources of calcium and supplement for vitamin D. But it’s quite individual, if you’re looking to be healthy. Each person’s diet is a bit different.
Delicious food
I can confidently say that you don’t have to worry about giving up delicious food as a vegan. While it is true, you’re not going to be eating all of the same foods that you’ve always eaten in the same way you always ate them, that doesn’t mean that you won’t get to eat well anymore.
These days, there are many more vegan products now that can replace the taste and texture of some of your old favorites, like vegan burgers and cheeses and ice creams, for example. And these products are getting better each day in taste and at mimicking the foods they’re trying to taste like. So that is certainly a reason to have hope and in my opinion to try some vegan replacement foods if you have the interest and the finances to do so.
That being said, I would be remiss not to mention that when I went vegan, I found new favorites that instead of filling an old hole left by the animal products I got rid of, became important and exciting to me in their own right. This doesn’t happen automatically, that’s true. But if you keep branching out and trying new foods and new ways of preparing produce, you’ll find that you like a lot more foods than you ever knew!
I never was that adventurous of an eater before going vegan, and I hardly knew how to cook. But I was motivated to make and eat delicious food, and with time, that’s exactly what I found myself doing. I still enjoy trying new foods. I suppose you could consider it a skill that I strengthened with time and now have come to enjoy. And I promise you, if you open yourself to trying new vegan foods too, you’ll surprise yourself.
Socially
I do think the hardest part of being vegan is the social aspect. At least, it was and continues to be for me. That’s why I find myself continually making posts about the social and emotional side of veganism. Because you may be able to find recipes online and product reviews and all the information you need, but if you don’t have a support system that is supportive of your veganism, and you live in an area where vegans are not common, it can be difficult. And I think this is something the vegan community doesn’t talk about nearly enough.
It can be easy to feel unrepresented by the people you see who are vegan online, like they’re all part of some sort of “vegan LA” (or UK, or wherever you find lots of vegan options) club where they discuss all of the amazing options where they live and have fun in this vegan utopia and ask disingenuously “why would anybody not be vegan? It’s 20XX year already!” But for most of us, it’s harder finding vegan options and friends and general support.
I think the longer you’re vegan, you learn ways around this differentness. And I try to share my own coping mechanisms on this site as I’m able. But here is a short list I can provide for how to deal with life when veganism gets hard.
Stay healthy
Do what you can to stay healthy. Get enough sleep, eat a high nutrient diet, drink water, exercise and learn to balance performance and relaxation.
Staying in a healthy range whenever possible (in all your habits) will help you deal with all of your life challenges, not just those relating to veganism, and it’s something that I can’t recommend enough.
Explore
When it comes to veganism, it’s important to go into it with an exploratory mindset above all else. When you’re having fun, trying new things and exploring the world around you, you get exposed to the beautiful, nuanced lifestyle that veganism can bring.
If you go into veganism hoping that it won’t be that much of a change and scared to try new things, you’ll probably have a harder time. While it’s possible to go vegan and never have to try a new food or activity (you probably will need to find new products), it’s extremely limiting. And that will keep you stuck in the mindset of what you can’t have or do. On the flip side, when you look for new things to explore, you’ll realize there is a whole world out there beyond what you were taught as a child, and your veganism can take on a very positive outlook compared to what it otherwise would have.
Choose love
I think the vegan philosophy is lovely and compassionate. You learn that you don’t have to kill or keep anyone captive for your palate or entertainment. And this is a revelation in love. However, I find that many vegans have a hard time extending that love to themselves or other nonvegan humans. Admittedly, I sometimes fall into this category too.
The truth is, the thing that makes veganism so beautiful is often intertwined in a false dichotomy. Because how can you love the victims of an atrocity while still loving the perpetrators (or the people who pay for the injustice to be done)? And how can you offer someone love when their mistake is participation in a system so violent that most of us can’t even turn our head to look at it?
I’m still on this journey myself. I’m learning to extend love not just to those who are innocent, but also myself and others who may be making mistakes or are otherwise ignorant. But I can say that as I continue to move forward in my journey, I know that when I succeed in showing love to myself and others, I feel better in my skin. Growing in love is, in my opinion, an important part of long-term veganism. You can only carry outrage and hate in your heart for so long before it starts to destroy you.
So instead of harboring the resentment, focus on your circle of influence. What can you do to be an effective advocate and educator? What can you do to share and grow and improve? And what can you do right now, instead of getting angry, to move your corner of the world in a positive direction? The more you can focus on these questions, the easier and healthier your veganism will get. (Check out my post on how to deal with the vegan anger for more information on this strategy.)
Feel your feelings
While it may seem a bit contradictory to my last point, there is a time and a place for feelings. Whether that’s sadness or rage at the state the world is in and how we treat animals or even simple frustration that you are walking this veganism path alone. You are allowed to have feelings. After all, you’re only human.
It’s important to let yourself feel from time to time. Repressed emotions don’t lead to anything good. The trick is finding the time and the place for them. I like to journal if I cannot access a safe and supportive person to vent to. Often enough, if you’re the only vegan you know, venting will be a difficult thing to accomplish. Journaling helps me get things out when I know no one else can offer their support.
You may also find vegan groups online where you can speak about your experiences. Without having to worry that you’ll be jumped on for speaking the truth about animal agriculture. These can be very helpful for people who require a more social experience of the world.
But there’s also a place around nonvegans to be a little emotional sometimes. It’s not all-important to explain the truth about animal agriculture like a monotone robot all the time. It’s horrible, what we’re doing to animals and the ramifications of it. And it’s okay to let that show. The only thing you’re going to want to be mindful of is whether you have crossed over into disrespect or ineffectiveness. It’s a hard balance to strike, but not impossible.
Learn to be yourself
And finally, I think the most important part about long term veganism is learning to stand resolute in who you are and what you believe.
It’s okay to be the only vegan in the room sometimes. Or at least, not something that automatically should activate fight mode. And you’re not always going to be met with open arms when you hold a belief very different to what society drills into us from day one. But you know what is happening. You know why you live the way you do, and that you have good reasons for doing so. While it can be uncomfortable to be different, those reasons are valid enough on their own.
Getting more confident in yourself can help with the defensiveness you may feel when people pointedly ask you about your veganism. It can also help you not be so hard on yourself when you make a mistake. Because you know who you are and that you’re trying your best. Learning that you are a good person who is simply doing the best you can to follow your values will go a long way in smoothing out your path.
You don’t have to fear what others say. If you make a mistake, you can just move on and try again, instead of questioning your whole identity. Love yourself, and grow strong in who you are, so that veganism is something you practice, not your identity (if you want to hear more about the downfalls of a vegan identity, check out this post). That’s how to cope when veganism gets hard.
Thank you for reading my thoughts. I hope they were able to help you. If you’re interested in more vegan content, subscribe to the blog. We talk about all sides of veganism and living an ethical life. If you’ve been vegan for a while, let us know in the comments; how do you cope with life when veganism gets tough? And as usual, have a fantastic day!