Plant One Plant
Literally, just go somewhere that sells plants, find a native plant, and plant it in your yard. That one plant will make a difference so big, that you will be shocked. It is instant gratification for you and requires a minimal amount of effort and money. And, it will brighten your yard. If you have a little more money to spend, buy two or three. If you live in an apartment, plant in a planter box. It doesn't matter how small your garden is, it still makes a difference.
Below are some suggested plants that are probably available somewhere close to you that are tolerant of a variety of conditions.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticilata)
Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Stop Raking and Leaf Blowing
With the fall comes the deafening sound of leaf blowers and the arduous chore of raking. Avoid both of these by not doing anything! Seriously, instead of shoving all those leaves into garbage bags, just leaf them be (haha) and mow over them with the mower. It saves time and the composting leaves provide nutrients for the soil.
Don't use Herbicides and Fertilizers
If you are using chemicals on your lawn, please stop. For the sake of the birds and the insects and the water, please stop. If you get bare patches of lawn, turn them in to little planting areas. If you start seeing clover and violets grow in between the blades of grass, then celebrate! These flowers support pollinators.
In the Winter, Leave it Alone
After all the plants are done for the year, your first instinct may be to trim everything to the ground to make your garden look all tidy. However, these dead flower stems and grass clumps are used by hibernating insects and birds looking for nesting material. It's generally safe to clear out dead plant material once daytime temperatures are above fifty degrees (F). By just leaving things as they are, you are providing a winter service to your fellow lifeforms. How amazing is that!?
Whew! Thanks for sticking with me. I'm so excited for you to start your Lawn Gone Native Journey!