Living more sustainably as a New Year’s Resolution

Here we go again...

Every January, we tell ourselves this is the year everything changes. New routines. New habits. New versions of ourselves who wake up early, cook every meal, and somehow remember reusable bags at all times.

And usually by February, reality has set in to humble us.

Environmental stewardship gets tangled into this same cycle. People think it requires a total lifestyle overhaul, when really, it works best when it slowly slides into your daily habits and stays there.

This year, instead of trying to do everything, I’m thinking about sustainability the way I think about any habit that actually sticks: start small, pick what feels doable, and let it build. For me, that started by reducing the amount of first hand clothing purchases which blossomed into less consumption and more reuse overall.

For others, that might look like:

Buying secondhand before buying new, especially for clothes and home items
Supporting local businesses when grocery shopping or eating out
Eating less beef, or experimenting with a few vegetarian or vegan meals a week
Reducing plastic where it’s easiest
Carpooling, combining errands, or just driving less when possible
Spending more time outside, even when it’s cold and gray out

I'll dive into each of these individually in upcoming posts

You don’t need to do all of this, and you don’t need to do any of it perfectly. Pick one or two. Try them for a month. See what feels natural.

Living more sustainably isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about adjusting how you move through the life you already have.

And honestly, if the only thing you change this year is being a little more intentional, and a little more knowledgeable that’s still a win.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse