Sustainable New Year Resolutions

Embarking on a journey toward sustainable living holds profound meaning. It’s not just about changing habits; it’s committing to a greener future. As we at Simply Sustainable Lifestyle stride along our own path to a more sustainable lifestyle, we’re learning so much. Some beliefs we held about sustainable living proved false, while others yielded better outcomes than anticipated.

We’re thrilled to share our journey with you and hope you’ll join our community. We’re a tribe of like-minded individuals striving for a positive impact on our home planet. Expect us to keep sharing our research, experiences, ideas, tips, and discoveries—and we hope you’ll do the same.

Whether you’re taking your first steps or reaffirming your dedication, the eco-friendly choices we highlight in this article can help pave the way for positive change.

 We have compliled some sustainability ideas to help give you a start to setting goals and planning the coming year with sustainability in mind. We have provided a few links to sources of products and information that will support the changes you desire to make. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find what you need to support your sustainability efforts. As we move forward in the year many of these items will be focused on in some of our articles. We plan to help you navagate your sustainable lifestyle with ease so you feel uplifted and satisfied with your progress.

• FREE Avoid food waste completely: Plan smaller, well-portioned meals to minimize food waste.
• Avoid palm oil: Opt for cosmetics that incorporate coconut oil as an ingredient instead, and consider using coconut oil in your cooking routines. Reserve olive oil for salads and uncooked dishes, while for cooking, opt for healthier alternatives like butter and avocado oil, which are easily accessible and boast health benefits.
• Cook at home more: Cooking at home offers multifaceted advantages. Not only do you have command over the origins of your ingredients, ensuring their quality and sourcing, but it also allows for meticulous management of food and packaging waste.
• Eat less meat or go vegan: Reduce meat consumption, eat locally to lower carbon emissions, or explore vegan alternatives for a lower carbon footprint.
• Try meat alternatives: Incorporate meat alternatives into your diet for sustainability.
• Try new foods and recipes: Experiment with new cuisines or eat in-season produce.

• Start a community garden: Cultivate a garden for food sustainability. Check out local resources through your library to see if there is already a community garden available.
• Start composting: Begin composting kitchen and garden waste to reduce methane emissions.
• Start your own garden: Grow vegetables to enjoy fresh produce and reduce carbon emissions. For small spaces, you can grow container gardens with a few choice vegetables.
• Support native pollinators: Plant native pollinators to promote local wildlife preservation.

• FREE Air-dry laundry: Save energy by air-drying clothes, reducing electricity usage.
• FREE Improve recycling practices: Enhance your recycling habits and reduce waste. Check out the organizations available for unusual, recycled items that cannot be put in curbside recycling to reduce the use of regular trash.
• Reduce paper towel usage: Transition to cloth napkins and towels to cut down on paper waste.
• Tackle phantom energy or “Vampire Power”: Unplug devices not in use and use smart power strips or chargers to minimize standby power consumption. Here is one option available on Amazon. Smart Power Strip Surge Protector 
• FREE Upcycle or donate: Repurpose items or donate them to reduce landfill waste.
• Use rechargeable batteries: Minimize waste by using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Check this one out on Amazon. EBL LCD Rechargeable Battery Charger – 8 Bay AA AAA C D Battery Charger 
• Use renewable energy: Transition to renewable energy sources like solar power for a greener lifestyle. If you rent or are not able to transition to full-house solar, use small solar units to power some things. Start here to investigate this possibility EF ECOFLOW Solar Generator. Shift to solar-powered electronics where possible. Before you buy your next electronic item you can check to see if there are solar powered options that will work for you.

• FREE Bring reusable bags: Opt for durable, reusable bags instead of plastic ones to cut down on waste.
• Buy secondhand: Shop used items to discourage fast fashion. Check out local options and online options as well. If you haven’t yet, check out Thred Up an online thrift shop. https://www.thredup.com/
• FREE Donate your old stuff: Give away usable items to reduce landfill waste and support reuse.
• FREE Make sustainable purchases: Prioritize sustainability in your purchases for an eco-friendly lifestyle.
• FREE Recycle your old electronics: Properly recycle old electronics to reduce plastic waste.
• FREE Shop locally: Support local businesses for reduced carbon emissions.
• FREE Use eco-friendly cleaning supplies: Switch to biodegradable cleaning products to minimize environmental impact. Vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and oxygen cleaners are just some of the alternatives.
• Use eco-friendly cosmetics: Opt for products without harmful chemicals to protect the environment.
• FREE Use reusable products: Switch to durable, reusable items like water bottles and cups.

• Drive and fly less: Opt for alternative transportation and reduce emissions. Stay-cations are just as fun when you plan for activities that you don’t normally have time to do. Many of us have never “acted” like a vacationer in the city we live and work in. This can be an enlightening and fun time and give us a renewed love for the place we live and work.
• Use alternative transportation weekly: Commit to using alternative transportation methods at least once a week. Walking, biking, busing, and other public transportation alternatives are widely available.
• Use an electric vehicle for commutes: Consider electric transportation options for daily commutes. This is of course based on your availability.

The following ideas are contingent on time and availability of funds in some cases. Many of the items on this list are free. We’ve marked the free activities with the word FREE text.

• FREE Appreciate and support teachers: Show appreciation for educators by offering support and gratitude.
• FREE Connect with parents more often: Cultivate better connections by reaching out to your parents regularly.
• FREE Declutter your space: Tidy up your living space to create a more organized environment.
• FREE Engage in fun physical activities: Incorporate enjoyable movement into your routine, like dance parties or walks.
• FREE Give compliments: Spread positivity by giving heartfelt compliments to others.
• FREE Listen to soothing sounds: Incorporate relaxing green noise into your daily routine.
• FREE Maintain work-life boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life for better balance.
• FREE Perform daily acts of kindness: Challenge yourself to a new act of kindness every day.
• FREE Pick up trash regularly: Dedicate specific days to clean up litter in your neighborhood.
• FREE Practice daily positive affirmations: Introduce a new positive affirmation into your daily routine.
• FREE Prioritize time with loved ones: Dedicate time to shared activities with friends and family.
• FREE Read more books: Set achievable reading goals and select books that excite you.
• FREE Spend time in nature: Engage more with nature and explore the outdoors regularly.
• FREE Start journaling (without pressure): Try journaling at your own pace, using guided journals when it feels right.
• FREE Subscribe to uplifting newsletters: Fill your inbox with newsletters that bring joy and positivity.
• FREE Volunteer regularly: Contribute to causes you support by scheduling regular volunteer hours.
• Allocate funds for donations: Dedicate part of your income to donate to nonprofits or mutual aid funds.
• Consider adopting a pet: If ready for the responsibility, consider adopting a pet from a local shelter.
• Create a self-care kit: Assemble a self-care kit to support yourself through challenging times.
• Engage in creative activities: Embrace creative pursuits without the pressure of perfection.
• Indulge in small luxuries: Enjoy life’s simple pleasures and treat yourself occasionally.
• Read uplifting news: Balance news intake with positive stories from sources like Goodnewspaper or Goodnewsletter.
• Share care packages with the homeless: Make and distribute care packages for unhoused individuals in your community.
• Support causes you’re passionate about: Engage with and take action on issues you care deeply about.
• Take up a new hobby: Embrace a new hobby or skill you’ve been interested in exploring.

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