Green New Year’s Resolutions

Great Green New Year’s Resolutions

 

green new years resolutionsMany New Year’s resolutions are difficult to stick to.  The most popular resolutions – stopping smoking, losing weight or getting fit – also seem to have the highest failure rate.

So this year, why not make some green and eco friendly New Year’s Resolutions?  They’re much, much easier than the popular ones above!

The Biggest Impact

Here are my 3 Best Green New Year’s Resolutions.  I’ve picked them because they can have the biggest impact.

And, to be sure you are successful, read my Success Tips for Green New Year’s Resolutions.

1.  Water

Resolve to use and waste less water.

Take shorter showers (less than 5 minutes), collect rainwater to use to water your plants, if you’re rinsing veggies in the sink, collect the water for re-use elsewhere – once you start, it’s easy to become creative!

If you drink bottled water, stop.  Tap water is miles cheaper, and you don’t have to carry it home from the store!  Plastic water bottles are a huge problem around the world – on landfills and due to littering.  When they break down into small pieces many birds and animals eat them, mistaking them for food.

If you don’t wish to drink tap water, then get a water filter at home rather than buying bottled (see my article on how to choose the best water filter for you).

And if you prefer sparkling water, consider a soda stream machine – it’s much greener than buying bottled water (and cheaper and easier).  They come in a range of prices and colours, and there are soda streams for sparkling water only, or for sparkling water and other sodas such as cola, orange etc.  You can even add flavour to your sparkling water – refreshing mint, for example.

2.  Reusable Shopping Bags

Don’t get those nasty plastic bags when you go shopping!  Some places charge for them so save money by bringing your own.  Plastic bags don’t degrade so they stay in landfills for years on end, and get blown away by wind creating litter and often killing birds and animals.  Get some really smart reusable bags – hemp, bamboo, organic cotton or even recycled plastic – and feel proud when you go shopping!

3.  Reduce Your Meat Consumption

There is grave concern for the welfare of animals raised in factory farms, and increasing evidence that meat from these farms is less than healthy for you.  Consider a meatless meal just one day a week – I’ve been impressed at how interesting vegetarian meals can be!

These 3 changes can make a significant improvement to the impact you have on the environment.  So, consider adding at least some of these eco friendly options to your list of Green New Year’s Resolutions.

Make the New Year an eco-friendly year!

Related: How to combine eco friendly and a popular New Year’s Resolution!

Success Tips for New Year’s Resolutions

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Photo Credit: Microsoft

 


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  • These are great suggestions, and ones that I have already started to work on!In addition, I resolve to look for more ways to reduce, recycle…like, i have found a bookstore that lets me return a book after I have read it for credit towards the next book I get!
    Sonya Lenzo

  • Clare, these are perfect ideas for New Years resolutions and a good way to be ecofriendly.
    Scott Sylvan Bell

    Now go implement!

  • Hi Clare,
    Happy new year. My resolve is to learn a lot more about gardening and learn about carpentry. Both are very valuable skill sets for becoming more self-sufficient. Oh, and try a new recipe every week!

    • Improving gardening and carpentry knowledge is a GREAT idea and will definitely help! Enjoy the recipe experimentation – it’s fun! Thanks for your comment!

  • Clare,
    These are very simple steps we can all take. I already drink mostly tap water (filtered, of course) and use re-usable grocery bags.

    Being a dedicated carnivore, the 3rd option is a bit trickier but definitely doable. My wife and I eat only grass-fed beef and free-range poultry, locally raised when available.

    That helps at least a little but we will experiment with a vegetarian day once per week.

    Dennis

    • Hi Dennis, your carnivorous choices are already good – a once-a-week vegetarian option will be the cherry on top! I hope that, like me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much variety there is for vegetarian meals. Thanks for your comment!

  • Clare,

    I like your article. You provide people with very specific and practical advices. Especially, I like your idea regarding utilizing reusable bags.

    Alex Arshavskiy

  • Hi Green Goddess,

    Indeed, many people want to lose weight or become slimmer as part of their New Years Resolutions. Almost all of the basic New Years Goals that people select, whether it is to lose weight or quite smoking or get a new job, are enhanced by drinking (sipping not chugging is best for absorption and hydration) water and better (filtered) water. Then add some hypnotherapy sessions to align the power of your unconscious mind to support the lasting achievement of your goal, and you are well on your way to success!

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