3 Sustainable resolutions – not only for New Year

Every year I get dragged into the craze of what’s my New Year’s resolution going to be. Every year I end up dismissing it after a couple of weeks (if that). This year I want to start the year with a little bit different set of resolutions, ethical and sustainable resolutions.

I want to focus on things that bothered me last year about the way I shop and the way I prioritise in my life. I’m not looking for perfection in 2023, rather for a reality check. Even if I can’t solve all my bothers, simply bringing my awareness to them and trying to find a way around will be enough.

If you, like me, are looking for a way to make your life a little more environmentally-friendly or explore the issues that have already popped into your head, this might be a sustainable resolution list for you.

My sustainable resolutions for 2023

1. Buy less

The issue right at the heart of our sustainable fight and my sustainable resolutions. Overconsumption and over-buying. If you’re looking for a way to lessen your impact on the planet the answer is quite simple – buy less.

How many of us find ourselves with too many things in out flats and houses. Drawers full of gadgets we thought will aid us in search for easier life. Food we don’t have time to eat or can’t be bothered to cook. Things collecting dust.

So HOW do we minimise buying too much?

Well, when it comes to food we can create meal plans and shopping lists, keeping in mind the items we already have and need eating up. A great trick is to have a draw or a box in the fridge or cupboard dedicated to EAT FIRST items. Organisation and restriction are qualities to focus on here.

When it comes to other things like clothes, children’s toys, gadgets and so on, thinking before buying is essential. Let’s consider why we (or others) want the given item. What purpose does it have? Do I already own something that can serve as substitute? Is it the novelty of it or the use? Do I really need it? Do I have space for it? Is it in my budget? These are some questions I’ll be asking myself when considering a new item.

I expect these questions to help me figure out why I want something and if it’s necessary for my life. If I determine that I truly need the item, I will inquire about what it is made of and how and what is the best option for me. I would also let it sit in my mind for a couple of days to avoid impulse buys and to be able to change my mind on the whole things too.

2. Use less plastic

Life and the world don’t always make it easy for us to make the sustainable choice. The big companies should be responsible with providing us with eco-friendly options, especially in terms of packaging. Until that is a given, we must make the effort ourselves.

It can be more expensive or time consuming to make the plastic free choice, for that reason I won’t be going all in right away. The sustainable resolutions and living are parts of a journey, and it takes time to figure out what works for each of us.

I’ll start with identifying where I bring in the most plastic – food, namely bread and cupboard items like pasta, nuts, and such. To reduce, I found a zero waste online shop that delivers to my area and I will try to adopt a habit of making my own bread until our local bakery opens again on regular basis.

As said previously, looking in general for options that don’t contain plastic in all areas of our lives is a always a good practise to adopt, even if we can’t always choose the best option.

3. Local, simple and scrappy

It is way too easy and comfortable to hop on Amazon and buy what I need. Part of our sustainable resolutions is getting out of our comfort zone and putting more effort into choosing the right supply chain. Going local, whether online or in store is better for our local economy, for our community and that way I can turn away from big companies with often questionable practices.

Of course, going local means less choice or simpler choice. We must look at what is available to produce or source nearby, we often find that range is specified to what customer is most likely to buy rather than the more specified products which means hunting can become a little more difficult. The answer to this problem is becoming scrappy. Do we need a specified product? Can we substitute with something available to us? Can you make it yourself?

Living a simpler life needs some getting used to and its not always easy. But with time we can find a way forward without excess. Being scrappy is not for everyone either. It takes practise and a bit of imagination to find a way around and it can be time consuming. I think finding one or two things that are doable for us is best way to start.

Final word

Changing our practises that are ingrained in our everyday lives is not an easy task. It can be overwhelming and we can put too much pressure on perfection and expectations. These sustainable resolutions are not meant as a rigid guide or the right way to live. I would love to give you an example of things to think about and pick and choose which to adopt. Remember that even Rome wasn’t build in a day. Nobody expects you to become an expert and everyone’s best looks different at each given moment.

So give yourself a big high five for even contemplating a change. I want to wish you good luck on your journey and all the best for 2023. May the year brings us good things and may we learn something new before its end.

Love,

Misha