5 Ways to Set Reasonable Resolutions
A lot of people are setting amazing green resolutions this time of year. But, just like all New Year’s resolutions, we often end up dreaming big instead of creating realistic and achievable goals.
If you’ve ever struggled to keep a New Year’s resolution (and who hasn’t) you might be left wondering why you failed. And, more importantly, how you can actually keep it in the future.
The truth is a resolution is really the same as building a new habit –it takes a lot of hard work and time to form that habit. We want to help you avoid eco-burnout and succeed on your sustainable journey, that’s why we’ve pulled together some handy tips and tricks that will help! Here are five ways you can keep your New Year’s resolution manageable in 2022.
1. Be Intentional
Make a resolution that aligns with who you are and what you believe in. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing a resolution because it’s what you feel you should be doing instead of something you truly believe in or are passionate about. A resolution you don’t believe in is a resolution you won’t keep.
How can you ensure you’re being intentional in your resolution? Stop and write down some of your values. For example if you’re a foodie who values waste reduction you might decide to tackle your food waste. How can you reduce food waste? Let’s brainstorm!
Implementing meal planning
Eating more leftovers
Finding new recipes to use up food scraps.
Shopping your pantry
By assessing your values and passions you’ll know if your goal truly aligns with who you are, what you believe in, and what you want to achieve this year.
2. Limit Yourself
At the start of every year it can be tempting to start making resolution after resolution, thinking you’re going to change the world in a year. Before you know it you’ve got a list of twenty, thirty, forty things you want to do! That’s amazing, but with a list this long, you’re probably spreading yourself too thin.
A new habit takes time and effort to build, and trying to take on too much at once means you’ll likely burn out before achieving your goals. It’s best to pick one or two resolutions that you can really focus on sustaining for the whole year.
3. Be Specific
Wanting to be more sustainable is a great goal! But what does that look like? How can you be more sustainable? What steps can you implement? What does sustainability look like in your household? Where do you even start? By being too vague in your resolution, you’re actually making it harder to achieve your goal.
A more specific resolution might be to reduce your vampire power usage by turning off and unplugging devices when you’re not using them. This is clear and achievable. You know exactly what you need to do without getting overwhelmed.
4. Make a Plan
A big resolution isn’t unachievable – you just need to break it down into manageable steps instead of diving straight in.
Let’s imagine you’re cutting out single-use plastics. An amazing resolution! But maybe an overwhelming one - we use them for so many things! But by making a plan you can assess where you’re at and create achievable ‘chunks’. An initial plan to cut down on single-use plastics might look something like this:
Stop using plastic grocery bags by packing cloth bags in your car
Buy reusable straws and keep them in your car, home, and work bag
Cut out plastic food wrap by introducing beeswax food wraps
Use up single use shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles and replace them with bar soap or refills
The best part about making a list? You get to check things off when you’re done! Make sure to reward each victory as you achieve it.
5. Think Long-Term
If you’re an eco-enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of Veganuary or a No-Buy Month or Plastic-Free July, or even a Dry Month. These are great goals! All of them can make a positive impact in your life. But these changes only last a month. You can put your regular routine aside for a month - but will you sustain this habit beyond that? The answer is probably not. When the month is up many of us will walk away because we’re exhausted, discouraged, or simply because it’s hard work.
When we’re making our resolutions, we need to think long-term. This isn’t a temporary change, it’s one that we hope will last a lifetime. To help, we suggest incremental change instead of sweeping ones. If you’re trying to go vegetarian maybe start with one or two meatless nights a week instead of diving straight in. Maybe you won’t feel like you’re making progress to start, but this will help you maintain your resolution in the long run.
BONUS Tip: Don’t Pressure Yourself
Remember, this is a journey, not a destination. We may never be perfect at this sustainability thing. You’re going to have days where you do everything right, and days where it seems like nothing is going to plan. And that’s okay!
Your New Year’s resolution will help guide you on your journey to make a positive change, not make you the perfect sustainability guru. So remove the pressure and just take it day by day. Together we can make a lasting impact.