New Year’s resolutions are made with good intentions but they are usually broken before February. One way to keep from breaking your resolutions is to involve others in them. Elicit your family’s help and come up with a list of resolutions that everyone can participate in. Here are some suggestions for green resolutions that will change your lifestyle for the better.
1. Eat organic food
You may already be doing this. But if not, this is a relatively easy eco-conscious resolution. Your can buy organic food, which will in turn make you healthier. You could combine this with commitments to eat out less often, or to buy locally grown, seasonal food whenever possible.
2. Creative recycling
You probably already recycle your plastic, glass, metal, and paper items by taking them to the recycling center or having them picked up. There is another way to re-use “disposable” items – make things out of them. You could commit yourself to a twice-monthly creative project that involves making something out of recyclable materials. There are entire magazines dedicated to this, so it should not be difficult to find ideas.
3. Commit to less waste
Get the kids on board with this one. You might commit to using stainless steel, using refillable water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones, or packing your child’s lunch in a reusable bag.
4. Resolve to lower your carbon emissions
This could take the form of walking to more destinations, carpooling with friends, taking public transportation, or simply staying home a bit more. This can be integrated into a resolution to spend more time with your family – instead of going out, you could have a family game night. You’ll save fuel and spend more time with your family.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning for a less toxic New Year
Properly dispose of the chemical cleaners you use to clean your house and opt for home-made, simple cleaning recipes. Baking soda and vinegar can be used in various to clean just about anything. This will change the way your family does things, but isn’t that the point?
It can be difficult to stick with your New Year’s resolutions. But with the whole family participating, it can be an enjoyable experience that actually changes your lifestyle for the better.
Keep Going Green!
Lynne
