changeadminAs part of New Year celebrations, one of the essential elements is the role of New Year’s resolutions. The new year allows us to reflect on the year behind us and make a fresh start.
Given the current state of our environment, where floods, cyclones, wildfires, and high temperatures have become a norm. And where experts are increasingly warning us to control our climate-damaging actions. It is time that all of us, in our own little way, contribute to the Planet’s betterment.
So, for the new year, why not try taking New Year’s resolutions that are helpful and environmentally friendly? Here is a list of 14 attainable New Year’s resolution ideas. We have also included handy tips that can help you start immediately.
1. Volunteer for an environment-friendly cause
One of the most meaningful ways to start your New Year is by volunteering for one of the environmental causes happening near you. Various social media platforms, like Facebook, Meetup, Twitter, Instagram, etc, can help you find the right environmental cause. Based on your interests, location, and skills, you can become part of them.
Participation in these activities can help you to increase your knowledge as you can learn from experts and fellow volunteers. Moreover, as these activities are performed in a group, you can also witness a tangible impact at the end of the session.
Tips💡: A few common volunteering activities are beach cleanups, plantation drives, litter cleanups on roads and public spaces, plog runs, promoting environmental messages, etc.
2. No Meat on a specific day of the Week
It is a big conundrum if you are a non-vegetarian food lover but also care for the environment. Why not start this year by making an eco-friendly New Year resolution to reduce your meat intake?
If you are a regular meat eater (more than four times a week), try to define a specific day in a week when you will not consume any meat.
Tips💡: You can choose the day on which you were born. For example, if you were born on Wednesday, you would not eat non-vegetarian food on Wednesday. If you are an occasional eater, you can make it once a month. (Tip: You can choose your birthday.)
3. Become Vegan for a month
Make a resolution this year to spend at least one month in the year where you will not only stop meat consumption but also stop any dairy or other animal-related products.
Tips💡: You can choose the month in which you were born. For example, if you were born in March, you will be Vegan that month. Plant-based meat and dairy substitutes can be included as part of your diet.
4. Become a Plant Owner
Another eco-friendly New Year’s resolution idea is a resolve to get plants this year.
Tips💡: You can start by keeping the ones that are easier to maintain. Here is a list of air-purifying plants that will add variety to your indoor surroundings and improve air quality at night – Read here.
5. Gift a plant to your friend to celebrate the New Year
Instead of gifting your best friend something you are not sure about and if your friend likes your efforts, gift them a plant. This gift will not only help you follow your New Year’s resolution, but you can also motivate your friend to start his/her sustainable journey.
Tips💡: As mentioned above, you can find a easy to maintain an indoor plant or a bonsai as a gift.
6. Create a handicraft by reusing old items
Upcycling is one of the wonderful methods of reusing an existing resource and transforming it into a new product. As part of your New Year’s resolution, you can decide to make at least one handicraft item using old items from your store.
Tips💡: Growing plants in used plastic or glass bottles is an easy way to start your upcycling journey.
7. Walk, Cycle, or Use a Public Transport
Walking and cycling are not only wonderful for your physical health but also great for the planet’s health. Given the traffic snarls, air pollution, and sedentary lifestyle, bicycle riding and walking offer multiple benefits.
While buses and the metro system gain the maximum attention in public transport, the Tram system is also one of the highly recommended modes of commuting as it has several benefits.
Tips💡: For any short-distance commute, you can take a walk or use a cycle (if you have one), while for a long distance, you can take public transport, whichever is available in your area.
8. Buy only eco-friendly products
To adopt a sustainable lifestyle, eco-friendly products are extremely pertinent. Whether the impact is large or small, you can use sustainable products for your daily needs and essentials. In addition, you can buy products made from local resources, as this prevents the emissions generated as part of transportation and logistics.
Regular use of only environment-friendly products can go a long way in helping our planet become greener and better.
Tip💡: Buy at least one item made with bamboo or hemp.
9. Read books about the environment, nature, or climate change
Reading books is one of the best ways to get an in-depth understanding of the aspects related to the environment and climate change. Many books are written on this subject by experts who can help you do that.
Tips💡: Here is a list of recommended books – Read here.
10. Watch a documentary series on nature and the environment
Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime, among many other OTT platforms, have become the mainstay of our entertainment. These platforms also have many films and documentary series focusing on nature and the environment.
Taking a New Year’s resolution to watch one of these professionally made documentaries will help you appreciate the intricacies of our nature even more.
Tips💡: Here is a recommendation on Netflix food documentaries that bring another flavor to the food industry. Read here.
11. Develop an energy-saving habit
One of the biggest causes of global warming is the relentless energy use for our daily necessities. The need for energy contributes to releasing harmful greenhouse gases that increase our Planet’s temperature.
Having said that, we cannot do away with using this energy as it is an intimate part of our existence. Therefore, we need to find ways to first conserve energy and then invest in cleaner energy sources.
Tips💡: Incorporating energy-saving methods, like using LED lights, insulations, and energy-efficient appliances, can greatly reduce the need to produce more energy. In addition, we can transition to renewable energy sources, like installing solar panels in our homes.
12. Walking or Exercising in Nature
It is widely acknowledged that staying close to nature has a highly favorable impact on humans’ health and mental well-being. Walking in a natural space with trees, flowers, and biodiversity helps boost cognitive capacities and increases happiness.
In addition to walking, you can also start your exercise routine outdoors, as it offers many benefits.
Tips💡: You can visit a nearby city park or any nature trails. If personal circumstances do not allow you to take regular walks, you can make it on the day when it is off, like a Saturday or Sunday.
13. Adopt environment-friendly habits
As part of your New Year’s resolution, you can also include habits that focus on preserving and conserving our natural resources, like trees and water.
Save Trees – Papers are indispensable parts of our lives. Though paper is compostable and does not pollute our natural ecosystems, it is made using one of the critical resources on our planet, i.e., trees. Millions of trees are cut down yearly to manufacture paper and paper products. Therefore, we must use them as much as possible judiciously.
Tips💡: Here are some ideas about saving paper – Read here.
Save Water – According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), one out of four people will suffer from water shortage by 2050. The impact is already visible in many cities across the globe. The need to put a little more thought into how we consume water in our daily lives is extremely essential.
Tips💡: Here are some recommendations about saving water – Read here or Watch it here.
14. Prevent food wastage
While eating a plant-based and vegan diet is one way to contribute to the environment, the other important contribution we can make is preventing food wastage.
Getting food to the dining table involves various activities and labor. From farmers who help our food grow to things involved in logistics, transportation, and storage, producing food is heavily carbon-intensive. In addition, millions of people around the world go hungry every day.
Therefore, preventing food wastage should be one of the highest priorities for those who care about fighting climate change.
Tips💡: You can explore a list of ideas about preventing Food Wastage – Read here or Watch it here.
Wrapping Up
There can be an endless list of eco-friendly ideas for New Year’s resolutions; however, what is important is that we make them a regular practice.
Based on your circumstances, some New Year’s resolutions might be difficult to follow. Therefore, it is important to pick the ones that you can easily perform regularly.
In addition to the ideas for living an eco-friendly lifestyle, it is also important that we declutter our homes. As we buy more items, we contribute to generating emissions, and a cluttered home also negatively affects our productivity and mood. Therefore, keeping only necessary things and leading a tidier life is better.
Finally, one last tip is to maintain a planner that you can use to keep track of your new resolutions.
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