After the topsy-turvy year we had in (a-hem) 2020, I really wanted to give myself a clear focus for 2021. I’ve tossed around the idea of trying to make big, extreme changes. Think a year of no-spending — or going Vegan — or no take-out — etc. The problem with any of those is that when change is so extreme, it just isn’t likely to stick. Or, it’s easier to fail. So, I’ve decided to give our family the goal of moving towards better choices, in general, by focusing on a year of sustainable living.
So, why am I making this our focus as a family for 2021? Well, we have a large family. We use a lot of stuff and create a lot of waste (like, a lot of waste). I want the kids to have an appreciation for our planet and recognize their ability to make choices that can impact their health as well as the longevity of our planet. I find that I’m often so focused on what I want *now* that I’m not really considering how my choices may impact those that come after me. I also recognize that change will not come unless I make a conscious effort. So, here we go!
A Year of Sustainable Living: Month by Month
I don’t know about you, but when I try to make a substantial “New Year’s Resolution,” I often give a great effort for a few weeks and then it inevitably falls by the wayside. I really want the changes that we make to become good habits that we carry on in some meaningful capacity. Because of this, I thought it might be better to adopt a monthly focus area — where we try to focus on a certain area of sustainability for the month with the hope that we will continue to use what we’ve learned to make better choices. Here’s the plan, man (woman, person, etc.):
January – Sustainable Spending
Think buying second-hand. I’ve been trying to move towards this for a while in a lot of ways (specifically with home decor) but want to go further this year. I want to buy second hand as much as possible to reduce the amount of “new” and appreciate how much can be recycled. I’ll be sharing more on this here on the blog this month!
- February – No Plastics
- March – Repurpose
- April – Homemade Cleaners
- May – 100 hours outdoors challenge
- June – Lights Out
- July – Go Vegan
- August – Donate
- September – Homemade Only
- October – Recycle
- November – Sustainable Beauty
- December – Shop local/small only
Now I fully expect that I will mess up this year. Won’t we all? But I’m super happy to have a year-long focus on trying to live *better* in a way that might have a lasting impact on our family. I’m excited to share this with you this year — along with all of the things I usually share (many DIYs, recipes, life hacks, poop stories, and oodles of vintage inspiration to come, guys). I hope to hear from you, too! What are your areas of focus or hopes for the year?
If you’re looking for small ways to live more sustainably, take a look at the list here! So many simple ideas – stay well, friends!
