How to Live Sustainably in 2021: Resolutions for You, the Community, & the Planet

How to Live Sustainably in 2021: Resolutions for You, the Community, & the Planet

TLDR

A little less than two weeks into 2021, many of us are still trying to figure out our resolutions. With plenty of possibilities in mind, likely one of the most pressing questions driving resolutions will be how to live sustainably in this new year. This year, get started on the right foot by setting a solid, sustainable resolution!

A little less than two weeks into 2021, many of us are still trying to figure out our resolutions. With plenty of possibilities in mind, likely one of the most pressing questions driving resolutions will be how to live sustainably in this new year.

A group of friends who know how to live sustainably

Eco-friendly resolutions are powerful, but living sustainably isn’t all about the environment. A sustainable resolution may also be one that benefits yourself or your community. Finding the right balance is key to setting a successful goal.

This year, get started on the right foot by setting a solid, sustainable resolution!

Green Resolutions for Sustainable Living

The evidence surrounding climate change is unequivocal. We need to do something about it, and making a New Year’s resolution that supports the environment is a great way to start.

If you’ve read Reel Talk before, there’s a good chance you already know a lot about how to live sustainably. In case you’ve forgotten, though, here are a few simple yet impactful changes you can make to help the planet.

Now, all you have to do is incorporate one or a few of these changes into your resolution. For example, your resolution could look something like “This year, I want to eat in-season fruits and veggies that I’ve grown myself using homemade compost.”

Take your knowledge of how to live sustainably and find something you’re interested in doing. You’ll never make it if you’re forcing yourself to do something you hate.

Resolutions for Helping the Community

When exploring how to live sustainably, you’ll find that helping others plays a significant role. After all, there is a fairly substantial humanitarian side to sustainability. If the goal is to make the world a better place, we can’t forget about the people who live here.

A healthcare professional helping a child in need.

A resolution focused on helping others is a great way to support communities locally and around the world.

  • Volunteer at local food banks, libraries, and more.
  • Play Free Rice and donate food to children by answering questions.
  • Give blood, if you’re able, with organizations like the Red Cross.
  • Check-in on your neighbors to make sure everyone is doing alright — especially when times are tough.
  • Donate to charities that use donations to help communities in need.
  • Support companies with humanitarian missions.

These small acts can positively change lives, and in some cases, even save them. For anyone curious about how to live sustainably this year, consider resolutions having to do with helping others.

Bettering Yourself with Your Resolution

The classic New Year’s resolution is focused on improving yourself, and there’s nothing wrong with that. A big part of learning how to live sustainably is getting yourself to a place where you’re content.

Exercise is a great resolution for learning how to live sustainably.

Unfortunately, many resolutions of self-improvement fail, and that’s likely because they’re too general. Resolutions like “Get fit” or “Eat healthy” are great, in theory, but what does getting fit or eating healthy actually entail?

The key here is specificity. Outline what exactly it is that you want to do.

  • Eat a serving of vegetables with every meal.
  • Do 30 minutes of yoga a day for five days a week.
  • Get 10 minutes of sunlight and fresh air for every hour of work.
  • Start a hydration schedule and stick to it.
  • Reduce screen time by one hour per day.
  • Meditate for 30 minutes every morning.

Each of these specific changes is far less intimidating than an overly generalized goal. When your resolutions are specific, your chances of success improve.

Furthermore, resolutions that make you happier and healthier also make you more capable of helping others and the planet. So if your resolution is focused on self-improvement, don’t be ashamed — get out there and succeed!

How to Live Sustainably in 2021

Resolutions having to do with the planet, the community, and yourself are not mutually exclusive. Learning how to live sustainably involves all of these together. Perhaps you could combine one or a few goals to create a resolution that tackles all three!

For instance, “This year, I’m going to reduce screen time by an hour every day, and I’m going to dedicate 30 minutes each toward playing Free Rice and using a green app.”

That’s just one of the endless possibilities. Get creative, and come up with a resolution that’s fun and of interest to you. When you truly enjoy what you’re doing, there’s no way you can fail.

What are your resolutions for this year? Leave a comment and let us know!

1 comment

  • “The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future – deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease.” — The World Watch Institute

    ahimsa42 on

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published