We're all gearing up to celebrate the new year in just a couple weeks. 2022 is quickly approaching, and ideas for new year's resolutions are flowing on social media already. With the new dawn of a fresh year, many people are looking to make positive changes for themselves and their communities come January 1st.
The new year gives us an opportunity to fully self-reflect and make impactful changes in our lives. And let's face it, we all could use some improvements in the way we act day to day. To support this worldwide tradition of jotting down realistic New Year's resolutions, we've come up with some ideas for selfless habits and choices that would power positive change for yourself and those around you.
1. I will bring my own reusable bags while shopping, and commit to using them exclusively.
Did you know that millions of tons of shopping bags end up in landfills and in our oceans every year just from United States consumers? Switch to reusable bags or totes to avoid wasting needless plastic, or paying extra money for them depending on your area.
2. I will use my own reusable water bottle rather than relying on one-time use alternatives.
Saving money and reducing waste? Sign us up. Switching to a reusable water bottle rather than relying on plastic single-use options does both by reducing costs of plastic water bottles through using water at home (a Brita water filter is a great purchase if your at-home quality is undesired) rather than expensive, toxic bottled water from the store.
According to environmental experts, a sustainable, reusable water bottle requires fewer harmful resources in production than regular plastic bottles, and reduces your overall carbon footprint. Purchasing one and actively using it helps reduce the plastic intake for our oceans and public landfills every year.
3. I will set time aside to volunteer with well-deserving organizations in my community.
What we do with our free time says a lot about the way we live, how we hold ourselves accountable, and the quality of life of those in your neighborhood. Volunteering for beach cleanup days, acts of service, or offering assistance to those less fortunate with your time a great way to give back and use your time wisely. These choices create positive changes over time and build a more well-rounded character.
Whether it's once per month or once every weekend, volunteering is a wonderful way to make friends and work together to make your community a stronger place to live.
4. I will turn the lights and electronics off when I leave the room.
Something as simple as turning the lights off whenever we leave a room, or making sure the television isn't playing is something we may not realize is a common bad habit that many of us have, but have never set out to fix. This is where a simple yet impactful New Year's resolution can come into play.
This is probably one of the most realistic and do-able resolutions of the bunch, but can help conserve energy, resources, and save you money each month on your electric bill. The less wasteful you are with energy consumption, the more your carbon footprint is reduced annually.
5. I will reduce my emissions by seeking out greener forms of energy and technology this year.
Whether it's what car we drive or how often we do, reducing your trips to the gas station is a great way to control your carbon footprint and negative impact on the environment. Consider biking to work or school, taking public transit, or driving a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle over a gas-powered one this year.