So, January has been and gone, how have your New Year’s resolutions been coming along? We know how the saying goes… “It’s easier said than done!” and by the end of January, we might have abandoned our resolutions and reverted back to our old habits. Sound familiar? We have tips on how to make your eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions stick and it’s never too late to start again! 

Choose a realistic eco goal 

Every year, many people make the mistake of setting a goal that is too ambiguous which sets them up for failure! Start small and choose a goal that can be broken up into smaller goals and milestones. For example, is your New Year’s Resolution to cut plastic out of your life? Easy! Let’s start off with reducing your plastic consumption. 

• Say NO to plastic! 
  The easiest way to start is to… say ‘NO!’ to plastic. Going grocery shopping and spot apples packaged in plastic? Say ‘NO!’ and opt for loose apples! How about pasta packaged in a plastic packet? Say ‘NO!’, find your local organic bulk store and purchase your pasta by the gram! 
• Switch to a reusable coffee cup 
  Did you know that paper-based coffee cups still have plastic? That’s right, the cups are lined with plastic to prevent leakage! Make the switch to a reusable coffee cup. Better yet, some coffee shops even offer discounts to reward you for being kind to the environment! 
• BYO shopping bags and organic produce bags 
  Ditch buying plastic bags and bring your own! This way, you will be saving money, saving animals and the environment, reducing your plastic consumption and helping to keep your clutter down. 

Avoid repeating past failures 

Another strategy for sticking to your New Year’s resolutions is to not make the same resolution every year. Take some time and reflect on your resolutions from the past. What worked well? What didn’t? How will you achieve and stick to your goals this year? By evaluating and reflecting, you will be more likely to see real results this year. 

Remember that change is a process 

We might be one month into the New Year, but it is 100% ok to try again. You can’t expect unhealthy habits to change in a matter of days, weeks, or months. Try again, change your approach, evaluation, try again if you have to – it’s not a race to finish.