Happy almost new year, everyone!
Today is New Year’s Eve, the time when everyone starts to question the ways in which they’ve been spending all of their time over the past year. It is also the time when they make unrealistic goals to try and make themselves feel less guilty after they’ve finished questioning the ways in which they’ve spent their time. And let’s not forget that we’re hitting 2020 this year, which isn’t just another year — it’s another decade.
I’ll be honest: I don’t know how I feel about New Year’s resolutions. They’ve never really worked for me, and I think real personal change comes from other, more internal places. Plus, I’ve noticed they often come from a toxic, self-destructive place. They’re far too often related to weight loss, and maybe have to do with people feeling guilty after holidays filled with “indulgence.” Call me crazy, but my opinion is that you’re allowed to actually enjoy food and drinks and that you can relax some of the time.
Anyway, my only point here is that I think New Year’s resolutions can be healthy, but we need to be conscious about what we’re really trying to achieve, and how these goals make us feel inside. Can we find a way to be happy throughout the journey of achieving our resolutions? Do we have to punish ourselves until we do?
Here’s one of the Instagram posts that got me thinking about all of this:
3,192 Likes, 36 Comments - Anna Sweeney MS, CEDRD-S (@dietitiananna) on Instagram: ". . No matter what or how much you ate. No matter what or how much you drank. No matter if you sat..."
I wanted to begin with these thoughts to do my part in implementing a judgement-free mentality into New Year’s resolutions and sustainability culture. Far too often, we spend more time pointing fingers or trying to be perfect than we do just trying to get everybody to do some small things, whether those things be cutting out plastic water bottles or writing a letter to a fast fashion company asking them to treat their workers better. So, just keep that in mind here! There is no pressure to be perfect here, and if you mess up, nobody’s going to hate you. Good for you for trying at all.
Thus, this post is a write-up about some of the things I’ve been thinking about as we approach 2020. I included a couple of my personal resolutions, as well as a list that you as a reader (and me myself) might consider implementing in terms of leading a more sustainable lifestyle in 2020.
my resolutions
getting up earlier
I love sleeping in. I really try setting my alarm early on mornings when I don’t absolutely have to wake up early, to try and enforce a better habit, but I always end up staying in bed late anyway. And even when I do have to get up early, I’ll do anything for those extra ten minutes.
I know that getting up early just isn’t for everyone, and I don’t like guilting myself unnecessarily for resting my body and just being a normal person who likes sleep. I also struggle in the mornings because my bedroom gets hardly any sunlight. However, I do know I’d feel better about myself if I had those extra hours in the mornings, so it’s a resolution nonetheless. It’s also why I just purchased a wake-up lamp. I hope it works — I’ll keep you posted!
prioritizing exercise
This one doesn’t have to do with me wanting to make my body perfect. Though I have my struggles with accepting how I look, I never have and never will let it control me. Instead, I’ve chosen exercise for this list because of its mental health benefits. As a past avid runner and swimmer, I know from lived experience how important getting my exercise is to allow my mind to feel at peace — training for a half marathon a couple of years ago practically saved me from a tough breakup.
When I started university, my anxiety got worse than it had been throughout my childhood and teenage years. I think that was largely to do with how little time I now had to move my body. I’ve kind of struggled with making it a part of my life since, and have dealt with the mental consequences. So, this year, I’m really going to make a better effort to get some sort of physical activity whenever I can. The steps I’ve taken so far include already having a gym membership and joining an intramural dodgeball team with some friends.
reading more
Over the holiday break, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my pursuit of an Arts degree has made it damn near impossible for me to be excited about picking up a book that isn’t for one of my classes. But there are so many books I want to read! And though I’m sure I’ll have absolutely plenty of time over this coming summer and after I graduate in a year and a half, I’d like to integrate leisurely reading better into my life and hope I can find a way to do that effectively. Maybe with my newfound early morning time, after my wake-up lamp has worked successfully…?
making time to be creative and to have fun
Finally, although this one might seem like the easiest, I don’t know if it will be! The truth is, I am a creative person at heart, but I’ve occupied all of my time with other things and left very little for my creative projects. And when I do have the time, I’m far too tired or uninspired to make art.
But this year, I’m going to work to change that. I received a camera for Christmas, which I’m so excited to use to capture wonderful moments in the upcoming decade. Moreover, I used some of my savings to purchase an iPad and I’ve started drawing and painting with that. I can’t wait to see what I’ll be able to create using these new tools.
sustainable 2020 resolutions
Now, for a list of resolutions you might consider for 2020! I also wanted to let you know that I created two Instagram Story templates that you can screenshot and repost. The first will allow you to check off the resolutions in this post you’re going to focus on this coming year! The second one will allow you to pledge your personal boycott of fast fashion! The time has never been better to switch to secondhand and ethically-made clothing.
Check out my Instagram account to find these templates in my stories!
Eating fewer animal products
Reducing your food waste
Recycling and composting more
Cutting out single-use plastics
Boycotting or buying less fast fashion
Buying local, whenever possible
Engaging in activism
Learning about the climate crisis
Talking about issues you care about with friends
Spending time in nature
Supporting activists and activist organizations
Volunteering your time or donating money to charities, political organizations, and non-governmental organizations
Buying fair trade products
Buying fewer, but higher-quality items
conclusion
Have any questions about any of these resolutions — mine or yours? Let me know in the comments below! I’d also love to know if there’s anything you think I missed, or what else you’ll be focusing on in 2020.
Thanks for reading, as always!
Ethigirl