CHALLENGE 11 – Eco-Lifestyle Reflection 1/3
11 of 33 weeks - what has changed, what is still to come?
The goal of challenge #11:
- Reflect on positive changes already made
- List 5 BMG goals for 2020
- General support of several Sustainable Development Goals
Be proud of your sustainable & social actions - Every little helps!
Much to my disappointment, I am one of those restless types. I’m sure you are familiar with the sort. I always have a permanently rotating list of things I want, and feel the need to do. I often wish I could be more chilled. Alas, it is not (yet) the case and last week was no exception.
Being in the throws of moving home, juggling work and the general goings-on of life, I fell behind on my BMG challenge activities and was giving myself a hard time. Then, whilst at a client meeting, I was talking about the importance of making time to take stock of a situation, in order to refocus on and work towards the big picture vision. This was in the context of business strategy, but I believe it applies to every part of life.
So the focus of week 11 is less of a challenge but more of a reflection on how my behaviour has already changed in terms adapting a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle and what is still to come.
Heres a question for your: Has there been a point during your week where you have consciously given thought to and acted in a more sustainable manner?
It may be to do with any of the following; travel, sharing / repurposing rather than buying, food consumption & waste, household activities such as heating, water use, cleaning … or something else. If yes, please give yourself a mental high five for your awesomeness in actually taking measure to change for the better.
11 weeks in - improvements aren't too shabby!
My reflection on the week, lead me to realise I had done quite a few things differently to my pre-Better Me Green-self:
- Set up my first car-pooling trip … now the focus of challenge 12
- Visited my new local package-free/zero-waste/bio shop
- Stubbornly chomped my way through fish & the resulting leftovers for 4 days in the name of reducing food waste & discovered a brilliant new recipe. FYI, over the last weeks I have had an idea brewing about reducing food-waste …. Left-overs are the best and if you are not eating them you are missing out…. more to come on this 😉
- (Dennis) Requested a bio-waste bin be introduced for our apartment block – He really gets the credit for this one, but I like to think we are partners in (green) crime 😘
- Started working with my first client who is focused solely on sustainable development!
In general, I am far more particular about what I do and do not buy, especially food. I always have re-usable bags, eat less meat, and am far more careful about energy and water use. Lastly, and not to be under-estimated, I speak to a lot more people about sustainable habits. This is one of the most enjoyable changes, because I am constantly learning new ideas and it gives me a positive outlook that together, we are trying to step out of some complacency.
Overcoming the pessimists & staying consciously committed
Honestly, the research done and lessons learned over the past weeks have lead to mixed emotions. At best, I am representative of the average person who is confronted and concerned by the increasingly negative reports on how our modern habits are impacting the planet. As a result I am trying to change some of my ways, but admit to being overwhelmed and uncertain with the mass of, often contradictory, information. When in doubt, I always seem to come back to one thought: choosing to actively make an effort for positive change, regardless of how minimal the impact may be, is surely better than staying complacent and ignorant. The drive to educate myself and change some behaviours comes from a good place – so onwards and upwards it is.
5 goals I have for the coming months:
- Start a Better Me Green learning community – You ask the questions, I do my best to find the answers. This is thanks to a lot of great ideas and questions that have come from friends and family over the last few weeks
- Engage professionally in sustainable development – I am currently working in a consultant capacity and am committed to put my skills and expertise to use for companies looking to sustainably improve the world
- Build our a new home in a sustainably mindful way – balcony compost, using electrical equipment most efficiently etc
- Get involved in a local social welfare activity in the new city I call home
- Avoid flying where possible, and commit to off-setting the emissions of a flight I may take
Thanks for reading
Your Better Me Greener
Charlotte
