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We're well into March, so it's time for me to post an update on how I am doing with my New Year's goals. It is unfortunate that my goal wasn't, 'Get obsessed with drag queens and spend all day trolling their tumblr sites.'
I originally created goals in multiple categories, but I freely admit that I've blown off most of them. But I have accomplished a lot in my goal to reduce my usage of plastic. Here is what I have done. I do feel good about it because I originally intended to make just one change per month, but already I've done a lot more than 3 things.
One more note on goals. I've attempted - and failed at - this goal before but at some point I need to try again. I have to take the time to learn about finances and investing instead of leaving it all to my advisor. It's boring as hell but I have to do it.
Accomplishments:
- Let a subscription to a magazine lapse (one that is printed on those coated plasticy pages that can’t be recycled
- When an environmental organization sent me an unsolicited package wrapped in plastic, I contacted them to complain
- Found a plastic-free substitute for hair conditioner.
- Contacted Goodge Street Press to get plastic-free cards.
- Stopped buying rice/soy/almond milk since you can’t do much with those containers they come in
- Stopped using plastic garbage bags. We compost our food garbage. The rest we take directly from our kitchen garbage pail to the container outside that Waste Management dumps
- Buying less (almost no) veggies and fruit that come wrapped in plastic
- Switched to plastic-free toothpaste (Lush’s Toothy Tabs)
- Found a styling gel for my hair that is less plasticy (does come in a plastic tub but the company recycles them)
- No longer buy facial soap that comes in plastic. I am using baking soda and water to wash my face
On-going
- Request “no straw” in restaurants.
Didn’t do
- Go to the winter farmer’s market. (Went a few times, it was a half hour car ride, and they had greens wrapped in...plastic! I didn’t feel I helped the environment much by going, given the long car ride and the lack of plastic-free stuff)
I originally created goals in multiple categories, but I freely admit that I've blown off most of them. But I have accomplished a lot in my goal to reduce my usage of plastic. Here is what I have done. I do feel good about it because I originally intended to make just one change per month, but already I've done a lot more than 3 things.
One more note on goals. I've attempted - and failed at - this goal before but at some point I need to try again. I have to take the time to learn about finances and investing instead of leaving it all to my advisor. It's boring as hell but I have to do it.
Accomplishments:
- Let a subscription to a magazine lapse (one that is printed on those coated plasticy pages that can’t be recycled
- When an environmental organization sent me an unsolicited package wrapped in plastic, I contacted them to complain
- Found a plastic-free substitute for hair conditioner.
- Contacted Goodge Street Press to get plastic-free cards.
- Stopped buying rice/soy/almond milk since you can’t do much with those containers they come in
- Stopped using plastic garbage bags. We compost our food garbage. The rest we take directly from our kitchen garbage pail to the container outside that Waste Management dumps
- Buying less (almost no) veggies and fruit that come wrapped in plastic
- Switched to plastic-free toothpaste (Lush’s Toothy Tabs)
- Found a styling gel for my hair that is less plasticy (does come in a plastic tub but the company recycles them)
- No longer buy facial soap that comes in plastic. I am using baking soda and water to wash my face
On-going
- Request “no straw” in restaurants.
Didn’t do
- Go to the winter farmer’s market. (Went a few times, it was a half hour car ride, and they had greens wrapped in...plastic! I didn’t feel I helped the environment much by going, given the long car ride and the lack of plastic-free stuff)
