I’m sure that many of us are still in the habit of settling down in the last week of the year and thinking about what goals we want to set for ourselves for the next 12 months, even though we probably didn’t actually get around to doing what we had set for the previous year’s resolutions. I know that’s certainly the case for me, at least.

When I found myself in that mood, excited for what I could potentially achieve and eager to write it down, I found myself continually circling back to how I wanted to do more for the effort for Earth. I’ve felt so helpless and lost since the Code Red warning and, although I made a lot of serious changes in 2023 to reduce my carbon footprint and overall waste, it didn’t feel like it was enough. So I challenged myself to focus my resolutions on how to commit more significantly to this goal.

For 2024, I set myself the task to commit more to being environmentally friendly and being an environmental ally. These are two very vague statements, but it allows me freedom to find my own success within these goals, rather than having rigid terms to meet by the end of the year. Within these goals, for instance, are actions like starting a blog to share my experiences and tips, finding a use for things I would normally throw away, and speaking up more in my social circles about environmentally friendly alternatives.

This still might be a bit too vague for some. Getting started on this journey can be challenging and overwhelming without specific starting points that have clear measures. So, I’ve collated 15 ideas of quick, manageable and measurable eco-resolutions that you can try this year to start making a change that could help the world:

1. Make your shower routine completely plastic free by choosing bars instead of bottles.
2. If you’re within walking distance to your local shop, ditch the car and get more fresh air.
3. Go out of your way to find a refill shop, and use it for your cupboard staples.
4. Actively avoid plastic in the supermarket. Farmers markets can be a good alternative, or reduced plastic items in shops. If you can’t do that, research which supermarkets are making the most significant commitment to reducing unnecessary plastic packaging and shop there.
5. Research, research, research! Make a commitment to do more research into brands before you buy.
6. Switch your energy provider to a green energy company. For people in the UK, take a look at the following list for the top green UK energy providers.
7. Take some time to learn more about sustainability. It can be scary, but bit by bit, it can be manageable.
8. Try eco-friendly gift options for friends and loved ones. If you can’t find something, an experience day is often better appreciated than a plastic gadget.
9. Challenge yourself to conserve water as much as possible. How quickly can you take a shower? Could you use that pasta water (unsalted) for plants in your garden? 
10. Make a small change by downloading the Ecosia browser extension and plant trees by browsing the internet. 
11. Set up that bag for plastics that can only be recycled at supermarkets and make a commitment to use it properly. You can read more about recycling these types of plastics on recyclenow.com.
12. Find an environmentally focused community, or build one. You can start spreading the word and making that difference that you want to see with like-minded people.
13. Cut down on meat for 2024. If you can’t go without, try and find an ethical butcher who’s willing to use your own tupperware to package the meat you buy. It helps them (and you) feel less guilty about that unnecessary plastic bag! 
14. Try and go a day, or a weekend without using electricity – it’s empowering to know you don’t need to be dependent on technology, but also saves you money. If you don’t know where to start, check out Earth Hour’s mission.
15. Save on kitchen waste and save money, by using kitchen foil and baking paper repeatedly. With careful washing,  they can be used over and over again.

If you’ve made it this far, you might still be asking why I’m talking about all this as we’re mid-way through January. Honestly, the blog didn’t start until the first week of January, so I was behind anyway, but more than that, I think it’s important to recognise that you can set new growth goals for yourself at any time of year. The New Year is a great way to kick start a new habit or routine, but doing better for the planet is a constantly evolving process and can’t be limited to a few changes at the start of the year. It needs to be a continuous journey, so why not start mid-month?

The ideas I’ve provided a not the only things you can start doing to make a change this year. I’d love to hear how you get on if you pick up any of these eco-resolutions, or if you’ve set yourself different resolutions, I’d love to hear those too!