Actually keeping my New Year's resolutions: Developing sustainable, eco-friendly micro habits

Leading up to the pandemic, I had already started planning my first New Year's resolution ("NYR") for 2020: to stop buying new clothing for one year. As someone who had enjoyed thrifting in my teens and 20s, it was an invitation to return to something I enjoyed. Even back then, I never was exclusively a thrifter, so this was a challenge to go "all in" on my values.

Now, four years later making this NYR, I am STILL going on only buying secondhand clothing. I am super proud of this new habit, and I have made it into something I look forward to and advocate for often (...and my sincere apologies to anyone who has been on the receiving end of my thrifting gospels).

In fact, I was so inspired by how easy it was for me to make this first adjustment that I have been adding to my list of more eco-friendly consumption habits ever since. ...well, being inspired by that success, but also being in my home 24/7 every day for over a year made me very aware of my consumption and usage habits.

Between the easiness and awareness, I started chipping away to make other small, "micro-habit" changes, focusing on the ones that I felt I could actually adopt and maintain over time. In this journey to be a bit more sustainable, I have made the following adjustments and replacements in my spending habits.

Disclaimers: Some were NYRs and others arose organically as opportunities (e.g., discovering a new product or alternative). Not all of the following are perfect solutions. However, the most eco-friendly practices are the ones you can keep up with, and I have been able to keep all of these since starting them.

• Started in 2020- Buy only secondhand clothing/accessories and sustainable brand shoes/socks/etc.
• Started in 2021- Stopped buying some types of single-use toiletries.
• Started in 2022- Started refilling my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash at a local refill store AND started using washable cotton shower curtain liners (rather than buying plastic ones).
• Started in 2023- Started buying paper products made of recycled or sustainable materials AND used paper towels only as needed AND stopped buying dryer sheets (bought wool dryer balls) AND used more environmentally-friendly laundry detergents (instead, I either refilled or bought detergent in paper boxes) AND only used single-use flossers for travel (use a Waterpik otherwise).
• Starting in 2024- Stop buying deodorants in plastic containers...AND more TBD.

For each of these, I have so many recommendations, based on some trial and error, so please feel free to ask me about any of these that seem interesting.

Moreover, this leads me to ask for your advice. Do you have any suggestions on what have been easy changes for you and your household?

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or product recommendations that have been helping you along your journey!