Whenever a new year rolls around, there is always so much pressure to pull off the greatest rebrand of your life in just one month. While I do believe you can take that hot yoga class and find true love by February, shift that energy toward sustainability through these three easy practices!
Practice #1: Reduce, reuse, and revitalize!
You may have heard of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Most of the attention goes to recycling, but reusing what you already have is the most simple and effective way to fully step into your new green lifestyle!
Reusing is essential for creating a more sustainable lifestyle for yourself. It can help build good habits by reducing the temptation of mindless consumption. A mental checklist can help decide whether a purchase is necessary or if you were just itching for a hit of retail dopamine. Some questions I ask myself: Do I already have an item at home that can serve the same function? Will I regret not coming home with this singular item? Will it haunt me for the rest of my life if I don’t buy it?
If purchasing an item is inevitable, challenge yourself to come up with ways to reuse it! My favorite things to reuse are glass jars. From marinara sauce to candles, they can be repurposed as extra stationary storage on your desk or painted for a handmade gift. Any old stained clothes you haven’t had a chance to wear can be used as cleaning rags; cardboard from delivery boxes can be upcycled to DIY your own dorm posters and paintings!
Practice #2: Everyone’s tried and true: thrifting!
To satisfy the urge of swiping your card, I encourage turning to thrifting as sustainable retail therapy, as it gives previously loved items a new refreshed purpose! Thrifting is often associated with clothing, but thrift stores also offer a wide variety of home goods and decor.
The art of finding thrifted treasures is one I have yet to master, but I’ve figured out that understanding your current style helps to train your “thrifting eye.” Rather than picking out individual pieces, find clothes that complement your existing wardrobe. If you can’t think of at least three pieces you could style the item with, you’re better off leaving it behind.
Similarly, look for timeless pieces when thrifting home goods and decor. I prefer thrifting for frames — there are so many niche and unique items looking for a home. Thrift stores also have a plethora of cute ceramic figurines, and I’ve found great quality baskets for $5 or less that add a vintage vibe to your dorm room.
Practice #3: Create something worthwhile — with trash!
A lesser known practice than thrifting is building ecobricks. They are a plastic bottle of any sort, stuffed full of clean, dry non-recyclable plastics to create a dense “brick.” These plastic bottle “bricks” can even be used for construction projects!
Ecobricking is an easy practice to implement into your daily life; all it requires is a plastic bottle — as small as a plastic water bottle or as big as an empty milk jug — and trash. Ecobricks keep these smaller, non-recyclable plastics in one container, so the plastic can all eventually decompose at the same time. Just be sure to clean any food wrappers and dry them off before stuffing it into your ecobrick, otherwise mold can grow.
I started my first ecobrick in September and, while I still haven’t completed it, it’s a great physical reminder of my small efforts to keep nonbiodegradable plastics out of the landfill. This practice helps me visualize how much trash I generate and inspires me to brainstorm ways to diminish that amount, and I can’t wait to continue it into 2026. Once I complete it, I plan on sending it to a local art store for someone’s personal project!
This year, let’s make it a goal to take care of ourselves and the planet. Though these three habits only scratch the surface of what we can do for the environment, I hope they inspire you to create more ways to be green, and in the process, possibly meet the love of your life at the thrift store.
