A Sustainability Schedule for a Dedicated (but Busy) Person

Let's face it — everyone gets busy. Whether it is an influx of school work or the typical post-winter slump, it's difficult to prioritize optional endeavors when overwhelmed with multiple necessary activities. Sometimes creating a simple schedule for yourself can make ALL the difference when it comes to holding yourself accountable. 

Below, I have included the first part of the year-long schedule for my climate challenge. One thing to keep in mind: what works for me, doesn’t work for everyone. I live in New York City and am surrounded by public transportation and thrift stores. I am also a 17 year old girl. All of this to say – what might be feasible for me, might not be possible for you or what might be unfeasible for me, could be the place where you shine! It’s important that you look at the following as an outline. It’s meant to galvanize people into any form of action (big or small) more than anything else.  

All of that aside, here it is: Part 1 of my Schedule for a Sustainable (but Busy) Person. 

(The rest of) May: Conserve energy by reducing electricity use.

I will do this by plugging in my IPhone before I go to bed or when I wake up instead of during the (hopefully) 8 hours I sleep. 

June: Plant a sustainable garden.

I will do this by planting and tending to a garden on my balcony. A few ways in which I will make my garden sustainable is by including perennials (plants that reduce the need for reseeding), catching rainwater in a bucket (reducing the tap water I use for my garden), and by planting produce that my family would normally shop for at a grocery store. 

July: Use less plastic (part 1).

I will do this by carrying around a refillable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles. I found July to be a good month for this because it is common for people to become the most lazy with this sustainable habit in the summer. It’s natural to need a refreshment while you are scorching under the summer sun or to forget your personal water bottle while travelling — but in our sustainability journey, we are working to limit these bad habits. 

August: Cleaning up a community.

I will do this by challenging myself to pick up two pieces of trash a day. This is NOT a limit, in fact it should really be a challenge to pick up each piece of trash I find. However, in the spirit of this being the guide for a busy person, picking up two pieces of trash a day is always better than picking up nothing.  

September: Reuse and recycle clothing.

I will do this by shopping only second-hand clothing and for every piece of used clothing that comes in, I will put another piece back into circulation (either by donating my giveaways or selling them on a second-hand clothing app). 

October: Use less plastic (part 2).

I will do this by making sure to never leave my house without a tote bag of some form. Although the plastic bags we are used to picking up at stores are increasingly being swapped out for paper bags, they aren’t necessarily making a large difference for our environment. The best option remains as a reusable tote. 

Please stay tuned for my reflections on each of these monthly challenges as well the second part to my schedule! And as always — I encourage each of you to take this as a template for your own lives. Together, we can & will pave the path to a greener tomorrow.