What is the one thing, that if it were changed, would make a huge difference in your life?
For years, I set New Year’s resolutions using the kitchen sink method. Get fitter, organize the house, spend more time with friends, grow all our vegetables, get a new job, all in 365 days.
That list of resolutions was, of course, doomed. No matter how much you accomplish, it will feel like failure since it’s the rare person who can accomplish twenty life-changing resolutions in one year.
According to “The One Thing” by Gary Keller, you can identify the one important goal by asking this focusing question:
“What is the ONE THING I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
This is similar to the permaculture principle of making the least change for the greatest effect.
Let’s say your sustainable goal is to have a lower carbon lifestyle. You could add a single zero waste cooking session per week, which would also mean you feel more organized and calm in the kitchen, eat more vegetables, and waste less money. Getting that one habit in hand will energize you to make more changes.
It’s a habit that makes all the other good things easier.
This is a relatively simple resolution that will positively impact your space in the kitchen, your health, your budget, your relationships and your environmental practices. It’s a win-win-win.
This year I decided to start composting. Again… lol. I tried a diy worm version once, but it wasn’t user friendly and didn’t hold much. This year I’ve decided to get a little compost bucket for the kitchen counter and a big outdoor tumbler. I decided how much I was willing to spend, accepted that the tumbler is plastic, and celebrated that it will be used for years to come and that the little bucket is biodegradable at the end of its life. Now I can’t wait for them to arrive at the house so I can cut down on landfill contributions, cut down on smells in my garbage can, and make good compost for that garden I’m partway into building beds for! Triple win!
Thanks for the article ❤️
Hi Amanda, so glad that you’ve picked a good doable resolution! It feels really good to know your scraps aren’t contributing to environmental problems. It will be less work with a tumbler. Congratulations on getting into gardening too! Once you start you can’t go back to grocery store tomatoes and paying big bucks for lettuce. Let me know if you have any questions as you get into it, I’m always happy to talk. Here’s hoping all the best for you this year.