December reflections

Here we are! Somehow we have made it to the last month of 2020, despite the months losing all meaning since March. Here is the time to reflect on what we have learnt from this year and move positively into the next one.

This December, let’s use our time at home to embrace what we can do in our own homes and reflect on our journey to sustainability so far…

• On a practical note, winter is here and despite this year’s shift in weather patterns (linked to global climate change), it will soon start to get colder. So that you are using your heating more efficiently, there are a few simple actions you can take to make sure that when you do need to use the heating, you don’t have to consume as much as you are able to get the most out of the heat you have. Simple habits including closing the curtains earlier and tucking them behind radiators if that is applicable for your space, as well as closing doors to keep the heat in the rooms you use the most, meaning that, combined with having your heating on for less time, you can reduce your energy consumption while creating a warm and cosy home. This is the perfect time to live out your hygge dreams; grab your jumpers and blankets and maintain a warm home while creating maximum cosiness and aesthetic vibes.

• There is a rather large celebration that tends to happen in December which cannot be overlooked – Christmas. This year Christmas is going to be a bit different, but this gives us the opportunity to explore a more sustainable style of Christmas now that we are approaching things differently. Why not try this month creating an Advent Calendar-style challenge for your family by making a more environmentally-conscious and suitable festive swap each day of December? For instance, day:

1. Purchase loose vegetables in a reusable bag when shopping
2. Spend an hour outside
3. Make a Christmas decoration instead of buying one…

Or if you feel really creative, how about the eco version of the 12 days of Christmas?!?

1. Turn off one light from the number you would normally have on
2. Listen to the sounds of nature outside for two minutes
3. Recycle three pieces of plastic
4. Find four recipes that use items already in your cupboard
5. FIVE Zero Waste Items! (Kind of works if you have my very minimal level of musical talent…)

This might all sound a bit crazy, but this could be a really nice idea to try with children or as a family, as it shows that we can still celebrate Christmas to the full without being quite as demanding on our planet. Make this a December to remember!

• Finally, as the year draws to a close, reflect on your year. This year has given us a lot to think about, but in regards to sustainable lifestyle, see what changes you have made this year, what worked, what didn’t and importantly what you can do next year. Reflecting on our sustainable journey is really important for our wellbeing – look how far you’ve come! It is easy to feel hopeless when you surround yourself with only negative news, but by reflecting on what you have achieved it highlights just how much you are capable of, and by being critical of our changes we can find areas for improvement or focus. As an example, maybe this year you travelled in your car less, in part due the the restrictions of the pandemic. Could you carry this on in a post-pandemic world, such as by walking to the shops or increasing your use of public transport? This is a helpful exercise for getting the most out of the changes that have and could be made in your own lifestyle.

Take time in this month to reflect and motivate – so much has happened this year and for many it has been incredibly hard. Life may not get easier immediately after changing the calendars, but by taking time yet again to question the little things in our own world that could be used to create change, we can end this year on a high with a little bit more hope for the future. The fact that I’ve started this blog is enough to blow my mind, and so I hope everyone of us can see what we have achieved this year and use it to fuel the coming year. ❄