7 resolutions to make you and the planet happier and healthier

It’s that time of year when the R word starts creeping into vocabularies across the country. The thought of a brand new year being just around the corner inspires most people to start a new habit or change something in their lives.

Caring for the environment and making it your top resolution can help you lose weight and exercise more.

The problem with resolutions though is that they can be hard to keep. The top three resolutions made by Brits are to exercise more, to save money and to eat healthier¹ Doing more for the environment comes ninth on the list behind spending less time on social media and losing weight. But the good news is, caring for the environment and making it your top resolution can help you lose weight and exercise more.

By ditching the car and moving more, you’re helping yourself and the environment too. It might sound like a health resolution but turning your commute into exercise means you can leave the car at home and save money too with walking and cycling, even if just for one or two days a week.

And that’s just the tip of an eco-resolution iceberg. Saving energy and reducing your bills can be the start of a series of green resolutions for 2023 and with figures suggesting just 35 percent of people in the UK who make resolutions stick to them, why not make ones that’ll save you money and help the environment?

Firstly, start switching off – think light switches, power sockets, games consoles, lamps, taps. Ask yourself when you’re leaving the house or going to bed what really needs to be on and switch everything else off. Depending on usage, just turning off lights can save £25 a year. 

Next, reuse – from shopping bags to water bottles to second hand clothing, if you don’t have to buy new, go second hand. Facebook marketplace is a treasure trove of unwanted things being given away in your local area; post online what you don’t need and search for what you do.

Insulate. One of the best things you can do for ageing parents or exhausted friends is pop up into their loft and check the amount of insulation they have – after you’ve done your own of course. Log onto onehome.org.uk/lofts for advice on how to do it yourself and to find out how much money you could save.

Clean. It might not be your favourite job, but clean windows will maximise the heat coming through from the sun, descaling the kettle will mean it takes less time and money to boil, dust hinders energy efficiency so whether it’s the back of the telly, behind the fridge or the kids’ games consoles keep appliances dust free. Degreasing your oven and defrosting the freezer will help energy efficiency too.

Reduce. Even if you recycle and are mindful of single use plastics, there’s still lots to be done. Streamlining your weekly shop will eliminate food waste, showering for a shorter period – aim for four minutes or less – will save water and energy costs too. Recycle everything you can. Try and lessen your dependency on your car by using public transport or try car-pooling with a colleague Reducing the amount of meat you eat will help your wallet and the environment so start with Meat Free Monday’s and see if you can roll it out to another day in the week. Reduce your dependency on air miles fruit and veg.

Studies show resolutions made together are more likely to last so get a friend on board and be accountable to one another as well as the environment; turn it into a challenge with the one who saves the most treating the other to something at the end of the year too.

We all know how hard it can be to stick to resolutions but just folding a few of these ideas into your everyday life could save you money, make you fitter, help you lose weight and help the environment too, so what are you waiting for? Give them a go and surprise yourself. If you fancy more of a challenge try One Home’s top ten tips for tackling climate change 10 top tips for tackling climate change | One Home

¹ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1084782/most-popular-new-year-s-resolutions-in-the-united-kingdom/

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