What was your New Year’s resolution? Was it to lose weight, exercise more, perhaps stick to a budget? And how is it going so far?
According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov Omnibus 22% of Americans have faltered on pursuing their resolution already, not even three months into the New Year. The reason behind this follow through failure is probably because people make resolutions that they don’t actually like. It seems thinking “I wish I were thinner” is equivalent to a resolution, but without focus or drive wishes rarely come true.
I suggest making your New Year’s resolution something that you actually want to do – and then make a plan to do it. Perhaps your resolution could simply be to take better care of your yard by organically mulching instead of using chemicals. Maybe it could be to start composting, or to buy more vintage clothing instead of new, or to get creative in ways to reuse old belongings.
One company’s resolution went beyond simply bettering the planet. As a waste recycling company, Revolution Recovery pledged to reach 85 employees (that’s 20 new jobs) in 2013, and they announced their pledge publically as a part of the DVGBC 2013 Pledge Challenge campaign.
Revolution Recovery decided to focus their resolution around job creation because they wanted to bring awareness to the fact that recycling does more than simply benefit the environment by keeping materials out of landfills. The recycling industry creates an estimated five to ten more jobs than traditional disposal methods, and the sustainability of the community is just as responsible as the sustainability of our planet. By publically announcing their pledge, they are not only adding jobs to their community, they are educating people on the multilayer benefits of recycling.
So rather than choose off of the same old wish list, make your own pledge to better your house, community, or planet. Finding a resolution you believe in and want to commit to can help up the chances of actually sticking to it. Plus, perhaps you can help educate and inspire someone else to make a sustainable pledge – both organically and one that will last.
Rubi Wiswall is a writer for [G] Wis Concepts, a Philadelphia web design and marketing firm
