This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Nature Conservancy. All opinions are 100% mine.

Wrapping up 2018 may have you already thinking about a fresh start.  Many feel a new year is the perfect opportunity to set some personal goals.  Here’s a cool idea: As you work to become a better you, why not pick a couple of goals that will also have a positive impact on the planet?  I recently came across an awesome little free guide from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that can help. It’s called Everyday Sustainability Guide, 7 Good-for-our-Planet Steps That Are Easy to Take.

Everyday Sustainability Guide by TNC

These down-to-earth tips are realistic and inspiring.  I love nature and our planet.  But I’m a super busy working mom of two!  That’s what I loved about the ideas in the Everyday Sustainability Guide.  They are practical, everyday sustainable tips that also contribute to a happy and healthy lifestyle.  And you don’t have to do them all… start with one that gets you excited and is doable for you and your family.

Here are just 2 of the cool personal goals I selected from the TNC Everyday Sustainability Guide that I’m going to work on in 2019.  Do either of these resonate with you?

 

#3 ~ Choose Vacations Closer to Home

 

Call it a “Staycation”, or our favorite term “family adventure day“.  Either way, choosing vacations closer to home like this can actually be good for the planet (and wallet)!  Did you realize that Flying less is the #1 thing you can do to help combat climate change? 

Emissions from a single round-trip flight between Washington, DC and Borneo, Indonesia can equal the total household energy use (electricity, gas, etc.) of the average American family for a whole year.

This is an example of a sustainable, planet-friendly idea that can align nicely with your own personal goals.  I love to travel, but have found it’s more and more expensive to try and fly a family of four somewhere for a full-blown vacation.

We live in the Southwestern United States, where many gorgeous and fascinating national parks are a road trip away.  Actually, nature preserves and areas of natural beauty can really be found everywhere in the world.  My goal now is to try and explore more in our region, and have my kids visit some of these natural treasures.  Who knew this would align so nicely with having an eco-friendly mindset?

I’m excited for choosing some vacations closer to home in 2019, and getting my family outdoors to play as much as possible.

#5 ~ Eat More Plant Based Foods

This is another personal goal that’s been on my radar lately, for health reasons.  Imagine my delight in discovering it’s one of sustainability tips for being kind to our planet!  Turns out plant-based foods generally have a much lower carbon and water footprint than meat.

The Nature Conservancy acknowledges:

It’s important to recognize that in places like the central and western United States, sustainably grazing cattle and bison is one important way to protect and manage natural grasslands.

So again, it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. 

·         When you eat meat, try to look for responsibly producers

·         1-2 Meals per week, eat plant-based foods

Until recently, I had never heard of “pulses”.  So I found it fascinating to learn how pulses are cheap, delicious, and good for you!  They are also an excellent source of plant-based protein, and a perfect candidate for supper one night per week. 

You can take urgent action today by making a tax-deductible donation by December 31. 

Download a FREE Everyday Sustainability Guide

I want to strongly encourage you to head to The Nature Conservancy site right now, and download this fantastic FREE Everyday Sustainability Guide.  It’s beautifully done, concise, helpful, and inspiring! 

Grab your copy today, and pick YOUR favorite ideas for setting a personal goal or two.  Give some thought to how you can improve both yourself AND the planet in 2019.